Events and Festivals in Spain
Bullfighting Season
The Bullfighting Season, one of the most awaited major events in Spain, runs from the beginnings of spring right through to the month of October. Known in Spain as Corrida de Toros or “running of the bulls”, this big-time bullfighting event is a prestigious and grand spectacle which sees matadors come face to face with bulls weighing over half a ton! The Spanish take this cultural event very seriously and are not afraid to show their passion for it! Modern day corridas are extremely ritualised and tradition is everything in this love it or hate it event. During this particular season, there are a number of individual bullfighting festivals that take place at least once a week in plenty of Spanish cities such as Madrid (San Isidro festival), Seville (Feria de Abril), Caceres (Ferias de Caceres), Alicante (Las Hogueras de San Juan), Valencia (Feria de Julio), Malaga (Feria de Agosto), Bilbao (Corridas Generales) and Ronda (Corridas Goyescas) so you should be able to catch at least one bullfight during your holiday in Spain. The most famous bullfighting festival is without a doubt the Pamplona "Running of the Bulls" at the San Fermin festival in July which features real bullfights as well as bull runs where bulls are let loose in the city’s streets! Definitely an event not to be missed!
The Autumn Festival in Spring
The Festival de Otoño en Primavera or Autumn Festival in Spring showcases a series of spectacles ranging from theatre, visual arts, circus, dance and music performances. The festival is regarded as being Madrid’s most major cultural and performing arts event. In previous years this event was held during the months of October and November until it broke with tradition in 2010 passing to May and June, spring time. read more...
La Tomatina
La Tomatina is Valencia’s traditional mass street fight festival that takes place on the last Wednesday of every August. This friendly fight invites residents and visitors to come to the small town of Buñol and participate in painting the town red in a huge and highly entertaining tomato fight. This is a real spectacle which has tens of thousands of participants, young and old. It’s wet, it’s messy but it’s a lot of crazy fun! read more...
Carnival Time
Carnival time is one of the most exciting times to be in Spain much like in a huge number of other countries. Carnival, a time of indulgence before the beginning of Lent, is an event that brings Spain even more to life than it already is, filling the streets with parades, singing, dancing and Spaniards fully dressed in entertaining and sometimes hilarious costumes. They say the biggest and most extravagant carnival festival is held in the city of Càdiz although a good time is also promised in Spain’s two most largest and visited cities, Madrid and Barcelona.
Festa Major de Gràcia
The Festa Major de Gràcia, Barcelona’s huge street party starts on the 15th August and lasts one-week. It takes place in Barcelona’s picturesque town of Gràcia, home to Gaudí’s Guell Park and is a celebration of its neighbourhood. During this festival, streets are completely decorated and transformed into different themes which in the past have included 'Under-the-Sea', pirate ships, rainforests, 'Ancient Rome' and Jurassic landscapes. Sometimes up to 25 streets will compete to win the title of 'Best Decorated Street', read more...
Gay & Lesbian Events
For gay and lesbian events, Barcelona, which is internationally known as a gay-friendly city, is one of the top destinations to head to. It holds the largest gay and lesbian event in Europe known as the Circuit Festival which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year from over 50 countries worldwide. The Circuit Festival is a recreational week-long event that normally takes place during the month of August, read more...
Festival de Flamenco Caja Madrid
If you love flamenco or have never seen a flamenco dance being performed in front of your very eyes then the Caja Madrid Flamenco Festival is a must! The one-week festival invites leading names, male and female, of the flamenco world to perform in a series of sessions that guarantee plenty of foot-stomping, sorrowful singing and, of course, intense guitar playing. Venues include La Casa Encendida, the Teatro Circo Price and the Teatro Canal de la Comunidad de Madrid read more...
International Fashion Week
The International Fashion Week is one of the most talked about spring events in Madrid, a capital renowned for its importance in the fashion industry much like Paris and Rome. The event is a biannual showcase for the best of the best in terms of Spanish and international clothes designers to present their latest collections. Apart from designers, the event attracts read more...
Festimad Sur
Festimad Sur is Madrid’s most important rock festival and biggest music event. Lasting two days only, the Festimad event is held during the last week of May. It invites up and coming musicians as well as European and internationally known bands and solo artists to perform their best and newest hits. Some a-list bands and artists which have already graced the Festimad stage include read more...
La Noche en Blanco
La Noche en Blanco, translated as 'the sleepless night' but known in English as White Night when famous buildings and locations are lit up, is a highly anticipated one night only annual event in Madrid. This special evening which takes place on a chosen date in September, sees people wandering in and out of the majority of Madrid’s exhibition centres, art galleries, museums, fashion shows and concerts without paying a dime! This free event will read more...