Let me share with you the 13 most epic festivals in Spain that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. Spain is one of the best countries in the world to celebrate life itself – it’s one of the huge perks of living here. So, it’s no wonder that local festivities and celebrations are always vibrant, loud, and unforgettable.

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13 Festivals in Spain Not to Miss in 2025

Festivities as a part of Spanish lifestyle

Festivals in Spain are a huge part of daily life, especially considering the sheer number of them. Along with national holidays, every small town in Spain holds at least a week of local celebrations each year. This abundance of festivities gives locals a constant excuse to enjoy a vibrant social life and spend time with family and friends. In my post about Spanish habits, I’ve already shared how local fiestas have made my weekends in Spain more fun over the last 15+ expat years here. Even though I tend to avoid crowds and prefer trips to Undiscovered Spain, Spanish festivals are everywhere. For example, during a recent family weekend in Benicassim, I coincided with the Belle Epoque Festival; my trip to Soria aligned with local celebrations in Burgo de Osma, and my visit to Spanish ceramic museums happened to coincide with local festivities in Alcora.

Not to mention gastronomic weeks and medieval fairs taking place all year round across the country. What I’m trying to say is that festivals in Spain are inevitable, even if I don’t plan to attend them. However, some celebrations are so unique that they’re worth building an entire trip around. Here are the top 11 Spanish celebrations that should be a must-do on your Spain bucket list.

11 Most Epic Festivals and Celebrations in Spain

Las Fallas in Valencia

Let’s start this list of top Spanish festivals with my home region, the Valencian Community, and its iconic celebration of Las Fallas. So far, it’s been my favorite Spanish fiesta. Held every year in March, Las Fallas is a flashy, week-long celebration that you can’t miss if you plan to visit the city of Valencia in spring. Although the origins of the festival can be traced back to the Middle Ages, locals still participate in the celebrations with enthusiasm and personal investment. The main attraction of this festival is the paper-mâché figures created by different neighborhoods of the city. During the holiday week, there’s a contest for the best creation, after which the other figures are burned, and the winner is stored in a museum. During Las Fallas week, you will often see locals wearing the traditional costumes of la fallera. Just for the record, the average cost of a fallera dress is between 700 and 1,500 euros (although with more exclusive fabrics, it can even reach 25,000 euros), and you will see thousands of local women and girls wearing this traditional outfit. La Mascleta is another unmissable event of Las Fallas. It takes place around 2 p.m. every day during the holiday week at the central Plaza de L’Ajuntament. La Mascleta is essentially a display of firecrackers. That’s honestly the part of Las Fallas that I’m not really into (it’s extremely crowded, and basically, you just stand still and listen to the noise). Another spectacular event of the festival is La Ofrenda, when the huge statue of Virgen de los Desamparados is decorated with flowers. These are just a few highlights, but the schedule for Las Fallas is always packed with events from dusk to dawn. Attending is free and open to everyone. You can check more details about Las Fallas in this post.

San Fermin in Pamplona

The Festival of San Fermin is one of the most iconic festivals in Spain and a top attraction of Navarra Region. I bet even people who have never visited Spain have occasionally heard about the crazy local celebration where people run in front of the bulls. It is also the iconic Spanish celebration vividly described in Hemingway’s famous novel Fiesta. But it would be unfair to narrow down the celebration to just the bulls. The Festival of San Fermin has long historical roots in the Navarra region. Initially, it was celebrated in October in honor of the Christian missionary San Fermin de Amiens since 1186. However, in 1591, the date was changed to July 7. Nowadays, the celebrations take place every year from July 6 to July 14. Among older generations (and even younger Spaniards from more traditional and rural areas of the country), it is still popular to watch the encierro (the bull run) every morning during the Festival of San Fermin. As I’ve previously shared in my post about the almuerzo culture in Valencia, many local bars will have the TV on broadcasting the bull run of San Fermin around 8 a.m.

La Tomatina in Buñol

La Tomatina is one of the most eye-catching festivals in Spain, taking place every year at the end of August in the small town of Buñol. While I have visited Buñol quite a few times while exploring different hikes near Valencia, La Tomatina had been on my bucket list for years. This year, I finally made it to the festival, and you can check out the details in this post. The festival originated in 1945 as a food fight, but over time, it has become one of the most fun and wild fiestas. The essence of the festival is quite simple – during one hour, locals and tourists throw tomatoes at each other. It’s pure chaos everywhere. To visit this festival, you need to book in advance. The easiest way to get to Buñol is to take one of the official buses that transport you to the Tomatina festival from Valencia or Barcelona.

Moors and Christians of Alcoy

Ever since my trip to the Alicante region, the Moors & Christians festival in Alcoy has been one of the Spanish events I most wanted to experience. The celebration commemorates Spanish history and the events of the 13th century, when King Jaime I El Conquistador fought against the Moors for the city of Alcoy. According to legend, Saint George (or San Jorge in Spanish) appeared on horseback to save the city, which helped the Spanish troops secure victory. To thank the saint, locals built a church in his honor and promised to hold annual celebrations. Every year, around April 22nd-24th, Alcoy hosts colorful parades representing the historic battle between Muslims and Christians. This year, I almost made it to the celebration as I was excited to write a full article for the blog. However, when I reached out a few months in advance, the local tourism board told me they had no available seating, so I couldn’t secure a spot for taking good photos. Sadly, that’s actually quite normal for Spanish tourism boards, even when you offer them a free promotion – they just do not care.

Spring Fair in Seville

While I have briefly mentioned the Spring Fair (or Feria de Abril) celebrations when discussing the best time to visit Seville, one of the most romantic places in Spain and one of my favorite Spanish destinations, there’s much more to say about this fiesta. Seville’s Spring Fair is one of the biggest festivals in Spain. It spans over 450,000 square meters and features more than 1,000 casetas (decorated marquee tents for partying and drinking, mostly privately owned by local groups). It’s quite an investment, as owning a caseta can cost anywhere from 600 euros to 12,000 euros per year. This shows how seriously locals take the festivities, with many willing to cover the yearly costs for this one-week celebration. At the same time, there are also casetas públicas (public tents) set up by the local government, offering free access to everyone. Local authorities themselves spend millions on Feria de Abril each year. The celebrations include parades of carriages and riders, bullfights, locals dressed in traditional flamenco outfits, and plenty of partying, sevillanas dancing, drinks, and tapas. The most typical drink at the Seville Spring Fair is rebujito (a mix of sherry and a soft drink like lemonade or lemon soda). The street of Calle del Infierno during the Spring Fair is filled with lights and attractions for both kids and adults, with each ride or activity typically costing around 5 euros.

Carnival of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands

The Carnival of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands is one of the most vibrant and colorful festivals in Spain, taking place every February, and is known for its lively atmosphere. Held annually in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, this carnival features spectacular parades, costumes, music, and dance, with locals and visitors participating in everything from street parties to extravagant masquerades. Its iconic “Drag Queen” competition has become one of the event’s defining features. In addition, the nearby island of Tenerife also organizes its own carnival around the same dates as Gran Canaria.

Fiesta de los patios in Cordoba

The town of Cordoba is one of the most unique places in Southern Spain. Its Fiesta de los Patios is one of the most picture-perfect events in Spain, celebrated each May to showcase the city’s stunning private courtyards, called “patios.” During this festival, visitors can explore and enjoy beautifully decorated, flower-filled patios adorned with vibrant plants, intricate ceramics, and colorful textiles. This event has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and is a must-see on any Southern Spain road trip. You can read more about Cordoba in this post.

Corpus Christi in Toledo

Corpus Christi in Toledo is one of Spain’s most famous religious celebrations, showcasing country’s deep-rooted church traditions. Held in late spring, this event honors the Eucharist and features one of the most spectacular religious processions in the country. The streets of Toledo are adorned with carpets of flowers, intricate tapestries, and vibrant decorations, creating a stunning backdrop for the procession. Toledo is one of my favorite places in Spain, and I love visiting it every once in a while, so I hope to share my visit to Corpus Christi soon.

Caballos del Vino in Caravaca de la Cruz

I’ve learned about the Caballos del Vino festival during my recent trip to Murcia, where in the secret museum of Lorca, I got to see how seriously locals take handmade costumes for their celebrations. While Murcia has quite a few unique festivities, the most famous one is Caballos del Vino, held annually in Caravaca de la Cruz. It is a celebration in honor of the town’s patron saint. The Festival of the Caballos del Vino takes place each May when hundreds of riders, dressed in traditional costumes, race up the streets of Caravaca de la Cruz, carrying decorated horses loaded with bottles of wine. This ritual dates back centuries and symbolizes the offering of wine to the saint, a gesture of gratitude for a miraculous event in the town’s history.

Batalla del Vino in Haro

The Batalla del Vino in Haro is the most unique festival in the famous Spanish wine region of La Rioja. It is celebrated annually on June 29th. The festivity involves thousands of participants drenching each other in red wine in a joyous “battle.” Much like during the tomato fight of La Tomatina, participants are dressed in white. This festival reflects La Rioja’s deep connection to wine culture. You can read more about La Rioja in this post.

Fogueres de Sant Joan in Alicante

Fogueres de Sant Joan (also called Hogueras de San Juan) in Alicante is celebrated annually in late June to mark the summer solstice. While a similar celebration with bonfires takes place across the whole of Spain, the most famous one is officially Alicante’s festival. Enormous sculptures called hogueras are constructed throughout the city, only to be set ablaze during the festival, symbolizing purification and renewal. The celebrations are filled with parades, music, fireworks, and traditional attire, culminating with “La Cremà” (the burning of the hogueras). You can read more about Alicante in this post.

Fiesta de la Patum de Berga

Fiesta de la Patum de Berga, held in the Catalan town of Berga, is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Celebrated during Corpus Christi in May, it blends deep-rooted religious traditions with spectacular pagan rituals, creating a vibrant and intense atmosphere unlike any other. The festival is famous for its lively processions, featuring towering giants, mythical creatures, and symbolic fire-breathing figures parading through the streets, accompanied by the thunderous beat of drums. If your dates overlap, this Spanish festival could be a great idea for a Barcelona weekend break.

More bucket-list fiestas in Spain:

• Carnaval de Cádiz (February)
• Semana Santa de Málaga or Sevilla (April)
• Romería de la Virgen del Rocío in Huelva (May)
• San Isidro in Madrid (May)
• Arde Lucus in Lugo (June)
• Rapa das Bestas de Sabucedo, Pontevedra (July)
• Sant Joan in Ciudadela, Mallorca (July)
• El Torico in Teruel (July)
• La Verbena de la Paloma in Madrid (July)
• Semana Grande de Bilbao (August)
• Descenso Internacional del Sella in Asturias (August)
• Feria de Málaga (August)
• Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza (October)

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For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.

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