Festivals in Andalusia: Semana Santa, Feria and more

In short: Almost all of Andalusia’s big festivals take place between February and August, and many depend on the date of Easter. In 2027 Easter falls on 28 March, and Semana Santa runs from 21 to 28 March. For every festival: book accommodation months in advance, because prices rise sharply.

Which festivals are there and when?

So far, only Holy Week and the public holidays are fixed for 2027. The cities set their ferias themselves each year, so only the usual period is given for them.

Where it says “usually”, the exact date is on the city’s website. According to media reports, Córdoba approved its 2027 festival calendar in early October 2026; you can find the dates at the city’s tourist office.

Semana Santa: Holy Week

From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, brotherhoods in every city carry heavy, decorated floats with religious figures (pasos) through the streets, accompanied by penitents in pointed hoods and brass bands. The best-known processions are in Seville and Málaga; in Granada some wind through the Albaicín and up to the Sacromonte.

The dates 21 to 28 March 2027 come from media reports and follow from the date of Easter. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are public holidays in Andalusia, when many shops are closed. The nights from Thursday to Friday are the most intense.

• Cities and local newspapers publish routes and times shortly beforehand.
• Streets through the old town are closed for hours. Allow twice as much time for every journey.
• Behave as you would at a church service: no flash, and do not walk through the rows of penitents.

Feria de Abril in Seville

The Feria is the joyful counterpart to Holy Week: a tent city of hundreds of casetas on the edge of town, women in flamenco dresses, riders and carriages in the afternoon, dancing until morning. Traditionally it begins around two weeks after Holy Week. At the time of writing, no officially confirmed date was available for 2027.

What to see in the city outside the Feria is covered under Things to see in Seville.

May in Córdoba and Granada

In May, one festival follows another in Córdoba. For the Cruces de Mayo, neighbourhoods decorate large flower crosses on the squares. Then, during the Festival de los Patios, private courtyards full of geraniums open to visitors. Long queues form at weekends; on weekday mornings it goes faster. More on the city: Córdoba.

Granada celebrates the Cruces de Mayo in early May and the Feria del Corpus in the week around Corpus Christi, so in 2027 around 27 May.

Carnaval, Rocío and the Feria de Málaga

Three more festivals are worth a trip of their own:

• Carnaval in Cádiz: singing groups with satirical songs instead of big parades. More under Cádiz.
• Romería del Rocío: at Whitsun, brotherhoods from all over Andalusia make a pilgrimage on foot, on horseback and in covered wagons to the village of El Rocío on the edge of Doñana.
• Feria de Málaga: in August, in the old town during the day and at the fairground at night. See Málaga.

How do you plan a trip around a festival?

Festivals make a trip more intense, but also more expensive and less flexible. This is the best way to go about it:

• Check the official date first, then book your flight and accommodation.
• Choose accommodation within walking distance: taxis and buses barely get through on festival days.
• Some sights have shorter opening hours. Get your tickets in advance.
• Pack something smarter for a feria: the locals dress up.

What the weather is like on each date is shown in the article Best time to visit Andalusia. How public holidays shape everyday life is covered under Everyday life in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

As of October 2026. Opening hours, prices and entry rules change. Check them on the official websites before your visit.

Cover image: Tajchman · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0