Traditional holidays in Spain

If you’re eyeing up the best Easter breaks in Spain, you’re looking at one of the most atmospheric times to be here.

Every year on 28th February, Andalusia celebrates its official regional holiday: Andalusia Day, or Día de Andalucía.

Spain is home to countless colourful traditions, but few are as curious—and theatrical—as the Burial of the Sardine.

Love is in the air as 14th February 2026 approaches. But does Spain celebrate Valentine’s Day? The answer is yes!

If winter’s dragging on and you need something colourful to aim for, Las Palmas Carnival 2026 is the big one in the Canary Islands calendar.

If you’ve ever been curious about why people get so misty‑eyed talking about Carnival in Cádiz, 2026 is a good year to understand it properly. This isn’t a glossy parade-first carnival like Tenerife.

Carnival in Spain 2026 promises a spectacular celebration full of colour, music, and festive traditions. Across the country, cities and towns come alive with parades, street parties, and cultural events.

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.

Spain’s holidays in 2026 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.

How is Christmas celebrated in Spain? Spanish Christmas traditions are full of colour, culture, and quirky customs. From unique decorations to festive foods and New Year rituals, Spain’s celebrations are both traditional and delightfully unusual.

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.

Christmas in Spain is a long, food‑centred season running from Nochebuena through Christmas Day to Reyes. Families linger over traditional Christmas food in Spain with long lunches and generous starters, roasts and shellfish.

The Christmas lights in Vigo 2025 are a full‑blown national talking point, the kind people travel for just to see the city glow. A lot of that fame rests on the mayor's showman streak, turning the switch‑on into a headline moment.

Barcelona’s planning a full-on glow this year for its Christmas lights display.

Madrid is going big with its Christmas lights display for 2025.

Spain does the festive season properly, with big city switch‑ons in late November and early December, light‑and‑sound shows on iconic streets, projection mapping on landmark buildings and sweet, low‑key neighbourhood displays. Where to see the best Christmas lights in Spain 2025 Málaga Chr

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.

Early December can reshape work and travel plans across Spain, with closures and altered schedules felt nationwide for the December bank holiday weekend.

Spain’s festive travel season is shaping up to be busy again, led by short city breaks, family visits, and a strong winter-sun pull to the Canary Islands. Jetcost survey data suggests 71% of Spaniards plan at least one Christmas-season trip, with an average spend of around €803 per person.

Halloween in Spain has become increasingly popular over the years, evolving from a largely imported holiday into a celebration with its own unique Spanish twist. From traditional Celtic-inspired rituals to modern urban festivities, Halloween in Spain now combines history, culture, and fun.

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