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It’s time to plan your fiestas in 2026. There is something for everyone, whether it’s running with the bulls or floral patios. Street parties, food fights or street parties. Here are our favourites.
San Anton Blessing the Animals, 17th January 2026
Churches across Spain will open their doors for a different sort of congregation on January 17th for it is the feast of San Anton – the patron saint of animals.
This happens in Madrid.t San Anton church in Chueca Where crowds of furry pets queue outside to receive a blessing by the priest. Parrots, dogs, cats and even a pet pig will all be in full costume.
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Carnival from February 12th to 19th
Don’t mark the start of Lent by eating a pancake. Carnival fever is sweeping across Spain. Rio-style street parades are held in the Canary Islands, In Cadiz, groups of friends dress up elaborately for parties and even little kids at primary school do the same.
Las Fallas in Valencia, 1st-19th March
Valencia, located in eastern Spain, is a great place to visit. Las Fallas in March where giant papier-mâché models satirizing politicians and celebrating modern icons are displayed across the city. The fireworks display is the spectacular finale.
Semana Sana (Holy Week), March 29th through April 5th
During the week leading up to Easter, Spain hosts the most impressive processions. Semana Santa celebrations Andalusia. Expect shrouded pious penitents to shuffle sadly and mournfully as they beat drums while statues of Christ slowly walk around the circuit from the church.
Feria de Abril, Seville, April 21st to 26th 2026
Sevilla, the city of joy! Feria de AbrilTwo weeks after Easter, the Andalusian Capital is transformed into an event celebrating bullfighting culture. Women dress in their best flamenco, horses perform, and large crowds gather to dance, eat and drink Sevillanas in colorful tents. If you are a familiar face, it will help as casetas require an invitation. Similar ferias are held in Cordoba, Jerez and other places that are more accessible to the outside world.
Patios of Cordoba from May 4th-17th
Every May, Cordoba’s private courtyards are open to the public as part of a competition that takes place throughout the city. The most beautiful floral displays are rewarded. You can peek behind doors that are closed for the rest of the calendar year to admire the Moorish courtyards and beautiful floral displays. In the corners, you can also find concerts and flamencos shows. Fiestas de los Patios It’s the perfect time to explore the city.
READ MORE Patios of Cordoba – Where even the most reluctant gardener can find inspiration
San Juan, June 23rd, 2026
Wherever you are in Spain, celebrations of some kind will take place to mark San Juan – which coincides with midsummer or equinox. You can expect fireworks, bonfires and parties all night long if you’re near the coastline. Other activities include walking on hot coals in Soria, horseriding through fires in Menorca or water fights (Alpujarras).
San Fermin from July 6th to 14th
Bull-running fiestas take place all over Spain but by far the biggest and most famous – thanks to Ernest Hemingway – is San Fermin in Pamplona where the Navarran capital is transformed into one helluva street party. Those brave (or foolish) enough to partake in the morning encierros don white with a red sash and neckerchief to race across the cobbles dodging the horns of a pack of bulls. All the others just enjoy the fiesta.
READ ALSO Hemingway’s father and the running of the bulls at Pamplona
La Tomatina 26th August 2026
On the last Wednesday in August, the small town of Buñol near Valencia stages the world’s biggest food fight with some 40,000 people crowding in to throw tomatoes at each other. The fruit is brought in by trucks and hurled in the air in this tradition, which has become so popular that tickets are sold out. need to be bought in advance. Music, food and alcohol are all part of what is now one of Spain’s most popular summer festivals.
Wine harvest, September
In Spain, the grape harvest starts in this month. Vendemia festivals are celebrated from Jerez, in the southwest, to La Rioja, in the north. In Logroño this kicks off around September 21st for the fiestas de San Mateo You’ll also find local wines to complement the regional cuisine and a ceremonial grape-stomping.
Spain’s National Day on October 12th
On October 12, Spain celebrates the Dia de la Hispanidad. Madrid celebrates this day with a massive military parade, which includes tanks on the ground as well as aerial displays from the Air Force. Zaragoza also celebrates the Pilar Festival, which honors the patron saint of the city.
All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1.
A bank holiday in Spain, and a day that families visit their family graveyards. Today, Halloween is celebrated the night before with costume parties and candy. For traditional treats try the Huesos de Santo, marzipan filled with an egg yolk cream to represent Saint’s bones.
Puente de Decembre, 6th – 8th
Puente de Dezember is Spain’s bank holiday weekend, while the rest the world counts down to Christmas. A combination of Constitution Day on the 6th and the Day of the Inmaculada Concepcion on the 8th, the days are often bridged together for a ‘puente’. The lights will be on, and there will be Christmas markets in plazas all over Spain.
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