Traditional holidays in Spain

October turns Madrid into a vibrant stage where culture, leisure and food converge to create unique experiences. As autumn begins, the city comes alive with events ranging from music and art festivals to food tours and outdoor activities – perfect for enjoying the cooler days and lively nights.

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.

As the 2025–2026 school year approaches, some regions in Spain have already started confirming their term dates.

Looking for something a little out of the ordinary to pep up your Spanish summer? The Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme in As Neves is about as left-field as festivals get.

When it comes to festivals, Spain plays in a league of its own. We're talking about some wonderfully wacky traditions, many of which have been celebrated for centuries.

This bonkers festival in Valencia comprises truckloads of tomatoes and people willing to paint the town red. Literally.

It's a public holiday in Madrid on 1st and 2nd May, which means a long weekend of festivities and events. 1st May is Labour Day, like in much of the world, while 2nd May is a holiday exclusive to Madrid, celebrating the Fiestas del 2 de Mayo.

The Patios de Cordoba, or Cordoba's Courtyards Festival, is a colourful celebration held during the first and second week of May. During this festival, residents adorn their courtyards with flowers, transforming them into beautiful displays.

Steeped in centuries of tradition and bursting with Andalusian flair, La Feria de Abril—also known as the Seville Fair—is one of Spain’s most vibrant cultural events.

Mother’s Day in Spain, or Día de la Madre, is celebrated on the first Sunday of May each year. This means, unlike Father’s Day in Spain, which is always on 19th March, Mother’s Day varies each year.

Explore the vibrant and unique Tomatina Festival in Buñol, Valencia, set to take place on 28th August of this year 2024.

Spain public holidays 2023: we're already counting down to Christmas, and before you know it, 2023 will be here. It's time to take a look at the 2023 holiday calendar in Spain so that you can be prepared, and even start planning your long weekends and getaways.

The cancellations of major national and international events due to the coronavirus is something we’ve become highly used to in recent times, and Spain’s world-famous Tomatina de Buñol has ended up with the same destiny in 2020.

In Spain, the Easter holidays are traditionally one of the biggest events in the calendar and the most important celebrations take place during Holy Week.

La Floración de Cieza When: 1st-31st March 2020 Where: Cieza, Murcia Website: murciaturistica.es When you think of Murcia, the first thing on your mind could be beaches, nightlife or sunny weather. These things are all true, but Murcia also has so much more to offer.

Carnival time is a strange celebration at the end of winter and just before Lent when the world dresses up in extravagant clothing and goes wild.

Spain's finest national holiday 'Fiesta Nacional de España', takes place on 12th October every year and is one of the most important festivals in Spain, being a bank holiday for all workers.The celebration involves a military parade through the centre of Madrid, attended by the Royal Family, the Pre

The Feria de Albacete 2019 When: 7th – 17th September 2019 Where: Albacete, Spain Website: feriadealbacete.net The Feria de Albacete is one of the most authentic festivals in Spain considered to be of International Tourist Interest.

The Cascamorras Festival When: 6th – 9th September 2019 Where: Baza and Guadix, Spain Website: el-cascamorras.com The Cascamorras is one of the oldest and weirdest festivals in Spain.

La Tomatina 2019 When: 28th August 2019 Where: Buñol, Spain Website: latomatina.info La Tomatina is Spain’s famous tomato-throwing festival, one of the best known and wackiest fiestas in the country.

Cante de las Minas 2019 When: 1st – 10th August 2019 Where: La Unión, Spain Website: festivalcantedelasminas.org Spain is the home of flamenco, and the best flamenco festival in Spain 2019 is the Cante de las Minas in La Unión, Murcia.

Saint James’s Day When: 15th – 31st July 2019 Where: Santiago de Compostela, Spain Website: santiagoturismo.com St.