Mercado Navideño de Marbella (Marbella Christmas Market) brings festive spirit to Spain’s Costa del Sol, filling Marbella’s central squares and promenades with holiday lights, cozy market stalls, and the scent of seasonal treats. Visitors can shop for artisan crafts, taste Andalusian specialties, and enjoy concerts, parades, and family-friendly activities, all under the glow of palm trees strung with lights. Blending Mediterranean charm with international flair, the Marbella Christmas Market offers a unique seaside twist on Europe’s holiday traditions.

Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the world’s most spectacular Carnival celebrations, rivaling Rio de Janeiro in its scale, color, and energy. Held each February in the capital of Spain’s Canary Islands, the festival dazzles with its parades, extravagant costumes, and infectious Latin rhythms. Highlights include the glamorous Queen Election Gala, the lively Coso Apoteosis parade, and the humorous Burial of the Sardine, which closes the festivities with satire and spectacle. For weeks, the city transforms into a nonstop party of music, dance, and creativity, blending Canarian tradition, Caribbean influence, and European flair. The Santa Cruz Carnival embodies pure joy and freedom under the island’s winter sun.

Carnaval de Sitges is one of Spain’s most vibrant and flamboyant Carnival celebrations, held each February in the seaside town of Sitges, near Barcelona. Famous for its dazzling costumes, parades, and inclusive atmosphere, the festival blends traditional Catalan Carnival customs with the town’s renowned LGBTQ+ pride and artistic flair. Highlights include the Arrival of the King of Carnestoltes, the extravagant Debauchery Parade (Rua de la Disbauxa), and the dazzling Extermination Parade (Rua de l’Extermini) before Ash Wednesday. With its mix of music, dance, and colorful irreverence, the Sitges Carnival is a dazzling fusion of freedom, creativity, and Mediterranean joy.

Carnaval de Barcelona is a colorful and exuberant pre-Lenten celebration that takes over the Catalan capital each February, blending centuries-old tradition with contemporary creativity. The festivities begin with the arrival of King Carnestoltes, the jovial ruler of mischief, whose proclamation launches a week of parades, costume parties, and street performances across the city. Highlights include the lively Grand Parade (Rua de la Taronjada)—where orange confetti recalls medieval battles with oranges—and neighborhood celebrations throughout Ciutat Vella and Gràcia. Concluding with the symbolic Burial of the Sardine, the Barcelona Carnival combines humor, music, and Mediterranean flair in one of Spain’s most joyful winter festivals.

Carnaval de Cádiz is one of Spain’s most famous and spirited Carnival celebrations, held each February in the Andalusian port city of Cádiz. Renowned for its sharp satire, humor, and music, the festival fills the city’s plazas and narrow streets with costumed groups called chirigotas, comparsas, and choirs, who perform witty songs that poke fun at politics and everyday life. The festivities include parades, street parties, and the prestigious COAC competition in the Gran Teatro Falla, where musical ensembles showcase their creativity. Blending Andalusian flair, theatricality, and irreverent wit, the Cádiz Carnival is a joyous explosion of sound, color, and laughter that embodies Spain’s Carnival spirit.

Carnaval de Madrid (Madrid Carnival) is a lively and creative pre-Lenten celebration that fills Spain’s capital with music, costumes, and colorful parades each February. Rooted in the city’s 16th-century traditions and revived in modern times, the festival features the spectacular Grand Parade, costume contests, and the playful Burial of the Sardine ceremony, which symbolically ends the revelry before Lent. Neighborhoods like Retiro and Matadero Madrid host open-air performances, concerts, and family-friendly events, showcasing the city’s blend of heritage and modern culture. Combining humor, pageantry, and urban energy, the Madrid Carnival captures the capital’s spirited approach to celebration and renewal.

Las Fallas is an annual festival held in Valencia, Spain, celebrating the arrival of spring. The event is famous for its massive puppets and figurines made of papier-mâché, known as fallas, which are paraded through the streets and later burned in a spectacular display of fireworks. Las Fallas includes music, dancing, street parties, and traditional foods, making it a vibrant celebration of Valencian culture. The festival also features fireworks displays, artistic performances, and cultural events, drawing locals and tourists alike to experience the energy and excitement of one of Spain's most iconic celebrations.

The Feria de Abril (April Fair) in Seville, Spain, is a week-long celebration of Andalusian culture, held two weeks after Easter. The festival transforms the fairgrounds into a dazzling scene of colorful "casetas" (private tents), where locals gather to enjoy flamenco music and dancing, traditional Sevillanas, and delicious food and drinks, including tapas and sherry wine. By day, parades of horse-drawn carriages and riders in traditional attire fill the streets, while at night, the fairgrounds come alive with music, lights, and festivities. One of Spain’s most famous festivals, the Feria captures the joyful spirit of Seville.

Feria Medieval de Ibiza (Ibiza Medieval Fair) is a vibrant historical festival held each May in the Dalt Vila, Ibiza’s UNESCO-listed old town, transforming its cobbled streets into a living medieval marketplace. The event celebrates the island’s rich multicultural past—from Christian to Muslim and Jewish influences—with craft stalls, costumed performers, jugglers, falconers, and street musicians filling the ancient ramparts. Visitors can taste traditional foods, watch artisan demonstrations, and wander through a world of color and history surrounded by the island’s breathtaking views. Blending heritage, spectacle, and Mediterranean charm, the Ibiza Medieval Fair offers a magical journey back to the Middle Ages.

Fiestas de San Isidro (Festival of San Isidro, Madrid) is the Spanish capital’s most iconic spring celebration, held each May in honor of San Isidro Labrador, Madrid’s patron saint. The city comes alive with open-air concerts, processions, dance, and traditional attire, as locals gather at Pradera de San Isidro Park to picnic, sing, and sip limonada (a local wine-and-lemon drink). Highlights include chulapo and chulapa costumes, folk music, and the pilgrimage to the saint’s shrine. Blending religious devotion, popular culture, and Madrileño pride, the Fiestas de San Isidro capture the joyful spirit of Madrid in full bloom.

Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair) is an annual festival held in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The event celebrates the region's rich equestrian heritage and flamenco culture, featuring horse exhibitions, dressage performances, and traditional Spanish horse riding. The festival also includes flamenco dancing, live music, and gastronomy, with food stalls offering local delicacies. Feria del Caballo is a lively celebration of Jerez's cultural traditions, attracting locals and tourists who enjoy the festive atmosphere, horse parades, and vibrant flamenco performances in one of Spain's most famous wine-producing regions.

The Fiesta de San Fermín is a world-renowned festival held annually in Pamplona, Spain, in honor of San Fermín, the patron saint of the city. The event is most famous for the encierro, or running of the bulls, where participants race in front of a group of bulls through the narrow streets of the city. The festival also includes traditional music, dancing, parades, and religious ceremonies. It is a vibrant celebration of Spanish culture that attracts thousands of visitors each year. The Fiesta de San Fermín is known for its thrilling and sometimes dangerous events, but it also offers a unique blend of history, tradition, and festivity.

Danza de los Zancos de Anguiano (Dance of the Stilts) is a centuries-old folk tradition held each July in the mountain village of Anguiano, in Spain’s La Rioja region. Dedicated to Mary Magdalene, the festival features eight young men dressed in 18th-century costumes who perform daring dances and twirling descents down the steep, cobbled streets—balanced on wooden stilts nearly half a meter high. Accompanied by music, cheering crowds, and religious processions, the event honors devotion, courage, and community spirit. Blending faith, adrenaline, and heritage, the Dance of the Stilts is one of Spain’s most unique and mesmerizing folk spectacles.

Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) is one of professional cycling’s three Grand Tours, held annually from late August to mid-September across Spain and occasionally neighboring countries. First staged in 1935, the multi-week race spans mountain climbs, time trials, and flat sprint stages, covering more than 3,000 kilometers through the nation’s most scenic and challenging terrain. Riders compete for the red jersey (La Roja), symbolizing the overall leader. Known for its dramatic mountain finishes, passionate crowds, and late-summer heat, the Vuelta a España blends athletic endurance, tactical brilliance, and Spanish flair, making it a thrilling conclusion to the cycling season.

Festival de Escalada de Morella (Climbing Festival) is an exciting outdoor sports and adventure event held each summer in the medieval walled town of Morella, in Spain’s Castellón province. Surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs and natural rock formations, the festival gathers climbers, mountaineers, and outdoor enthusiasts for competitions, workshops, and guided climbs suitable for all levels. The town also hosts live music, film screenings, and local food stalls, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere that unites sport with culture. Blending adventure, community, and the rugged beauty of northern Valencia, the Morella Climbing Festival is a celebration of both nature and human challenge.