Top 21 Festivals in Spain
- La Tomatine Festival
- Carnivals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- San Fermin Fiestas Pamplona
- Semana Santa - Easter Holy Week
- The Fallas of Valencia
- The Great Wine Fight Of Haro
- The Night of Saint John ( La Noche de San Juan )
- La Merce Festival Barcelona
- Three Kings Day Processions
- San Isidro Festival Madrid
- Seville April Fair
- Cordoba Courtyard Festival ( Fiesta de Los Patios )
- La Tamborrada Festival San Sebastian
- Feast Of St James of Santiago de Compostela
- Hispanic Day
- San Sebastian International Film Festival
- Moors VS Christians
- Malaga Feria
- Jerez Horse Fair
- White Night Malaga
1. Tomato Festival Valencia (La Tomatina)
The Tomatina festival ranks as one of the best festivals in Spain and one of the most unique. It is held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the small town of Bunol in the region of Valencia.
La Tomatina has to be the biggest food fight you will ever take part in. This is where hundreds of tons of overripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets by thousands of festival-goers. It is a tomato war using ripe squashed tomatoes hurled between participants leaving everyone dripping with bright red sweet-smelling tomato juice.
There are no winners just people having fun and enjoying being part of this unusual Spanish festival. Your task is to grab ripe tomatoes and throw them at other revellers.
There are a few rules though, the main one being that you have to squash the tomatoes in your hands before you can throw them at someone.
2. Tenerife Carnivals
One of Spain's most popular festivals is the Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival, which is held in February of each year.
The carnival resembles those held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and features parades with floats and bands; the carnival costumes are stunning and a delight to see.
The parades move through the streets alongside energetic musical groups, well-dressed performers and superbly dressed ladies who show off their rhythmic dance moves.
Some of the colourful costumes can weigh well over 100 kilos. They take months to prepare and must work many hours of practice to move freely in such a vast costume.
3. San Fermin Fiestas Pamplona
This bull-running festival usually takes place the second week and is a festival that brings the party to every corner of the city of Pamplona.
The festival starts by setting off a big bang firework called the Chupinazo from the mayor's balcony.
The bull run starts from the Plaza Santo Domingo and winds through the ancient streets of Pamplona, ending at the bullring.
This is one of the most popular, if not risky, festivals held in Spain and the most represented by global visitors seeking the undeniable rush you get from being chased by an angry bull.
4. Semana Santa - Easter Holy Week
Semana Santa is a time of reflection and celebration for the Catholic community in Spain.
It’s a beautiful time of year to witness the colourful processions, with people dressed in traditional clothing and bearing crosses, candles, and statues of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.
The processions are held throughout the night, with people gathered in the streets to watch and pray. The climax of the festival is the Good Friday procession, which is the most important event of the week.
It’s a powerful reminder of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and a reminder for all of us to think about the sacrifices he made for us.
One of the best Holy Week festivals is the one held in Seville each year and one you should visit if you are looking for an authentic Semana Santa experience.
5. The Fallas of Valencia
The Fallas of Valencia is visually one of the most spectacular Fiestas you will come across in Spain. In mid-March, Valencia lights up its streets for a week of celebration and parties.
Locals create giant paper mache figures representing notable people as well as traditional figures, which are then displayed in the city throughout the entire week.
The celebrations come to an enigmatic end when all the figures are burned down in one of the most amazing bonfires you will ever see.
6. The Great Wine Fight - La Batalla de Vino de Haro
This mighty wine-fighting festival takes place each year in the picturesque village of Haro, usually during the last week of June.
The location is the beautiful Rioja wine-growing region of northern Spain, for wine and party lovers this is a must-visit festival in Spain.
It is held on St Peter's Day to honour the local wine production, where locals and visitors climb a mountain and throw wine over each other; what could be more fun?
The region of Haro is one of Rioja's top wine-producing municipalities, with over 40% of the area's vineyards located here; the production of superior quality wine is the mainstay of the local economy and is celebrated in style each year.
7. La Noche de San Juan - The Night of Saint John
The annual San Juan festival is for you if you're into an all-night beach party and fun.
It is held around the 23rd of June each year, most notably in Andalucia, where the warm temperatures make for a perfect all-night party.
This ancient pagan festival is legendary for its night-long party atmosphere, including music, dance and tremendous fun.
The night is all about fire and water, and young and old congregate to build small fires and enjoy the shortest night of the year.
According to tradition, to be cleansed and purified, you must jump over a fire three times.
8. La Merce Festival Barcelona
La Merce festival is the biggest in Barcelona, including numerous live concerts, parades, fireworks, and famous human towers.
Barcelona's way of ushering in autumn includes music, arts, acrobatic shows, and street processions, among 500 fun activities.
The highlights of this critical festival include the amazing Castellers - human towers - which take place at the Placa de Jaume.
Try to get there early as many thousands of people pack out the town square to watch the building of the human towers, culminating in youngsters climbing to the top.
This unique festival will remain in your memory long after you leave Barcelona.
9. Three Kings Day - January 6th
This festival is held between the evening of January 5th and the main event on the 6th, a national holiday.
It is probably the festival that every child in the land most awaits.
Whole communities participate in street processions where children are gifted with candy thrown from the floats.
The real fun comes in the form of colourful processions, which take place in the early evening of the 6th of January. Streets fill up with decorated floats slowly through the towns, throwing sweets into the crowds. A mad dash ensues by young ( and old ! ) to pick up the caramelos ( sweets ).
The main float carries the three kings bearing even more gifts duly thrown out at the children lining the streets.
10. San Isidro Madrid
May is a fun time in Madrid as the San Isidro festivals take over the city for the whole month.
During the day, the locals are treated to live music concerts in city squares, culminating in all-night parties.
The fiestas de San Isidro are one of Spain's largest festivals, so it's well worth spending a few days in the capital to enjoy the huge variety of attractions and activities.
The festival commemorates the patron saint of Madrid, San Isidro, and is eagerly awaited as they herald in springtime.
Lasting five days, visitors can enjoy over 50 concerts of varying musical styles plus theatre, street dance performers, children’s activities, street processions and lots more!
11. Seville April Fair
Probably one of Spain's biggest and most important April festivals is the Seville April Fair ( La Feria de Abril ), which is held each year in Seville, the capital city of Andalucia.
As the festival is held during Easter week, the dates can vary each year, so it is always best to check before booking your holiday.
The fair usually starts at midnight on Monday, two weeks after the holy week ( Semana Santa ), and is the beginning of one of Spain’s biggest parties, lasting a whole week and ending the following Sunday with a spectacular fireworks display.
The city of Seville comes alive with thousands of local girls wearing colourful and stunning Flamenco dresses. People come from all over Andalucia, Spain and further afield each year to witness and be part of this unforgettable Spanish tradition.
The Easter holy festivals are celebrated all over Andalucia. They are a highlight of the year for many towns and villages, with large numbers of the local population involved in preparing the large religious floats.
12. Cordoba Courtyard Festival
The courtyards festival is held during the first two weeks of May in Cordoba, where locals open up their colourful courtyards and patios to visitors to the city.
These are no ordinary courtyards, though, as these are full of late spring flowers offering an explosion of colours and smells.
The patios and courtyards can be found all around the city, although the main areas to visit include the Alcázar Viejo district, between the Alcazar and the parish of San Basilio. They can also be seen close to the Church of San Lorenzo: La Magdalena, the Mosque-Cathedral and the old Jewish quarter.
The town hall organises competitions for the best courtyards dating back to 1921.
13. La Tamborrada Festival San Sebastian
The Tamborrada is one of the loudest festivals in Spain, held in San Sebastian on the 19th and 20th of January each year.
Hundreds of drummers parade the streets, making as much noise as possible.
This famous street party starts around midnight on the 19th of January and is one of the most anticipated fiestas held in the Basque country during the year.
It's great fun, an impressive spectacle, and one where earplugs come in handy.
» Official website for the Tamborrada Festivals
14. Feast Of St James of Santiago de Compostela
The Feast of Saint James is a grand celebration held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, each year to honour St. James, the patron saint of Spain.
The festivities stretch from July 24th to 25th and are a public holiday in Galicia. During this time, the city is filled with pilgrims who travel worldwide to celebrate the feast.
The main event of the festival is the traditional procession of St. James. This solemn procession involves the statue of Santiago being carried through the streets of the city in a sea of pilgrims and performers.
Other festivities include religious services, traditional dances, street markets, performances, workshops, and concerts throughout the city.
The Feast of St James has been celebrated in Santiago de Compostela for centuries. It is believed that the tradition dates back to 865 AD.
15. Hispanic Day
The Hispanic Day ( Dia de la Hispanidad ) is one of Spain´s most important national holidays.
There is an armed forces parade held in Madrid, which is attended by all the top politicians and Spanish Royal family members, plus a wide range of foreign dignitaries.
While the National Day of Spain is celebrated only on October 12th, it’s usual to have the national holiday last a long weekend. In this way, all the citizens can enjoy the festivity and take advantage of the short vacation.
You won’t find many shops open, but bars and restaurants are!
16. San Sebastian International Film Festival
The San Sebastian Film Festival is one of the world's most prestigious and well-regarded festivals.
The festival began in 1953 and has taken place every year since then, making it one of the longest-running global film festivals.
The festival was initially classified as a B-category festival by the FIAPF. Still, two years later, in 1955, it was proclaimed as a competition for colour films, which made it possible to award the famous “Concha de Plata” (Silver Shell) award.
In 1957, the festival was upgraded to an A category, the highest classification in the cinema world, with the award the “concha” is made of gold.
Every year, the San Sebastian Festival attracts celebrities worldwide, making it one of the most important festivals celebrated in Spain.
17. Moors VS Christians Valencia
This amazing festival can be seen in the town of Bocairante in the province of Valencia, which celebrates the annual Moors versus Christians festivities in honour of Saint Blas, the patron of the town.
This is one of the oldest and most spectacular celebrations held in Spain.
You will be entertained by street bands, dancing, and amazing parades during the six days the festivities go on, not forgetting the deafening sound of gunpowder as it is fired from imitation muskets day and night.
One of the main highlights is the Entra, with over 3.000 participants and a remarkable parade of floats.
You can also see the Moors Vs Christians battle re-enactments in other towns around Valencia including Alcoy, Villajoyosa, Vilena and El Campello.
18. Malaga Feria
The Malaga Feria, one of Spain's largest and famous festivals, takes place every August in the Andalusian city of Malaga.
The festival commemorates the Reconquest of Malaga by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, on August 19, 1487.
This week-long celebration is a spectacular blend of tradition, culture, music, and gastronomy, drawing thousands of locals and tourists alike.
19. Jerez Horse Fair
The Jerez horse fair goes back some 500 years and is an amazing spectacle whether you are a horse lover or not, the official agreement to hold this festival was signed back in 1491.
The event includes horse parades, street parties and all-night song and dance in one of around 200 adorned tents on the Gonzalo Hontorio fairground which covers an area of around 52.000 M2.
The dates do change each year so always best to check before planning your trip.
20. White Night Malaga (Noche en Blanca)
Malaga always offers a warm welcome to all its cultural festivities, and the Noche en Blanca festival is no exception.
There are over 160 activities ranging from music, visual arts, street arts, and extraordinary visits planned to happen throughout the city. Past events have received as many as 200,000 visitors and it is believed this number will only grow in the coming years.
A visit to the Costa del Sol in May is never complete without indulging in the fun and freebies its capital Malaga has to offer.