Spain Public Holidays 2024 — a Full List is Here

There are nine national public holidays in Spain. As well as the national holidays, there are also regional holidays: each of the 50 provinces in Spain has its specific holiday. Furthermore, some towns can also have their own holidays to honor local saints.

Most shops and businesses may close on these holidays; however, museums, bars, and restaurants typically remain open. Additionally, shops in larger cities and tourist areas tend to stay open. The situation is similar to that on Sundays.

As Spanish people love music, these holidays often feature music, dance, and parades as part of the festivities.

Spain Public Holidays 2024 (January - May)

Spain Public Holidays 2024 (June - December)

The 9 Biggest Holidays/Celebrations in Spain

The most important holidays in Spain are Easter, Christmas, and National Day. Additionally, there are other lively celebrations that are not official holidays, such as Carnival (Carnaval) and La Tomatina. These events are known for their colorful costumes, lively music, and energetic dancing, adding a vibrant touch to Spain's cultural scene.

1. Carnaval

• Date: February to March
• Place: Various cities across the country

Carnaval is not a public holiday in Spain but it is the most vibrant and colorful celebration. The celebration takes place in multiple cities throughout the country. The dates may vary slightly depending on the specific location. Each city has its own unique way of celebrating the Carnival, but the festivities in Cádiz, Sitges, and the island of Tenerife are particularly spectacular.

In Cádiz, the streets come alive with locals and visitors wearing colorful and creative costumes. The parades fill the streets, with groups of performers singing witty and satirical songs.

In Sitges, colorful parades featuring imaginative costumes, music, and dance fill the streets.

In Tenerife, there is a spectacular fireworks display. During these Carnival celebrations, local people wear masks and elaborate costumes, taking to the streets for vibrant parades.

2. Los Reyes Magos (Epiphany)

• Date: January 6
• Place: All around the country

Los Reyes Magos, also known as Epiphany, is a public holiday in Spain. There are usually colorful parades that take place in many cities and towns across Spain on the night before the festival. The three wise men (based on the Bible account of wise men from the east bearing gifts who came to visit Jesus after his birth) ride through the streets on elaborate floats, throwing sweets and small gifts to the crowds.

Children in Spain receive presents on the morning of Epiphany, like the Christmas gifts given to children during Christmas. The gifts are said to be given by the three wise men.

3. Las Fallas

• Date: March 15 to 19
• Place: Valencia

Throughout Las Fallas, there are various parades, musical performances, breathtaking fireworks displays, and traditional folk activities. During the festival, people don traditional attire and participate in the vibrant parades.

The highlight of the festival is the display of elaborate and artistic sculptures known as fallas. These sculptures are crafted by artists over several months. On the final day of the festival, these sculptures are set ablaze, symbolizing a fresh start.

4. La Semana Santa/Holy Week

• Date: March to April
• Place: Around the country

La Semana Santa, or Holy Week, takes place around Easter and lasts for 1 week. During Holy Week, various processions are organized to depict the journey of Jesus from his crucifixion to his resurrection.

Throughout Holy Week, all churches participate in parades, carrying sacred images through the streets. Devotees wear pointed hoods and long robes.

For those looking to experience the most traditional Holy Week atmosphere, it is recommended to visit the central-southern regions of Spain, such as Seville, which is known for hosting the largest and most elaborate Holy Week activities in the country.

5. La Batalla del Vino (The Wine Battle)

• Date: June 28 to 30
• Place:Haro, La Rioja region, in northern Spain

The Wine Battle is undoubtedly one of the most exciting festivals in Spain. During the event, people joyfully splash each other with wine until everyone is thoroughly drenched.

Usually, people dress in white clothes and are armed with various "weapons", such as water guns, wine-filled sprays, and buckets. They joyfully splash the wine over each other and throughout the streets. With upbeat background music, people sing and revel in the delightful chaos, ensuring that everyone becomes soaked from head to toe in red wine. The spirit of the battle is simple — "to quickly drench everyone around with red wine".

During the festival, the entire town is filled with the rich aroma of wine and everyone turns a shade of purple from head to toe.

6. Feria de Jerez

• Date: May 11 to 18
• Place: Jerez

During the Feria de Jerez, people dress in elegant outfits and ride horses in a parade. González Hontoria Park is beautifully decorated with colorful lights. Along the main avenue, there are rows of tents called casetas where people enjoy sherry, delicious snacks, lively conversations, and participate in flamenco dancing.

The highlight of the Feria de Jerez is undoubtedly the horse parade (el paseo de caballos). There, hundreds of riders dress in traditional attire, wearing round hats with flat crowns. They ride tall and majestic horses or drive horse-drawn carriages, gracefully proceeding along the park's avenues. The Spanish ladies, seated sideways on horseback, display a variety of styles. They wear traditional attire, including vibrant floral skirts, fringed shawls on their shoulders, and large flowers in their hair.

7. La Feria de Abril (The Seville Fair)

• Date: April
• Place: Seville

The Seville Fair, known as La Feria de Abril, is a traditional spring festival held in the city of Seville. It typically takes place in April and lasts for about a week.

During the celebration, the streets of Seville are adorned with lanterns and colorful flags. These decorations lead the way to numerous casetas, which are marquees or tents set up across the fairgrounds. Some casetas are private, while others are open to the public. Inside the casetas, people come together to sing and dance.

Local people dress in their finest attire. Women elegantly wear long Sevillian-style dresses and adorn their heads with beautiful large flowers. Men don traditional suits.

8. Las Hogueras de San Juan (Bonfires of Saint John)

• Date: June 19 to 24
• Place: Alicante

On this day, people light bonfires and symbolically burn their old belongings, representing a desire for good luck and a fresh start. Locals gather around the bonfires, dancing throughout the night and setting off fireworks. They also indulge in drinking cava and other sparkling wines. The festive celebration continues until dawn, with people gathering on the beach to witness the sunrise and welcome the new day.

The festival is celebrated in many cities across Spain, while the celebration originates from Alicante.

9. La Tomatina (The Tomato Fight)

• Date: Every August
• Place: Buñol, near Valencia

La Tomatina is an incredibly thrilling celebration that takes place in Spain. Every August, the town of Buñol near Valencia becomes the stage for this unique event. During La Tomatina, the government prepares tons of tomatoes for participants to engage in a massive tomato fight. People joyfully throw these tomatoes at each other.

The tomato fight lasts for approximately an hour, although celebrations may continue for the next hour or so, and the streets of Buñol are transformed into a chaotic and colorful battleground.