Cultural events in Spain

2026 is shaping up to be one of those summers where Spain’s nightscape properly comes into its own. The Perseid meteor shower in Spain lands in the middle of warm August nights, village fiestas and late‑night terraces.

Spain’s public holiday system isn’t just about national dates like Christmas or Constitution Day. Each autonomous community also sets its own regional public holiday, or festivos, and every city chooses two local holidays on top.

If El Gordo is the warm‑up act for Spain’s festive gambling season, the El Niño lottery is the quieter but very welcome encore.

Spain’s national holidays give you plenty of chances to organise your calendar, plan trips and enjoy long weekends.

If there’s one Spanish tradition that gets absolutely everyone talking in December, it’s the Spanish Christmas Lottery, Lotería de Navidad, better known as El Gordo.

New Year’s Eve events in Spain come thick and fast, so if you still don’t have a plan, there’s plenty to jump on at short notice.

Bérchules, tucked into the Alpujarra, is a Spanish town that celebrates New Year’s Eve in summer.

New Year’s Eve traditions in Spain feel both homely and theatrical, with families glued to the same clock and strangers hugging in the street two minutes later. What is the Spanish tradition for New Year’s Eve?How to eat the 12 grapes at midnightWhy Spain eats 12 grapes on New Year’s EveWhere t

Spain’s festive season doesn’t end on Christmas Day.

Many bank holidays in Spain can be hard to keep track of, due to variations in holiday calendars across the country. Public holidays in Spain often depend on the region and, in many cases, the city itself.

Valencia isn’t just a summer destination – in autumn, the city comes alive with a vibrant mix of cultural, gastronomic, and leisure activities.

All Saints’ Day, Día de Todos los Santos, falls on Saturday, 1st November this year, so there isn’t an extra day tacked onto the weekend. Sadly, Monday, 3rd November, is a normal working day across Spain.

The chestnut festivals in Spain tend to come alive from the last two weeks of October through All Saints’ Day on 1st November.

Late October in Spain smells of roasting castañas and warm sugar. Bakery windows fill with inviting treats, while street braziers serve hot boniatos and cups of thick chocolate.

Halloween in Spain is a two‑speed affair. You have a lively night of costumes and club nights on 31st October, followed by the quiet, reflective rhythm of Todos los Santos on 1st November.

Valencia is preparing for 9th October, the region’s annual day that reshapes streets and squares with ceremony and celebration. What is 9th October, Valencia DayIs 9th October a holiday in Spain? Traditions on 9th October: the Senyera and La Mocadorà9th October Valencia Day 2025 programme

October in Spain is crisp air, harvest flavours and a stack of very local traditions.

Spain’s National Day lands in mid‑October, mixing military pageantry in Madrid with quieter local traditions elsewhere.

Each October, Zaragoza turns into a citywide celebration for Fiestas del Pilar, blending centuries-old traditions with modern music and street culture.

In September, the city of Barcelona throws its biggest party of the year, La Mercè. It’s the local festa major, or main festival, and is essentially a massive, city-wide send-off to summer.

September in Spain has a special feel to it. As the intense heat of summer begins to fade and the crowds start to thin, the country comes alive with some of its most interesting celebrations.

Spain's calendar is peppered with public holidays, known locally as festivos. Many of these days off are rooted in the country's Catholic traditions, often marking feast days for various saints or other important religious events.

Málaga is often seen simply as the gateway to the Costa del Sol, but the city has a character all its own. It's a place with some serious historical weight, where you can trace the steps of Roman and Moorish civilisations through the old town's streets.