National holidays in Spain in 2026
Holidays in Spain 2026: National, Regional, and Local Holidays
Anyone who lives in Spain, owns a second home there, or regularly stays on the Costa Blanca will quickly notice that holidays play an important role here.
And there are quite a few of them.
Spain has not only national holidays, but also holidays designated by the autonomous regions, as well as two local holidays per municipality. As a result, a store in Rojales may be closed on a given day, while in another region of Spain that same day is simply a regular workday.
On top of that, there are the many local fiestas, patron saint festivals, Moros y Cristianos celebrations, Semana Santa processions, and summer festivals.
On this page, we list the most important holidays in Spain in 2026 and explain how they affect you if you live in Spain or are vacationing there.
How do public holidays work in Spain?
Spain has several types of holidays:
- national holidays, which are observed throughout Spain or in virtually all of Spain;
- regional holidays, as determined by the autonomous community;
- local holidays, of which each municipality has a maximum of two;
- In addition, there are all kinds of local festivals that are celebrated extensively but aren't necessarily official holidays.
This means that the number of official holidays per place of residence usually ends up being 14 days per year, two of which are determined locally.
For someone who is emigrating to Spain, it is therefore helpful to check not only the national calendar but also the calendar for their own autonomous region and municipality.
National Holidays in Spain in 2026
A number of holidays are celebrated throughout virtually the entire country.
January 1 – New Year's Day
New Year's Day is an official holiday throughout Spain.
After the Nochevieja celebrations on December 31, the new year usually gets off to a quiet start. Government offices, banks, and many stores are closed.
Restaurants and other food and beverage establishments may be open, especially in tourist areas.
January 6 – Three Kings Day
Epiphany is at least as important in Spain as Christmas and will be an official holiday in all autonomous regions in 2026.
January 6 is a big day, especially for children.
The night before, on January 5, the famous Cabalgatas de Reyes take place in nearly every city and village. The Three Kings parade through the streets and throw candy to the children.
Activities are also being organized around this time in places such as Torrevieja, Rojales, Ciudad Quesada, Guardamar del Segura, and Santa Pola.
Holy Week and Good Friday
Easter is celebrated very differently in Spain than in the Netherlands.
Semana Santa, the week before Easter, is particularly important. In many cities and towns, religious brotherhoods parade through the streets with large statues and processions.
Good Friday falls on April 3 in 2026 and is an official holiday throughout Spain.
The days surrounding Easter vary by autonomous region.
In Andalusia, for example, Maundy Thursday, April 2, is also an official holiday. In the Valencian Community, however, Easter Monday, April 6, is an official holiday.
That difference is a good example of how Spanish holidays can vary from region to region.
May 1 – Labor Day
On May 1, Labor Day is celebrated throughout Spain.
Government agencies, banks, and many businesses are closed.
In tourist coastal towns, restaurants and certain stores sometimes remain open.
August 15 – Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Assumption of Mary falls on Saturday, August 15, 2026, and is an official holiday throughout Spain.
Since August is an important vacation month anyway, this day often falls right in the middle of local summer festivals and ferias.
As a result, August is one of the busiest festival months of the year in many Spanish villages.
October 12 – Spain's National Day
On October 12, Spain celebrates its national holiday, officially known as the Fiesta Nacional de España.
The date is also known as Día de la Hispanidad.
In Madrid, a large military parade is traditionally held, but in the rest of Spain, you’ll mainly notice the holiday because schools, banks, government offices, and many businesses are closed.
In 2026, October 12 falls on a Monday.
November 1 – All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day falls on Sunday, November 1, in 2026.
Traditionally, many Spanish families visit the cemetery around this time to tend to the graves of deceased relatives and lay flowers.
Because November 1 falls on a Sunday in 2026, whether the day off is moved to Monday varies by autonomous region. In Andalusia, for example, Monday, November 2 is an official holiday.
So don't automatically assume that the same rules apply throughout Spain.
December 6 – Constitution Day
December 6 marks the anniversary of the Spanish Constitution of 1978.
This date also falls on a Sunday in 2026.
In some autonomous regions, the holiday is therefore moved to Monday, December 7. Andalusia, for example, will do this in 2026.
Combined with December 8, this could result in a long puente.
December 8 – Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception is an official holiday on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
Because this date is so close to December 6, this period is known for potential puentes: long weekends during which Spaniards take one or more workdays off between holidays and the weekend.
In 2026, this will be particularly noticeable in some regions because December 7 is also a holiday.
December 25 – Christmas
Christmas Day is an official holiday throughout Spain.
Still, for Spanish families, the focus of Christmas is often already on December 24, Nochebuena.
Families enjoy elaborate meals together, and restaurants may have different hours of operation on Christmas Eve.
Dutch customs surrounding Christmas Day and Boxing Day are therefore not exactly the same as those in Spain.
Holidays in the Valencian Community in 2026
Anyone who lives on the Costa Blanca is part of the Comunitat Valenciana.
In addition to the national holidays, there will be a number of local holidays here in 2026.
March 19 – San José
San José is celebrated on March 19.
The day is best known for Las Fallas in Valencia, but in 2026 it will be an official holiday throughout the Comunidad Valenciana.
Anyone visiting Valencia around this time of year will get to see a completely different side of the city, with monumental fallas, fireworks, and huge street parties.
April 6 – Easter Monday
Easter Monday falls on April 6, 2026 and is an official holiday in the Valencian Community.
This is different from Andalusia, for example, where Maundy Thursday is an official holiday.
It is precisely these kinds of regional differences that often cause confusion among foreign residents.
June 24 – Sant Joan
June 24 – Sant Joan is an official holiday in the Valencian Community in 2026.
In the province of Alicante, this time of year is especially important because of Les Fogueres de Sant Joan.
Alicante is filled with massive works of art, fireworks, music, and street parties for days on end.
In many coastal towns, too, the night of June 23–24 is celebrated with bonfires, music, and activities on the beach.
October 9 – Valencian Community Day
On October 9, the Valencian Community celebrates its regional holiday.
In 2026, it falls on a Friday.
The day commemorates King Jaume I's entry into Valencia in 1238 and the founding of the historic Kingdom of Valencia.
There are parades, ceremonies, music, and festivities in various places.
October 9 is also often celebrated in conjunction with the tradition of Sant Donís, during which marzipan treats are given out, especially in Valencia.
Holidays in Andalusia in 2026
For anyone who owns a home on the Costa del Sol or lives there, the Andalusian holiday schedule applies.
In 2026, Andalusia will have the following official holidays, among others:
February 28 – Andalusia Day
Andalusia Day is celebrated on February 28.
In 2026, this day falls on a Saturday.
The green-and-white Andalusian flag is visible everywhere, and schools, municipalities, and organizations are organizing all kinds of activities around this time of year.
April 2 – Holy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is an official holiday in Andalusia.
In 2026, it falls on April 2, right before Good Friday.
Semana Santa is celebrated on a grand scale, especially in Andalusia.
Cities like Málaga, Seville, and Granada are famous for their processions, but smaller towns also have their own traditions.
November 2 and December 7
Because All Saints' Day and Constitution Day both fall on a Sunday in 2026, Andalusia has decided to reschedule the holidays.
That is why Andalusia also has:
- November 2, 2026 – substitute holiday for All Saints' Day;
- December 7, 2026 – substitute holiday for Día de la Constitución.
official holidays.
This does not automatically apply to every other region in Spain.
Local holidays vary by municipality
In addition to national and regional holidays, each municipality will have two local holidays.
This means that someone who lives in Torrevieja may have different local days off than someone in Rojales, Benijófar, San Fulgencio, or San Miguel de Salinas.
For 2026, the two official local holidays in Rojales have been set as follows:
- June 29 – Saint Peter the Apostle
- October 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary
These dates are listed in the official calendar of local holidays for the province of Alicante.
Since Ciudad Quesada is part of the municipality of Rojales, these local holidays also apply there.
June 29 – Saint Peter the Apostle in Rojales
San Pedro Apóstol is one of the most important local holidays in Rojales.
The official holiday in 2026 falls on Monday, June 29.
Around this time of year, various traditional activities take place in Rojales.
Keep in mind the difference between the official holiday and the full festival program. Local fiestas can last several days, while only one specific date is designated as an official holiday.
October 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary
Rojales' second local holiday falls on October 7 and is dedicated to the Virgen del Rosario.
Several neighboring municipalities also celebrate their patron saints around this time of year.
As a result, the Vega Baja can be quite festive in early October.
For example, anyone living in Benijófar, Formentera del Segura, Algorfa, or San Fulgencio should always check their local municipal calendar.
And what about Boxing Day?
December 26 is not a national holiday in Spain.
That means that Boxing Day does not have the same official status as it does in the Netherlands.
Nevertheless, Boxing Day is indeed celebrated in places with large populations of British, Dutch, and other Northern European residents.
You'll notice this, for example, in Ciudad Quesada, Orihuela Costa, and parts of Torrevieja.
Restaurants may offer special lunches, and international businesses may be closed.
But don't assume that Spanish stores, banks, or government agencies automatically treat December 26 as a holiday.
A local holiday doesn't mean that all of Spain is closed
This is especially useful to know if you've just moved to Spain.
Is it a local holiday in Rojales?
In that case, the city hall may be closed, and local businesses may have adjusted hours.
If you then drive a few kilometers to another municipality, it might just be a normal workday there.
That's because official local holidays are actually tied to a specific municipality.
Are supermarkets closed on holidays?
Not automatically.
That is one of the ways in which reality often differs from what the Dutch expect.
Which supermarkets are allowed or choose to remain open depends, among other things, on:
- autonomous region;
- municipality;
- size of the store;
- tourist area;
- commercial opening schedule;
- and individual retail chains.
In coastal tourist towns, a surprising number of stores are open as usual on certain holidays.
So be sure to check the hours of your own supermarket instead of assuming that “everything is closed.”
Restaurants and Bars on Holidays
In fact, restaurants and bars are often open on holidays.
Public holidays are particularly important for the hospitality industry on the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol.
It might be a good idea to make a reservation.
During major local fiestas, the city center can also be much busier than usual, and roads may be temporarily closed due to parades and events.
Public Transportation During Spanish Holidays
Bus and train services may operate on a modified schedule on holidays.
In large cities, for example, Sunday or holiday regulations may apply.
Anyone who needs to catch a flight from Alicante-Elche Airport or is planning a longer trip during a holiday should therefore check the current schedule in advance.
What is a puente?
If you live in Spain, you'll soon come across the word puente.
Literally, puente means "bridge."
For example, if a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many people take Monday or Friday off to create a long weekend.
The day off, so to speak, serves as a bridge between the weekend and a holiday.
That could mean that:
- businesses are less accessible;
- administrative procedures take longer;
- Many Spaniards travel;
- hotels are busier;
- and the roads leading to the coast and inland will become more crowded.
Puentes are especially popular around December.
Semana Santa is much more than just a few days off
One of the biggest differences compared to the Netherlands is the way Semana Santa is celebrated.
There are processions in virtually every region of Spain.
Some are modest and religious, while others attract thousands of visitors.
On the Costa Blanca as well, large-scale processions are held in towns such as Orihuela, Torrevieja, Alicante, and Elche.
For those who live in Spain, these are exactly the traditions that can make a local town feel completely different from what it’s like during a typical week.
Moors and Christians
On the Costa Blanca, you'll also come across Moros y Cristianos everywhere.
These festivals commemorate the historical periods of Islamic and Christian rule on the Iberian Peninsula and are celebrated today with elaborate costumes, parades, music, and reenactments of battles.
Among others, Villajoyosa, Alcoy, and various towns in the province of Alicante are known for their festivals.
Not every day of a fiesta like this is automatically an official holiday.
Local Patron Saint Festivals
In addition, virtually every Spanish village has a patron saint.
Around that date, a full program of festivities may be organized, featuring:
- processions;
- live music;
- children's activities;
- paella;
- fireworks;
- markets;
- fair;
- and partying late into the night.
This applies to large towns, but just as much to smaller municipalities such as Los Montesinos, Algorfa, Benijófar, and San Fulgencio.
Carnival is usually not an official holiday
Carnival is celebrated exuberantly in many places, but it is not automatically an official national holiday.
That doesn't take anything away from the scale of the party.
Especially in larger cities, several days filled with parades, costumes, music, and celebrations can be organized.
So, once again: a big Spanish celebration is not the same as an official holiday.
Holidays if you live in Spain permanently
Anyone who lives in Spain permanently will naturally find that the festival calendar becomes part of daily life.
City Hall is closed.
No school.
Suddenly, the supermarket has different opening hours.
A street is closed because a procession will pass through it in the evening.
Or waking up at eight in the morning to the sound of fireworks because the village festival has officially begun.
That's all part of living in Spain.
If you're still deciding where you want to live, you can also check out our guide to the best places to live on the Costa Blanca.
Holidays When You Own a Second Home
Even if you have a second home in Spain, it's helpful to know the local festival calendar.
For example, are you traveling to Spain specifically to:
- to buy furniture;
- to visit a bank;
- to take care of the paperwork;
- to have an appointment with a notary;
- or have work done on the house?
Be sure to check in advance to make sure there are no national, regional, or local holidays in between.
A local holiday that you aren't familiar with can suddenly throw a wrench in your plans.
Spain really celebrates everything
If there's one thing that stands out when you've lived in Spain for a while, it's how much importance is placed on celebrating together.
Epiphany means parades and candy for children. Holy Week fills the streets with processions, drums, and incense. In the summer, the Moros y Cristianos festival, patron saint festivals, San Juan, and local ferias follow one another, sometimes almost weekly.
And it's often the local festivals that are the most fun.
A relatively small village can suddenly turn into a huge party venue with music, fireworks, food, activities for kids, and entire families staying out late.
As a result, a Spanish holiday is often much more than just an extra day off.
It's part of social life.
Living in Spain also means getting to know the local traditions
Anyone who buys a home in Spain is ultimately buying more than just four walls and a terrace.
You will also become part of a village, town, or neighborhood with its own customs and traditions.
Whether you choose Ciudad Quesada, Rojales, Torrevieja, Guardamar, Orihuela Costa, or somewhere else entirely—it’s often by attending local festivals that you really get to know the area.
Are you still making plans to move to Spain? If so, be sure to check out our information on emigrating to Spain, NIE and residency, health care in Spain, and buying a home in Spain.
In Spain, there isn't really a single, definitive holiday calendar. National, regional, and local holidays are all mixed together, and each municipality adds its own traditions to the mix. That's exactly what makes living in Spain so different: there's almost always something to celebrate somewhere.
