La Tomatina Festival is held on the last Wednesday of August in the small town of Buñol, near Valencia, and is one of Spain's most famous and unusual festivals, involving thousands of participants throwing tomatoes at each other in a massive, good-natured food fight. The tradition dates back to the 1940s and has grown into an internationally recognised event drawing visitors from around the world. It is a local festival rather than a public holiday, though Buñol treats the day as a major local celebration.
Public Holidays & Regional Festivities in Spain 2026
Discover the official 2026 public holiday calendar for Spain. Plan your travel, long weekends, and business schedules around national bank holidays and vibrant regional festivals.
Last verified: June 2026
Public Holidays & Observances List
Asturias Day / Regional Festivals are observed on September 8th in the autonomous community of Asturias, marking the region's official day with cultural events, traditional music, and local gastronomy on display across its towns and cities. The celebration centres on the Basilica of Covadonga, a significant religious and historical site in Asturian identity. It is a regional rather than a national observance, with similar regional "day" celebrations held by other autonomous communities on their own respective dates throughout the year.
The National Day of Catalonia, or Diada Nacional de Catalunya, is a public holiday observed on September 11th exclusively within Catalonia, commemorating the fall of Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. The day carries strong political and cultural significance, with large public demonstrations, particularly in Barcelona, often centred around Catalan identity and self-determination. It is one of the most prominent expressions of regional identity on the Spanish public holiday calendar.
- Attending public demonstrations and gatherings in Barcelona, often centred on Catalan identity and political expression
- Displaying the Catalan flag (Senyera) and estelada flags across balconies and public spaces
The National Day of Spain, or Día de la Hispanidad, is a national public holiday observed on October 12th, marking the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. The day features a major military parade in Madrid attended by the King and senior government officials, broadcast live on national television. It is one of the most significant civic and patriotic observances on the Spanish calendar.
- Watching the annual military parade held in Madrid, attended by the King and government officials
- Attending local patriotic events and flag-raising ceremonies held in towns across the country
Halloween is observed on October 31st in Spain and has grown in popularity in recent decades, particularly among younger generations, despite having no traditional roots in Spanish culture. Costume parties, trick-or-treating, and themed events at bars and clubs have become increasingly common in larger cities. It is not a public holiday and remains overshadowed by the more deeply rooted All Saints' Day that follows immediately afterward.
All Saints' Day, or Día de Todos los Santos, is a national public holiday observed on November 1st, dedicated to honouring all saints and, in Spanish tradition, the memory of deceased loved ones. Families visit cemeteries to clean graves and lay flowers, particularly chrysanthemums, which are strongly associated with the day in Spain. It is treated as a solemn but important family occasion across the entire country.
- Visiting cemeteries to clean family graves and lay chrysanthemums, the flower traditionally associated with the day
- Eating huesos de santo and buñuelos de viento, traditional pastries sold widely in bakeries around this date
Saint Martin's Day, or Día de San Martín, is observed on November 11th in various regions of Spain, traditionally marking the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of the wine and pork-curing season. The Spanish expression "a cada cerdo le llega su San Martín" ("every pig gets its San Martín") reflects the day's historical association with the slaughtering and preparation of pork products for winter. It is not a public holiday but remains an important date in rural and culinary tradition.
Constitution Day, or Día de la Constitución, is a national public holiday observed on December 6th, commemorating the 1978 referendum in which Spanish citizens ratified the current constitution following the transition to democracy after the Franco era. The day often forms part of a popular "puente," or bridge holiday, alongside the Immaculate Conception holiday just two days later. Government buildings hold formal ceremonies, and the King traditionally delivers remarks marking the occasion.
- Observing formal ceremonies at government institutions marking the anniversary of the 1978 constitution
- Taking advantage of the early-December puente created alongside the nearby Immaculate Conception holiday
The Immaculate Conception, or Inmaculada Concepción, is a national public holiday observed on December 8th, honouring the Catholic doctrine that the Virgin Mary was conceived free from original sin. Falling close to Constitution Day, it frequently forms part of an extended December puente that many Spaniards use for short trips or visits to family. Churches across the country hold special Masses, and many towns hold processions in honour of the Virgin Mary.
- Attending special Masses and processions in honour of the Virgin Mary held nationwide
- Enjoying the extended December puente weekend created alongside Constitution Day two days earlier
Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena, falls on December 24th and is considered by many Spaniards to be a more important family occasion than Christmas Day itself. Families gather for a large evening meal, often featuring seafood or roast meats, followed by Midnight Mass (Misa del Gallo) for those who attend church. It is not an official public holiday, but many businesses close early in the afternoon.
Christmas Day, or Navidad, is a national public holiday observed on December 25th, marking the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. While Nochebuena the night before is often the larger family gathering, Christmas Day itself is typically spent quietly with family, eating leftovers from the previous night's feast or a relaxed midday meal. Shops, banks, and most businesses are closed nationwide.
- Sharing a relaxed family lunch, often featuring leftovers from the Nochebuena feast the night before
- Eating turrón, a traditional Spanish nougat made with almonds and honey, widely enjoyed throughout the holiday season
Holy Innocents' Day, or Día de los Santos Inocentes, is observed on December 28th in Spain and functions much like April Fool's Day in English-speaking countries, with pranks, jokes, and hoaxes played among friends, family, and even in the media. It commemorates a biblical account from the Gospel of Matthew but has evolved in Spanish culture into a lighthearted day of mischief rather than a solemn observance. It is not a public holiday.
New Year's Eve, or Nochevieja, falls on December 31st and is celebrated across Spain with family dinners, the eating of twelve grapes at the twelve strokes of midnight — one for each month of the coming year, said to bring good luck — and widespread public celebrations afterward. Madrid's Puerta del Sol hosts the most famous public countdown, broadcast nationally on television. It is not a public holiday, though many businesses close early in the afternoon ahead of the evening's festivities. ---
Complete Spain National and Regional Holiday Calendar for 2026
Spain's holiday calendar is one of the more intricate in Europe, combining a core set of national public holidays with a dense layer of regional and local observances that vary significantly by autonomous community. Whether you are scheduling business operations, planning travel, or organising a marketing calendar, knowing exactly which dates apply in 2026 — and where — is essential. This guide covers every national and major regional holiday in Spain for 2026, along with the cultural context behind each one.
National (Red Days) vs. Regional Holidays in Spain
Spain observes what are commonly known as "días rojos," or red days, marked in red on the official calendar — these are the national public holidays that apply across the entire country, including New Year's Day, Epiphany, Good Friday, Labour Day, Assumption of Mary, National Day of Spain, All Saints' Day, Constitution Day, Immaculate Conception, and Christmas Day. Beyond this national list, each of Spain's 17 autonomous communities selects its own additional holidays from a regional list, plus two local holidays chosen by individual municipalities.
This layered system means a date like Maundy Thursday is a public holiday in most of Spain but not observed in Catalonia, while the National Day of Catalonia on September 11th is a public holiday exclusively within that one region. Community of Madrid Day, Saint James Day in Galicia, and Saint John's Day in Catalonia follow the same pattern. Businesses operating across multiple Spanish regions in 2026 need to check each autonomous community's official calendar individually, since a date that closes offices in Valencia may be a normal working day in Madrid.
Festivals and Long Weekends (Puentes) in 2026
The Spanish concept of the "puente," or bridge holiday, is central to how the calendar plays out in practice. When a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many Spaniards take the adjoining Monday or Friday off as well, creating an extended long weekend — a tradition strongly anticipated each year. In 2026, dates such as Constitution Day and Immaculate Conception in early December are classic puente candidates given their proximity to each other.
Beyond formal holidays, major festivals like Semana Santa in Seville, Las Fallas in Valencia, and La Tomatina in Buñol draw enormous crowds and should be factored into any 2026 travel planning well in advance, as accommodation books up quickly.
Plan Ahead with the Printable PDF Calendar
A printable PDF version of the 2026 Spain holiday calendar is an invaluable tool for navigating the country's mix of national, regional, and local dates. It allows HR departments, schools, and travellers to see at a glance which holidays apply to their specific region and where the puentes are likely to fall. Download our free printable 2026 Spain holiday calendar to keep every red day, regional holiday, and major festival organised throughout the year.