A Year in
Spain
January
Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (5 Jan). The Three Kings throw sweets to children.
△ La Tamborrada (19–20 Jan). San Sebastián resounds with the beats of hundreds of drums.
Canary Islands International Music Festival (Jan/Feb). Classical music fills the air.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
February
ARCOmadrid (Feb/Mar). Madrid hosts a week-long contemporary art fair.
△ Carnival (Feb/Mar). Every town erupts in colourful celebrations. Cádiz’s offering is the best.
Festival de Flamenco de Jerez (Feb/Mar). Performances, workshops and even flash mobs dedicated to flamenco in Jerez de la Frontera.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
March
Fiestas (mid-Mar). Castellón de la Plana is taken over by parades in honour of Mary Magdalene.
△ Las Fallas (15–19 Mar). Hilarious papier-mâché figures are paraded through Valencia before being burned on massive pyres on 19 March, while fireworks explode across the sky.
Semana Santa (Mar/Apr). Solemn processions by hooded devotees are held throughout Spain.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
April
Moors and Christians (21–24 Apr). This colourful costumed event in Alcoi celebrates the Christian victory over the Moors in 1276.
Sant Jordi (23 Apr). Books and roses are exchanged in Barcelona in honour of St George, the patron saint of Catalonia.
△ Feria de Abril (2 weeks after Easter). Seville’s exuberant Andalucían fiesta features crowds dancing sevillanas, free-flowing sherry and fairground rides.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
May
Feria del Caballo (mid-May). Jerez de la Frontera’s horse fair features fine horses and women in frilly flamenco dresses.
△ WOMAD (mid-May). Free concerts are held around Cáceres in this miniature version of the world music festival.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
June
△ Primavera Sound (early Jun). One of Europe’s biggest indie music festivals shakes up Barcelona.
Fiesta de San Juan (23 Jun). Street parties, fireworks and bonfires are found everywhere.
International Festival of Music and Dance (Jun–Jul). Classical music and ballet staged in the Alhambra and the Generalife in Granada.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
July
Guitar Festival (early Jul). Córdoba celebrates the stringed instrument in performances ranging from classical to flamenco.
△ Sónar (mid-Jul). A frenetic festival of electronic music and technology pulsates in Barcelona.
Grec Festival (late Jul–Aug). This Spanish and international theatre, music and dance festival is held in Barcelona.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
August
Copa del Rey MAPFRE (end Jul/first week Aug). This sailing regatta, presided over by King Felipe VI, takes over Palma.
Semanas Grandes (mid-Aug). Traditional Basque music, dance and sports are celebrated in Bilbao and San Sebastián in the “Great Weeks”.
△ La Tomatina (late Aug). Participants pelt tons of ripe tomatoes at one another during this infamous event which takes place every year in Buñol.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
September
Bienal de Arte Flamenco (Sep, even years only). Top flamenco artists fight it out with their footwork in Seville.
San Sebastián Film Festival (mid- to late Sep). Film-makers gather in the Basque city for this long-running festival and film competition.
△ Festes de la Mercé (mid- to late Sep). Human towers, free concerts and folk events in Barcelona.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
October
△ Día de la Hispanidad (12 Oct). Spain’s national holiday marks Columbus’s landing in the Americas in 1492, with the biggest celebrations taking place in Zaragoza.
Fiestas de Santa Teresa (15 Oct). Parades of giants, concerts and fairs in honour of the patron saint of Ávila.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
November
△ All Saints’ Day (1 Nov). Spanish families visit the graves of their loved ones and ornament them with extravagant floral decorations.
National Flamenco Competition (2 weeks in mid-Nov). Córdoba hosts song, dance and guitar performances.
DISCOVER A Year in Spain
December
Nochebuena (24 Dec). The family gathers for a feast on Christmas Eve, before heading to Midnight Mass.
Santos Inocentes (28 Dec). People play tricks on each other during Spain’s version of April Fools’ Day.
△ Nochevieja (31 Dec). You’ll find New Year’s Eve’s biggest fireworks display and most riotous celebrations in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol.