From the incredible architecture of Barcelona to the stunning beaches of Valencia, Spain is a country that offers an awesome variety of experiences. There’s one thread that unites every region of this sprawling country, though: Spain knows how to throw an amazing festival.
From Las Fallas in Valencia to Corpus Christi in Toledo, festivals in Spain happen on a grand scale. Ranging from religious to whimsical to downright outrageous, there’s a festival for every kind of traveler—from native Spaniards to international visitors alike.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best festivals of the year so you can plan ahead for your next stay. We’re talking tomato throwing, cheese tasting, and bonfire setting, and that barely scrapes the surface. Get ready to be amazed by everything Spain has to offer.
Speaking of traveling, we’re sure you’ll enjoy these festivals even more by learning some Spanish beforehand. Go beyond basic Spanish phrases and get conversation ready with Rosetta Stone. In each lesson, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in an all-Spanish environment with visual and verbal clues to simulate what it’s like to be there even before you travel. Plus, Truaccent gives you instant feedback to help you perfect your pronunciation.
1. Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day)
When: January 6
Where: Everywhere in Spain!
What to expect: Children all over Spain and most of the Spanish-speaking world receive their Christmas season gifts on this day–but not from Santa. Instead, they receive them from the Tres Reyes (Three Kings) whose biblical story tells of three magi from the East who followed a bright star to bring gifts to newborn Jesus sometime after his birth.
Children get ready for Three Kings Day on the night of January 5. Cabalgatas (parades) occur in most major cities in the evening and feature music, costumed dancers, huge floats, and costumed kings who throw candy to kids in the crowd.
When the children go home, they put their shoes out before going to bed. They then find them full of candy and gifts when they awaken.
Fun fact: Magos can mean “magician” in Spanish, and we sometimes call them the magi or the Three Wise Men in English. In this context though, it probably means “astronomer”, referring to those skilled at reading the stars.
2. Carnaval (Carnival)
When: Often in February, starting a couple of weeks before Ash Wednesday and ending about 10 days later (Pro tip: Check individual carnivals for specific information.)
Where: Everywhere in Spain, but especially Cádiz, Águilas, Xinzo de Limia, Badajoz. On the Canary Islands, you’ll find festivities in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
What to expect: Carnaval occurs in Catholic countries as a way to let off steam before Lent. Religious or not, many people in Spain (and throughout the Spanish-speaking world) love to participate in carnaval.
Carnavals share common characteristics: parades involving music and dance, elaborate costumes, moving floats, stationary stages, and some light mockery of public figures. Still, each one has its own unique spin. Here are some unique elements of popular carnaval celebrations in Spain:
- Cádiz: Chirigotas (musical comedy groups) sing satirical songs in groups of 7-12. There’s a competition held each year that awards first, second, and third place trophies!
- Águilas: Confetti-filled egg shells are popular, similar to the colorful cascarones used in Easter celebrations in Mexico.
- Badajoz: The murgas are quite similar to the chirigotas of Cádiz!
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: The annual Drag Queen Gala is an over-the-top, can’t-miss performance of costumes, music, and dance.
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Who will win this year’s title of Carnaval Queen? This pageant-like competition actually has three winners each year across categories for children, adults, and seniors.
Check tours or official pages for details on these carnivals and more.
Fun fact: The last day to celebrate carnival is known as Fat Tuesday (or Shrove Tuesday), which you may recognize by its French name, Mardi Gras. But in Spanish the day is simply called Martes de Carnaval (Carnival Tuesday).
3. Las Fallas
When: Mid-March for 5 days, with pre-celebrations happening in early March
Where: Valencia, Valencia (Comunidad Valenciana)
What to expect: Watch a parade of falleros and falleras, men and women donning traditional dress. The falleras are particularly spectacular with their hair tightly braided, wound, and adorned with large, intricate pieces of hair jewelry. Their iconic dresses are made of silk brocade topped with lace. Be forewarned, though: this daily and noisy parade called La Despertá in Valencian starts at the crack of dawn when the entire city is awoken with drums, firecrackers, and full brass bands.
Even more spectacular are the ninots: handmade sculptures of multiple figures sometimes balancing on each other and measuring over 60 feet high. Taking months to create, these wood and paper mache figures center on a theme that sometimes pokes fun at contemporary politicians or evokes fantasy stories.
Every ninot is made more beautiful by its brief life span. Firecrackers inside each ninot are lit on the last night known as La Cremà, and the statues meet a quick and fiery demise. Fireworks, marching bands, an offering of flowers and a fire-themed parade are also part of the celebration.
Fun fact: The Fallas festival in Valencia has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Culture Heritage.
4. Semana Santa (Holy Week)
When: From Palm Sunday to Easter (dates change each year)
Where: Everywhere Spain
What to expect: Catholics take this time to recall Christ’s Passion and Resurrection, but we think these celebrations are beautiful and moving for everyone who attends.
Artisans create labyrinthine palm frond figures that can be found outside churches on Palm Sunday. Throughout the week, there will be processions with large religious statues on platforms, which are carried by people through the streets. You may see women with their faces covered in lace or other folks, regretting their sins, wearing a tall pointed hat that conceals their face.
Fun fact: Many Spaniards (and people in Latin America) take this week off to go on vacation, but on a national level, only Friday is a holiday. That said, Spain has Autonomous Communities that sometimes decide to make this an official three- or four-day weekend, including the Monday after Easter!
5. Feria de Abril (April Fair)
When: Usually in April, two weeks after Semana Santa
Where: Sevilla, Sevilla (Andalucia)
What to expect: This incredible fair kicks off with the Alumbrado (also known as the Alumbrao or Pescaíto) at midnight when the whole fair is lit up and a pre-event cena (supper). The fairgrounds are so big—about 13 million square feet—that 15 streets are created on them each year.
Look for the paseo de caballos (horse promenade) featuring 1,400 horse-drawn carriages with their riders in traditional costumes. About 1,000 casetas (small tents) are set up, but these are mostly private places for people to party.
Visit the amusement park and circus called the Calle de Infierno (Hell Street), or attend a bullfight. At every corner of the celebration, you’ll find live music, great food like tapas (small appetizers), and special drinks like manzanilla, a light dry white wine that’s slightly salty. The fair comes to a close with fireworks over the Guadalquivir River.
Fun fact: Although the Feria began in 1847 as a livestock fair, sevillanos (Sevillians) were known to dress up for the occasion, especially at night—hence why you’ll find elaborate dresses and tophats worn by most festival goers!
6. Feria Nacional del Queso (National Cheese Festival)
When: Late April through early May
Where: Trujillo, Cáceres (Extremadura)
What to expect: Get ready for five glorious days of cheese tasting and buying with about 100 stands and 50 brands. You’ll find plenty of goat and sheep’s cheeses and even some workshops on cheese making. Food pairings with dried fruits and truffles are also featured. The very reasonably priced tickets for this event can be purchased about 10 days in advance, but only locally.
Fun fact: The cheeses are so special in Extremadura that some of them have a Protected Designation of Origin status. We think the torta del casar—with its firm crust, cake-like appearance, and creamy sheep’s milk center—is a delicacy not to be missed.
7. San Isidro Labrador (St. Isadore the Laborer)
When: May 15, with some events starting as early as May 6
Where: Madrid
What to expect: The festival celebrates the patron saint of Madrid, and events center around a park named after him, the Pradera de San Isidro. With something for all ages, this spring festival is sure to please everyone. Madrileños (Madrid residents) like to put on their fancy clothes to enjoy a limonada (Spanish-style lemonade), pastry, picnic, or chotis dance. Because this saint is associated with miracles related to wells and water, folks like to drink from the fountains of the Ermita de San Isidro (St. Isadore Hermitage).
Fun facts: The song “Madrid” to which madrileños dance the chotis was actually composed by Mexican composer Agustín Lara.
8. Noche en Blanco (White Night Festival)
When: Third week in May (dates may vary)
Where: Málaga, Málaga (Andalucia)
What to expect: Noche en Blanco started in Paris as a way to entice the public to enjoy cultural events for free. Though we comment here on the Málaga version in May, another Noche en Blanco is held in Madrid in the fall.
Noche en Blanco is a very full evening of arte y cultura (art and culture) that takes place at approximately 70 spaces throughout the city. In 2023, there were over 50,000 attendees. You will encounter art exhibits, dance performances, music, theater. You can check out the official site a couple of months before the event for details.
Fun fact: Each year, malagueños (Málaga residents) vote on a theme for the evening. In 2023, they decided on Gen de la Buena Vida (The Gene of the Good Life).
9. Corpus Christi
When: Usually late May (60 days after Easter on a Thursday)
Where: Everywhere in Spain, especially Toledo, Granada and Ponteareas
What to expect: A Catholic festival with origins going as far back as the 13th century, you’ll witness processions with horses and riders, floats, soldiers, nuns, monks, and children dressed in white who received holy communion in the past year. Some women wear the traditional mantilla, an elevated lace head scarf. Days before, Spaniards may decorate their streets with herbs and flower petals, and their balconies with garlands, flag,s and coats of arms. Artisans in some cities create sophisticated street art made with flowers.
Fun fact: Corpus Christi means the body of Christ in Latin, and this Catholic festival specifically celebrates the idea of the Eucharist, the presence of Christ in the ritualistic bread and wine, a theme that was hotly debated in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Europe.
10. La Noche de San Juan (St. John’s Eve)
When: June 23
Where: Everywhere in Spain
What to expect: This holiday celebrates St. John the Baptist’s feast day on June 24, just days after the summer solstice. On this day, people in Spain create altars in their homes, which can be seen on this evening and through the next day.
With a touch of what may be a pagan past, parties with drums, drinking, dancing, and bonfires are common on this night. Fireworks are another popular feature of this evening celebration.The next day, some churches tour their statue of St. John around the neighborhood.
Fun fact: Many superstitions surround this date. Some used to ask for three wishes, while others cut their hair so it will grow fuller. There’s even one for predicting the future: just crack an egg into a glass of water.
11. Madrid Orgullo (Gay Pride in Madrid)
When: Usually June 28 – July 7
Where: Madrid
What to expect: For Madrid’s grand celebration of queer pride, Madrid Orgullo or Mado is ushered in with full color throughout the city. Neighborhoods deck themselves out to usher in the spirit of the season and major museums participate with relevant exhibitions. Though there are all sorts of artistic and musical events along with special prizes, the heart of this festival is the city-wide march, which starts in the early evening on the second to last day.
Fun fact: Spain has some of the strongest LGBTQ+ rights laws in the world, and Madrid Orgullo is a joyous celebration for local Spaniards and out-of-town visitors alike.
12. Batalla del Vino (Haro Wine Festival)
When: June 29 (with events a few days before and after)
Where: Haro, Haro (La Rioja)
What to expect: Be prepared to get literally soaked in wine. No fancy clothes required! La Rioja is famous for its red wine, and residents of this region love it so much even their skin imbibes.
The Batalla del Vino (directly translated as the “Wine Battle”) is all about throwing red wine on others until everyone turns a lovely purplish-red. Even water pistols are fair game. The fun starts early in the morning with most folks wearing a red bandana and white clothes so the color vino (wine color) will really show. Music and dance are also part of the festivities, and, of course, lots of wine drinking.
Fun fact: The tradition harks back to the eighteenth century when traveling pilgrims would stop at the local hermitage. After a certain breakfast, some of the pilgrims started pouring wine on each other’s boots, and the tradition grew into what it is today.
13. La Corrida de Toros (Running of the Bulls)
When: Early July, lasts for 9 days
Where: Pamplona, Pamplona (Navarra)
What to expect: This is a long-standing tradition in Spain. Folks wake up early to run alongside, in front of or behind large bulls stampeding down narrow streets.
Note that some humans and bulls do fall. Iif you decide to run, make sure to read up on tips beforehand. For those who would prefer to skip the run, we recommend watching from afar and buying tickets in advance. There is one rule you’ll need to follow, whether you’re a spectator or participant: you have to wear some combination of white and red.
Fun fact: The Running of the Bulls recalls San Fermín, a young man of the Roman empire who was the first to convert to Christianity in his town and later beheaded. The red you’ll be wearing recalls his martyred blood.
14. Semana Grande (Great Week)
When: The first Saturday after August 15, lasts for 9 days
Where: Bilbao, Vizcaya (Basque Country)
What to expect: Known as Aste Nagusia in Basque, Great Week (sometimes called “Grand Week” or “Big Week” in English) is the biggest celebration of the year in Basque Country, held at local fairgrounds. Folks prepare to participate in comparsas (parades) as a group, depending on their social or political interests.
Rockets are launched by the festival queen each day to inaugurate the events. The same woman sings the celebratory theme song each year and yes, in Spain fashion, she happens to be a giant puppet with arms raised to the sky. Spaniards call her Marijaia, and she remains an enduring symbol of Semana Grande. Once the festival kicks off, it’s nonstop dancing with DJs and daily concerts for the rest of the week.
Fun fact: Some famous stars like Iggy Pop, Public Enemy and Earth, Wind and Fire have participated in the past.
15. La Tomatina
When: The last Wednesday in August
Where: Buñol, Valencia (Comunidad Valencia)
What to expect: If you’ve ever had the urge to start a food fight, this one’s for you. Plenty of overripe tomatoes will be involved in this very red event in which folks launch tomatoes at each other. What all started as an accident has turned into a full blown tradition. There’s also music, fireworks, and a paella contest. We also recommend the chaos of the palo jabón, a greased pole contest.
Fun fact: After the tomato throwing, fire trucks hose off the city. The acid from the tomatoes actually helps to clean the buildings and streets.
16. La Mercè
When: September 24, though festivities are known to start several days before
Where: Barcelona, Barcelona (Catalonia)
What to expect: You’ll see and hear open air concerts, falcons and castellars (different types of human towers), balls de diable (devil dances), and capgrossos i nans (“big heads” and dwarfs), a lively dance with humans in super-sized costumes.
On the religious side, there are Corpus Christi-inspired parades. On the more upbeat side, there is also a correfoc, or a fire run, in which people dressed in devil costumes spew fireworks from their pitchforks. You’re likely to hear many different languages from Spain throughout the celebration, too, especially Catalan!
Fun fact: When Barcelona was hit with an onslaught of locusts in the late 17th century, residents invoked the Mare de Dèu de la Mercè (Our Lady of Mercy) and the locusts left. She was attributed with having miraculously defended the city against a plague.
Get to know Spanish even better with Rosetta Stone
With so much to experience in Spain, it’s hard to know where to start. We recommend choosing one or two regions or festivals to focus on. Just be aware that some exact festival dates and details are not available until a few months ahead of time.
To get the most out of your trip to Spain, why not take the next step and learn Spanish? Rosetta Stone has you covered with our simple approach to language learning that avoids repetition and memorization, and instead makes learning fun, immersive, and accessible for busy schedules!
Written by Rowena Galavitz
Rowena Galavitz is a Spanish translator, bilingual copy editor, and language and literature instructor with three master’s degrees who loves Spanish and all things Mexico.
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