Official Holidays Spain 2025 - National and regional holidays by region

Holidays in Spain 2026 – National, Regional, and Local Holidays

Anyone who lives, works, vacations, or owns a home in Spain will quickly notice that holidays play an important role here.

Spain not only has national holidays such as New Year's Day and Christmas, but also regional holidays and local fiestas. As a result, a supermarket in one town may be open as usual, while stores twenty kilometers away remain closed.

Especially if you’re moving to Spain permanently, it’s helpful to understand how the Spanish holiday calendar works.

In this guide, we list the most important holidays in Spain in 2026 and take a closer look at the Valencian Community, Murcia, and Andalusia.

How do holidays work in Spain?

The Spanish work calendar consists of several layers:

• national holidays;
• holidays designated by the autonomous community;
• and up to two local holidays chosen by each municipality.

In total, there are usually fourteen paid, non-make-up public holidays, two of which are observed locally. Within the limits set by law, the autonomous regions have the flexibility to replace certain national holidays that can be substituted with traditional regional holidays.

That is why there is no single calendar that is exactly the same for every resident of Spain.

National Holidays in Spain in 2026

A number of major holidays will be observed across virtually the entire country in 2026.

In addition, there are holidays such as Maundy Thursday, San José, All Saints' Day, and Constitution Day, for which the actual day off in 2026 may vary by autonomous community. The official national calendar is published annually by the Spanish Ministry of Labor in the BOE.

Why does the holiday calendar vary by region?

Spain consists of seventeen autonomous communities and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

Every region has its own traditions.

For example, October 9 is an important date in the Valencian Community, June 9 in Murcia, and February 28 in Andalusia.

In addition, regions can, for example, choose between certain substitute national holidays or compensate in another way for a holiday that falls on a Sunday.

For someone who lives on the Costa Blanca, the calendar of the Comunitat Valenciana is therefore much more relevant than that of Madrid or Catalonia.

Public Holidays in the Valencian Community, 2026

For residents of Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón, the following general labor holidays will apply in 2026 in the Comunitat Valenciana:

In addition, there are two local holidays per municipality. The Generalitat Valenciana has confirmed this calendar for 2026.

For residents of Torrevieja, Rojales, Ciudad Quesada, Guardamar, Alicante, and the rest of the Costa Blanca, this is therefore the most important regional calendar.

March 19 – Saint Joseph at Las Fallas

March 19 is San José.

In the Valencian Community, this is an official holiday.

This date also marks the highlight of Las Fallas in Valencia and several other places.

Especially in the city of Valencia, the period leading up to March 19 is one of the biggest festive seasons of the year.

Anyone driving to Valencia during this period should be aware of the following:

• heavy traffic;
• closed streets;
• full hotels;
• fireworks;
• and huge numbers of visitors.

Passes in the Valencian Community

Good Friday falls on April 3 in 2026.

In the Valencian Community, Monday, April 6—Easter Monday—is also an official holiday.

This differs, for example, from Andalusia, where White Thursday, April 2 is an official holiday.

This is a good example of why a national list alone is not enough.

June 24 – San Juan

On June 24, Sant Joan/San Juan will be an official holiday in the Valencian Community in 2026.

The night before, from June 23 to 24, there will be extensive celebrations along the coast.

Many beaches host events in connection with the Noche de San Juan.

In Alicante, the Hogueras de San Juan are one of the city’s most important annual festivals. In 2026, Alicante will also designate June 23 as a local holiday in connection with the Hogueras.

October 9 – Valencian Community Day

On October 9, the region celebrates Valencian Community Day.

This day commemorates King Jaume I's entry into Valencia in 1238.

In 2026, October 9 falls on a Friday and is an official regional holiday.

For residents of the Costa Blanca, this means that government offices, schools, and many businesses, among others, are closed.

Local Holidays on the Costa Blanca

In addition to national and regional holidays, each municipality selects up to two of its own local labor holidays.

So they can differ between two places that are practically right next to each other.

For example, the official Valencian calendar lists the following for 2026:

• Alicante: April 16 through June 23;
• Benidorm: November 9 and 10;
• Dénia: April 13 and July 8;
• Elche: April 13 and December 29.

That's why it's a good idea to always check your own municipality's calendar as well.

Why are local holidays so important?

A local holiday may mean that:

• the town hall is closed;
• schools are closed;
• banks have different hours of operation;
• local stores are closing;
• there are processions or parades;
• streets will be closed;
• and parking spaces are temporarily unavailable.

When you've just moved to Spain, it can take some getting used to when your normal daily routine suddenly changes completely because of a local fiesta.

Holidays in Murcia 2026

Anyone who lives south of the Costa Blanca or regularly travels to the Costa Cálida will have to deal with the calendar of the Región de Murcia.

For 2026, the following will apply there, among other things:

In addition, there are two local holidays per municipality. The Region of Murcia has designated June 9 as a regional holiday for 2026.

This is relevant if, for example, you live in Murcia, Cartagena, Los Alcázares, or San Pedro del Pinatar.

Holidays in Andalusia 2026

For people living on the Costa del Sol, the Andalusian calendar applies.

In 2026, the following twelve general national and regional labor holidays were established:

In addition, there are two municipal holidays.

For residents of Málaga, Marbella, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, and Estepona, this is the starting point.

February 28 – Andalusia Day

Día de Andalucía is celebrated on February 28.

The date refers to the February 28, 1980, referendum on Andalusia's autonomy.

In 2026, the day falls on a Saturday and is an official regional holiday.

What happens if a holiday falls on a Sunday?

There is no simple nationwide rule for that which would have the same effect in every region.

Some holidays that fall on a Sunday are moved to Monday, while an autonomous community may, under certain circumstances, choose a different traditional holiday. The BOE explicitly describes the options available to the autonomous communities.

In 2026, you'll see this, for example, on December 6, Día de la Constitución.

This date falls on a Sunday.

Andalusia and Murcia have moved the day off to Monday, December 7.

The Valencian Community, on the other hand, has a different set of regional holidays.

Holy Week in Spain

Semana Santa, Holy Week leading up to Easter, is one of Spain's most important holiday periods.

Processions are held throughout the country, but the traditions vary greatly from region to region.

Andalusian cities, in particular, are known for their large processions.

On the Costa Blanca as well, there are extensive celebrations in Orihuela, Alicante, Torrevieja, and smaller towns, among other places.

If you're traveling around Easter, keep the following in mind:

• traffic closures;
• crowded city centers;
• changed hours of operation;
• processions;
• and crowds at hotels and restaurants.

At the same time, it's a wonderful time to experience Spanish traditions.

Epiphany: A Big Celebration in Spain

January 6 – Día de Reyes is much more important in Spain than many Dutch people initially expect.

On the evening of January 5, cities and towns organize the Cabalgata de Reyes, the Three Kings' Parade.

During these parades, candy is often handed out, and large floats drive through the streets.

For many Spanish children, gifts traditionally come from the Reyes Magos.

Although Christmas is also celebrated extensively these days, Epiphany remains one of the most important family traditions.

October 12 – Spain's National Day

Spain's national holiday is celebrated on October 12.

In 2026, it falls on a Monday.

Government offices and many businesses are closed.

A large military parade is traditionally held in Madrid.

For most residents, it’s also just a day off, and since it falls on a Monday in 2026, it’s part of a long weekend for many employees.

November 1 – All Saints' Day

All Saints' Day falls on a Sunday in 2026.

Around this time of year, many Spanish families visit cemeteries to remember deceased family members.

Flower shops and cemeteries are often particularly busy during this time of year.

Whether the day off will be moved to Monday in 2026 depends on the autonomous community. Andalusia, for example, has Monday, November 2 as a holiday, while Murcia has chosen to use its available regional discretion differently.

December 6 and 8

December often brings interesting combinations of days off in Spain.

December 6 is Spanish Constitution Day.

December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

If the calendar lines up well, employees take the day in between off, creating a longer puente.

In 2026, December 6 falls on a Sunday and December 8 falls on a Tuesday. In regions where Monday, December 7, is also an official holiday—such as Andalusia and Murcia—this results in a long holiday weekend.

What is a puente?

The Spanish word puente literally means "bridge."

In the context of days off, this means taking a workday off between a holiday and the weekend.

For example:

Public holiday on Thursday → take Friday off → four-day weekend.

Spaniards sometimes also refer to an acueducto when several holidays and days off together form an exceptionally long break.

Christmas in Spain

December 25 is Christmas Day and an official holiday.

Boxing Day on December 26 is not a national holiday in Spain.

That is a significant difference compared to the Netherlands.

Some autonomous communities may have their own holidays around Christmas, but you shouldn't automatically assume that December 26 is a day off everywhere.

For Dutch and Belgian people living here, this can feel strange at first.

Are stores closed on Spanish holidays?

Not all of them automatically.

Hours of operation depend on:

• autonomous community;
• municipality;
• type of store;
• tourist area;
• retail space;
• and authorized Sunday shopping and holiday openings.

Large shopping centers may be open on some holidays and completely closed on others.

If you're planning a special shopping trip, be sure to check the mall's website in advance.

Be sure to check out our guide to shopping on the Costa Blanca.

Supermarkets on Holidays

Supermarkets also have different opening hours.

Some locations are closing completely.

Others are open only in the morning.

In coastal tourist areas, the rules and hours of operation may also differ from those in smaller villages.

Especially around Christmas, Easter, and regional holidays, it's a good idea to plan your grocery shopping in advance.

Are the restaurants open?

In fact, restaurants are often open on holidays, especially in tourist areas.

However, it can get much busier on popular holidays.

So be sure to make a reservation well in advance if, for example, you want to eat out at:

• Christmas;
• Place
• Mother's Day;
• local festivals;
• or during major city festivals.

Are banks and city halls open?

On official Labor Day holidays, government offices are generally closed.

This applies, for example, to:

• town halls;
• many government offices;
• courts;
• and administrative services.

Banks are also usually closed.

This may be important if you are applying for a NIE or residencia or buying a home in Spain.

So don't schedule important appointments based solely on your Dutch calendar.

Local fiestas are more than just days off

A local holiday is often part of a larger festival program.

Over the course of several days, there may be activities such as:

• parades;
• fireworks;
• concerts;
• processions;
• markets;
• children's activities;
• and parties in public squares.

For those who live in Spain permanently, these local traditions are a fun way to get to know their hometown better.

Moors and Christians

In many towns in the Valencian Community, Moros y Cristianos is celebrated.

These festivals consist of elaborate parades that reenact historical conflicts between Moorish and Christian armies.

Costumes, music, and fireworks play a major role in this.

The exact dates vary by municipality.

Local festivals on the Costa Blanca

On the Costa Blanca, virtually every town has its own annual festivals.

Consider, for example, Rojales, Torrevieja, Guardamar, Benijófar, Los Montesinos, Santa Pola, and Orihuela Costa.

That's exactly why there's usually something going on somewhere in the area almost every month.

Markets During the Holidays

Even a regular weekly market may be affected by a local holiday.

The market can:

• just keep going;
• be moved;
• take place on another day;
• or expire entirely.

So be sure to check out our guide to markets on the Costa Blanca beforehand, and if in doubt, check the latest information from the local municipality.

Holidays and Schools

A Labor Day holiday and a school vacation aren't always the same thing.

Schools follow their own regional school calendar, and municipalities may also designate local non-instructional days.

In the Valencian Community, for example, October 9, October 12, December 8, and March 19 are designated as holidays for the 2026–2027 school year, in addition to the regular Christmas and Easter breaks. Municipalities may also propose local non-school days.

For families who emigrate to Spain, it is therefore advisable to use their child’s school calendar rather than just the general work calendar.

Holidays and Traveling in Spain

During long weekends and major fiestas, traffic can be much heavier.

This is especially true around:

• Holy Week;
• August;
• October 12;
• december;
• and Christmas.

Many Spaniards use a "puente" to visit family or get away for a few days.

As a result, hotels and vacation rentals can fill up more quickly.

Fireworks are a part of Spain

Dutch people are often surprised by how many fireworks are set off in Spain outside of New Year's Eve.

Fireworks can be part of the celebrations at local fiestas, processions, weddings, patron saint festivals, and major regional festivals.

In Valencia and Alicante, fireworks and mascletàs can even be a central part of a festival program.

People who live here permanently often get used to the familiar booms in the distance pretty quickly.

Holidays When You Live in Spain

People who vacation here see a fiesta mainly as a fun getaway.

When you live in Spain, you'll also notice the practical side of things.

Your appointment at city hall has been canceled, the kids have the day off from school, the supermarket is closing early, and the main street is closed off because of a procession.

That's all part of everyday life in Spain.

And it is precisely the combination of national, regional, and very local traditions that means no two municipalities have exactly the same calendar of festivities.

Buying a Home and Living in Spain

Would you like to experience Spain not just during vacations and holidays, but also buy a second home here or live here permanently?

Casas Palmeras assists Dutch and Belgian buyers with buying a home in Spain.

View the current listings, discover the available new construction projects, or learn more about our approach.

Are you planning to move permanently? Then be sure to check out our information on emigrating to Spain, health care in Spain, NIE and residencia, and our emigration checklist.

Would you like us to help you find a home in a region of Spain that suits your lifestyle? If so, please fill out the home search questionnaire or feel free to contact Casas Palmeras.

Holidays in Spain go far beyond just a few red-letter days on the calendar. National holidays are supplemented by regional and local holidays, which means the calendar in Alicante may differ from that in Murcia or Málaga. Anyone living in Spain would therefore be wise to familiarize themselves not only with the national holidays, but especially with the calendar of their autonomous community and their own municipality.