Holy Week 2026 in Spain - Dates, Celebrations

Holy Week in Spain, known as Semana Santa in Spanish, is a significant religious celebration. The event takes place during the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

During the Holy Week period, towns and cities come alive with religious processions, parades, and ceremonies. Participants wear traditional attire and carry intricate statues and symbols representing biblical scenes. This traditional event commemorates the triumphal entry, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Holy Week celebrations in Seville are the most vibrant of those in Spain.

What Are the 8 Days of Spain's Holy Week in 2026?

Semana Santa 2026 will begins on March 29 and ends on April 5. The event lasts for a week (8 days) from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. 

The dates of Holy Week vary each year, but it always takes place for a week during the period from late March to late April. It begins on the Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday) and lasts for a further 7 days until Easter Sunday.

The end of Lent is the evening of Maundy Thursday in the Catholic tradition. Holy Week signifies the pinnacle of the Lenten season, emphasizing the significant events preceding Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

The 7 Days of Activities/Events for Holy Week

Holy week

Holy Week in Spain lasts for 7 days, starting on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday. There are specific activities each day. The highlights are on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday when many colorful processions take place.

Palm Sunday (March 29, 2026)

People carry palm branches to church, and the palm branches are later blessed by the priest. They then carry these blessed palm leaves in processions around the church or through the streets. Some people may use palm leaves to decorate their windowsills. This practice symbolizes the honoring and welcoming of Jesus to Jerusalem as God's promised Messiah and King.

In cities like Seville and Granada, you can witness unique processions like La Borriquita ('The Little Donkey') in Seville.

Holy Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday (March 30 to April 1, 2026)

Churches hold regular Mass services and many towns host a variety of activities.

Maundy Thursday (April 2, 2026)

Maundy Thursday is especially significant as it is the day for some of the most intense religious events of Holy Week. The most famous activities are the procession in Seville and the military celebrations in Malaga.

In Seville, the most famous brotherhood — Hermandad de Los Negritos, organizes a solemn procession on Maundy Thursday. During the process, members dress in white robes and hoods and carry large wooden crosses.

In Malaga, the Spanish Legion, an elite unit of Spain's armed forces, carries an image of Christ of the Good Death and parades it through the streets, with the Legion's own military band and Honor guard.

Good Friday (April 3, 2026)

Good Friday is a public holiday in Spain, and a day for fasting. People refrain from eating meat. Many Spaniards enjoy the Potaje de Vigilia ('Soup of the Fast'), a simple dish made with cod, chickpeas, and spinach.

Good Friday has the biggest processions in cities and towns across Spain, notably in Seville, Valladolid, and Madrid. Hundreds of church children and other church goers parade in the streets with floats carrying images of Jesus on a cross.

Easter Sunday (April 5, 2026)

Spanish people celebrate Easter Sunday by attending church for mass, and then they enjoy Easter dinner with their families.

Is Holy Week a Public Holiday in Spain?

During Holy Week, only Good Friday is a public holiday.

• Good Friday: April 3, 2026

During the public holiday, most shops and restaurants are closed. Attractions and museums stay open over the holidays.

What Food Is Eaten During Spain's Holy Week?

During Holy Week, local restaurants and dessert shops in town serve traditional Holy Week dishes on their menus.

French toast or torrija is one of the most traditional snacks during Holy Week, with its origins dating back to the Roman Empire. The preparation involves dipping bread in an egg mixture and frying it in oil until golden brown. Before consuming French toast, people often add syrup, butter, whipped cream, saffron-infused wine, or fruit to its surface according to their preferences.

Holy Week Dates in 2026, 2027 ... 2031

The dates for Holy Week differ each year. See below the Easter Week dates for 2026… through to 2031: