Spain celebrates more holidays and festivals than almost any other European country. Understanding the calendar helps you plan around closures, participate in celebrations, and experience Spanish culture at its most vibrant.
National public holidays
These holidays are observed throughout Spain. Most businesses, banks, and government offices close.
Fixed-date holidays
| Date | Holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day) | Everything closed |
| January 6 | Día de Reyes (Three Kings’ Day) | Gift-giving day, parades |
| May 1 | Día del Trabajo (Labor Day) | Everything closed |
| August 15 | Asunción de la Virgen | Major summer holiday |
| October 12 | Día de la Hispanidad | National day, military parade |
| November 1 | Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day) | Cemetery visits |
| December 6 | Día de la Constitución | Constitution Day |
| December 8 | Inmaculada Concepción | Religious holiday |
| December 25 | Navidad (Christmas Day) | Everything closed |
Variable-date holidays
| Holiday | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Viernes Santo (Good Friday) | March/April | Part of Semana Santa |
| Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday) | March/April | Many regions |
Regional and local holidays
Each autonomous community and municipality has additional holidays. You’ll have around 14 total public holidays per year, combining national, regional, and local days.
Common regional holidays
Catalonia:
- June 24: Sant Joan (St. John’s Day)
- September 11: Diada Nacional de Catalunya
- December 26: Sant Esteve (St. Stephen’s Day)
Basque Country:
- July 31: San Ignacio de Loyola
- Local patron saint days vary by city
Andalusia:
- February 28: Día de Andalucía
- Local ferias throughout spring/summer
Valencia:
- March 19: San José (Las Fallas finale)
- October 9: Día de la Comunidad Valenciana
Madrid:
- May 2: Día de la Comunidad de Madrid
- May 15: San Isidro (Madrid’s patron saint)
Galicia:
- July 25: Santiago Apóstol (St. James)
- May 17: Día das Letras Galegas
Local patron saint days
Every town and city celebrates its patron saint with a local holiday. Madrid has San Isidro (May 15), Barcelona has La Mercè (September 24), Valencia has San Vicente (April) and the Fallas, etc.
Check your specific municipality for local holidays.
Major festivals and celebrations
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
When: Week before Easter (March/April)
What: Spain’s most important religious celebration with processions, traditions, and family gatherings.
Where it’s biggest:
- Seville: Most famous, elaborate processions, enormous crowds
- Málaga: Large processions, passionate atmosphere
- Valladolid: Solemn, traditional Castilian style
- Cartagena: Impressive processions
What happens:
- Religious brotherhoods (cofradías) parade through streets
- Ornate floats (pasos) carrying religious figures
- Penitents in robes and pointed hoods (capirotes)
- Solemn music, incense, crowds lining streets
- Restaurants and bars packed between processions
Practical impact:
- Thursday through Sunday are holidays in most regions
- Major tourist destinations extremely crowded
- Book accommodation months in advance
- Some businesses close entire week
- Flights and trains fill up
Las Fallas (Valencia)
When: March 15-19 (main events), builds throughout March
What: Valencia’s explosive festival of fire, art, and controlled chaos.
What happens:
- Giant artistic sculptures (fallas) built throughout city
- March 19 (La Cremà): All fallas burned in massive bonfires
- Daily firework displays (mascletà) at 2pm in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
- 24/7 street parties, music, food
- Traditional costumes (fallera/fallero dresses)
Practical impact:
- City center transformed
- Extremely loud (constant fireworks)
- Accommodation prices spike, book far ahead
- Many businesses close
- Unforgettable experience
San Fermín (Pamplona)
When: July 6-14
What: World-famous running of the bulls festival.
What happens:
- Daily encierro (bull run) at 8am through narrow streets
- All-day and all-night partying
- Traditional white clothes with red scarves
- Concerts, parades, bullfights
Practical impact:
- Pamplona population multiplies
- Accommodation nearly impossible without advance booking
- Not recommended unless participating fully
- Surrounding region affected
La Tomatina (Buñol)
When: Last Wednesday of August
What: World’s largest tomato fight.
Where: Small town of Buñol (near Valencia)
What happens:
- One hour of throwing tomatoes at strangers
- Trucks dump tons of tomatoes in streets
- Town hoses down afterward
Practical impact:
- Limited tickets (must purchase in advance)
- Buñol overwhelmed for one day
- Fun but messy—bring clothes you’ll throw away
Feria de Abril (Seville)
When: Two weeks after Semana Santa (April/May)
What: Seville’s famous spring fair.
What happens:
- Fairgrounds (Real de la Feria) with hundreds of casetas (tents)
- Flamenco dresses, horses, carriages
- Eating, drinking, dancing sevillanas
- Most casetas are private (need invitation)
- Some public casetas available
Practical impact:
- Second major Seville event after Semana Santa
- Hotels expensive and booked
- Many businesses close afternoons
- City festive atmosphere
La Mercè (Barcelona)
When: September 24 (main day), events throughout week
What: Barcelona’s biggest festival honoring the patron saint.
What happens:
- Free concerts throughout city
- Human towers (castells)
- Fire runs (correfoc) with devils and fireworks
- Giants (gegants) parades
- Beach parties
Practical impact:
- Barcelona very busy
- Many free events
- Great time to experience Catalan culture
- Some businesses close September 24
Christmas season
The Spanish Christmas season is longer and different from many countries.
Key dates
December 22: Sorteo de Navidad
- The famous Christmas lottery
- Whole country watches the draw
- Massive prizes, tickets sold for months
December 24: Nochebuena (Christmas Eve)
- Main family celebration
- Big dinner with extended family
- Midnight mass (Misa del Gallo)
December 25: Navidad
- Quiet family day
- Some gift exchange
- Everything closed
December 28: Día de los Santos Inocentes
- Spain’s April Fools’ Day
- Pranks and jokes
December 31: Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve)
- Eating 12 grapes at midnight (one per bell chime)
- Parties, celebrations
- Puerta del Sol in Madrid is the Times Square equivalent
January 1: Año Nuevo
- Recovery day
- Everything closed
January 5: Cabalgata de Reyes
- Three Kings parade through cities
- Candies thrown to children
- Exciting night for families
January 6: Día de Reyes (Three Kings’ Day)
- Traditional gift-giving day (more important than Christmas for children)
- Roscón de Reyes (special cake)
- Everything closed
- End of holiday season
What this means for expats
- Late December through January 6: Many businesses closed or reduced hours
- Don’t expect productivity: Spain essentially shuts down
- Join the celebrations: Embrace the extended holiday
- Grapes at midnight: Buy them early (stores sell special “lucky grape” packs)
Summer holidays
August: The great escape
August is Spain’s main vacation month:
- Many Spaniards take the entire month off
- Small businesses often close 2-4 weeks
- Cities empty as people head to coast/mountains
- Beach towns and resorts packed
- Less traffic in cities
What closes in August:
- Small shops and restaurants
- Professional services
- Some medical offices
- Local businesses
What stays open:
- Tourist-oriented businesses
- Supermarkets
- Major chains
- Essential services
Plan accordingly:
- Don’t expect to get things done in August
- Schedule appointments before or after
- If staying in cities, enjoy the quiet
- If going to coast, book far ahead
San Juan (June 23-24)
Midsummer celebration, especially big on Mediterranean coast:
What happens:
- Bonfires on beaches
- Jumping over fires at midnight
- Swimming at midnight (first swim of summer)
- All-night beach parties
Where it’s biggest:
- Barcelona and Catalan coast
- Valencia
- Alicante
- All Mediterranean beaches
How holidays affect daily life
What closes
Always closed on public holidays:
- Banks
- Government offices
- Most offices
- Schools
Usually closed:
- Small shops
- Local restaurants (or limited hours)
- Professional services
Usually open:
- Supermarkets (reduced hours)
- Tourist attractions
- Restaurants in tourist areas
- Pharmacies (rotating schedule)
- Emergency services
Bridge days (puentes)
When a holiday falls on Tuesday or Thursday, Spaniards often take the Monday or Friday off, creating a “bridge” to the weekend.
What this means:
- Four-day weekends common
- Book travel early
- Expect offices to be understaffed
- Popular destinations crowded
Planning around holidays
Check before scheduling:
- Business meetings
- Medical appointments
- Government appointments
- Travel
Book early:
- Semana Santa destinations
- Summer beach accommodation
- Major festival periods
- Christmas travel
Regional festival calendar
January
- Reyes (Jan 6): Everywhere
- San Sebastián: Tamborrada (Jan 20)
February
- Carnaval: Especially Cádiz, Tenerife, Sitges
- Día de Andalucía (Feb 28)
March
- Las Fallas, Valencia (Mar 15-19)
April
- Semana Santa: Everywhere, especially Seville
- Feria de Abril, Seville: Two weeks after Easter
May
- San Isidro, Madrid (May 15)
- Feria del Caballo, Jerez
- Día de Canarias (May 30)
June
- San Juan (June 23-24): Mediterranean coast
- Corpus Christi: Toledo, Granada
- Pride, Madrid (late June)
July
- San Fermín, Pamplona (Jul 6-14)
- Santiago Apóstol (Jul 25): Galicia
August
- La Tomatina, Buñol (last Wednesday)
- Aste Nagusia, Bilbao
- Summer festivals throughout
September
- La Mercè, Barcelona (Sep 24)
- Wine harvest festivals (Rioja, etc.)
October
- El Pilar, Zaragoza (Oct 12)
- National Day (Oct 12)
November
- All Saints’ Day (Nov 1)
December
- Constitution Day (Dec 6)
- Immaculate Conception (Dec 8)
- Christmas season (Dec 22-Jan 6)
Tips for expats
- Keep a calendar — Mark all national, regional, and local holidays
- Ask coworkers — They’ll know about puentes and unofficial closures
- Book early — For travel during Semana Santa, August, and Christmas
- Join in — Festivals are the best way to experience Spanish culture
- Be flexible — Accept that things close; work around it
- Enjoy the pace — Spain celebrates life; embrace the fiestas
Key takeaways
- More holidays than expected — 14+ public holidays plus local fiestas
- August is different — Plan around the shutdown
- Semana Santa matters — Book early, expect crowds in key cities
- Local festivals are best — Each town has unique celebrations
- Christmas extends to January 6 — Plan for longer holiday season
- Puentes are real — Expect long weekends when holidays align
Spanish festivals and holidays aren’t interruptions to normal life—they are normal life. Embrace them, participate when you can, and enjoy one of the most celebratory cultures in Europe.
Written by
John Spencer
John Spencer is a writer, researcher, and digital entrepreneur who specializes in expat life, relocation strategy, and lifestyle design—particularly in Spain. His work focuses on turning overwhelming topics like visas, residency, healthcare, banking, and cost of living into straightforward, decision-ready insights.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or medical advice. Requirements and regulations change frequently. Always verify information with official Spanish government sources and consult qualified professionals for your specific situation.
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