María José García-Pelayo, the mayor of Jerez, has officially presented the Three Wise Men for 2027 during a ceremony that celebrated the joy and tradition they represent for the city. The selected figures are Alfredo Carrasco, a hospitality entrepreneur; Carmen Tejero, a professor and the sister of the Nazareno; and Joaquín Vallejo, a businessman and brother of El Rocío. Ángel Sáez Marassi will serve as the Royal Postman.
The event was attended by members of the local government, the municipal corporation, last year's Three Wise Men, and representatives from various cultural and business associations in Jerez. García-Pelayo expressed that "today Jerez entrusts three individuals with the hopes of an entire city and a significant responsibility. This experience will accompany you throughout your lives. Alfredo, María del Carmen, and Joaquín: being a Wise Man in Jerez means becoming part of a tradition that connects generations. This crown acknowledges your commitment to Jerez, but it also signifies months of dedication and hard work. I thank you for accepting it with the enthusiasm and gratitude you have already shown in recent weeks."
The mayor also highlighted this year's theme, 'Magic begins when we start to believe again', which serves as a reminder of how children discover magic, while parents and grandparents rediscover it through them. Jerez is preparing for a grand parade featuring fifteen floats, new scenic elements, four musical groups, and a horse leading the procession, symbolising the city.
The parade will be inclusive, with spaces adapted for individuals with autism and other disabilities, as well as provisions for those with reduced mobility and attention for the elderly.
Speaking on behalf of the 2026 Wise Men, Ana Belén Morillo addressed the new representatives: "We look into your eyes and know the excitement and vertigo you feel at this moment. You have months of hard work ahead of you. There will be days filled with challenging schedules and fatigue. Representing a Wise Man is not just about wearing a crown; it carries immense responsibility. We wish you a journey filled with moments that will remain etched in your memory. We ask you to embrace this privilege with the respect and responsibility it demands as bearers of the hopes of our city."
Alfredo Carrasco, who will portray Melchor, spoke on behalf of the 2027 Wise Men, sharing his surprise at being chosen: "I am still trying to understand how I got here. One can imagine many things throughout life, but this was not one of them. I have spent my life as a waiter, surrounded by customers, and now I find myself here. I must confess, I feel like a child again, just as I did when I was young and waiting for the Three Wise Men to arrive. You need to hear something, a noise, a door... something. Because when you are a child, you believe, and as you grow up, you need to keep that belief alive."
He continued, "Life teaches us many things and makes us forget the importance of innocence. As children, we asked why about everything. We were amazed by little things, a light, a story, a gift, a special night. We believed anything was possible, and we were not ashamed to feel excitement. But as we grow older, we often silence the child within us. Children have much to teach us; they are unafraid to dream. Today, the greatest gift I have received is the reminder that I do not want to stop being a child."
"So yes, tonight I accept the crown. I embrace this great honour of being a Wise Man of Jerez. I want to do it simply, as someone who listens, who looks into your eyes, who hugs, who feels, who laughs, and above all, who continues to believe in children. Tonight, life has given me the chance to feel like a child again, even if just for a moment. Let us all return to being children, to feeling excited, to dreaming, to wanting, to embracing. Let us never grow too old to dream, for tonight Jerez opens the door to the child within us all. And that is indeed a gift."
