Festivals of Andalucía
Andalucía’s festival calendar is the densest in Spain. Each festival has its own character in each city. These guides break it down.
Semana Santa
Holy Week (March/April)Hooded processions, candlelit floats and packed streets. It is the most intense week in the Andalusian calendar, and it feels different in every city.
Feria de Abril
Two weeks after EasterSevilla's week of casetas, flamenco dresses, horses and rebujito. It is the biggest party in Andalucía.
Feria de Málaga
Mid-AugustA huge open street party in the old town by day and a fairground by night, at the hottest point of the summer.
Feria del Caballo
Early MayJerez's elegant horse fair is like Sevilla's feria, but with open casetas anyone can walk into.
Romería del Rocío
Pentecost weekendUp to a million pilgrims in ox-drawn wagons and on horseback converge on a sand-street village at the edge of the Doñana marshes.
Cruces de Mayo
Early MayFlower-covered crosses take over squares and patios for the first days of May, with bars and music around each one.
Patios de Córdoba
Early MayPrivate courtyards dressed in geraniums and jasmine open free to visitors for two weeks. The UNESCO-listed festival is best seen slowly.
Bienal de Flamenco
September (even years)The world's most important flamenco festival brings a month of performances in theatres and courtyards across Sevilla.
Corpus Christi
Late May / JuneGranada's biggest week of the year has processions and carpeted streets by day, then a full feria by night.
Planning around a festival
Spring is the busiest season. Holy Week runs into the April ferias, May crosses, patios and pilgrimages, and these are the events most likely to affect hotel prices and transport. Summer shifts to coastal fiestas and feria weeks; autumn brings food festivals and flamenco; winter has Christmas markets and carnival, especially around Cádiz.
Treat the big festivals as travel conditions, not just things to watch. Processions close streets, ferias move the centre of gravity to temporary fairgrounds, and a hotel that looks central on a map may be noisy, blocked by barriers, or perfect depending on the event. For a first visit, pick one headline event and give it enough time.
Dates, routes and access rules change by city and year, so confirm details with the official town hall, organiser or tourism office before booking travel.