Festivals in the Canary Islands draw crowds as key events begin

There isn’t a single festival calendar covering all the towns and villages in the Canary Islands. But luckily, we’ve put together a list of events for every island and every municipality. If you keep track of the main public holidays and festival programmes, you’ll quickly find the perfect fiesta for your holiday. We’ll show you which festivals you should know about and what you need to bear in mind when joining in the celebrations.

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Canary Islands: Why there are so many celebrations

In the Canary Islands, the municipalities each maintain their own traditions. For the working calendar, all 88 municipalities are each allowed to designate two local public holidays. On top of this, there are regional and island-wide public holidays. This means that the neighbouring town might already be celebrating again, whilst elsewhere everyday life has resumed – at least until the next festival.

Many festivals are closely linked to patron saints. On Tenerife, these include San Sebastián in Adeje, San Vicente in Los Realejos and the Virgen del Carmen in Puerto de la Cruz. On Gran Canaria, Agaete celebrates San Pedro Apóstol and Nuestra Señora de las Nieves.

A public holiday is a specific date. A fiesta, on the other hand, can last for several days. These usually feature religious elements, music, dance groups and other events. Are you looking for a patron saint’s festival or a romería? If so, select this specific event category.

Carnival in the Canary Islands: galas and street festivals

Carnival is celebrated throughout the Canary Islands, from small mountain villages right up to the capital. On Tenerife, Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz are particularly well known. In Santa Cruz, the election of the Carnival Queen, the music and costume competitions, and the parades are central elements of the ‚Carnaval‘. Music groups, masked revellers and historical floats characterise the festivities. Did you know that Tenerife promotes itself as having the second-largest carnival in the world after Rio?

Canary Islands Carnival: Dates for Santa Cruz 2027

For 2027, Santa Cruz has brought the start forward by two weeks for organisational reasons, thereby moving away from the previous religious calendar. The theme is «Roma Eterna, el Imperio del Carnaval», which translates as «Eternal Rome, the Empire of Carnival». You should make a note of these dates now:

22 January 2027: Opening gala and start of the programme.
23 January 2027: Start of the competitions featuring the music groups, with free admission.
19 February 2027: Start of the street phase with the Cabalgata Anunciadora.
23 February 2027: The grand parade.
24 February 2027: Burial of the Sardine.
28 February 2027: Piñata Sunday and the end of the street festivities.

Further details can be found in our overview of the 2027 Carnival dates in Santa Cruz.

Canary Islands Carnival: What makes Puerto de la Cruz special

Incidentally, in Puerto de la Cruz, the burial of the sardine does not mark the end of all the celebrations – quite the opposite! Because it is only when the official festivities end that the real Carnival highlights begin. The well-known programme includes the grand parade and ‚Mascarita ponte tacón‘, the event featuring men in high heels. During the parade, music groups, masked revellers and historical floats make their way through the town centre. Of course, all this is always accompanied by samba and international delegations.

The sardine itself is a large fish figure made of rags and papier-mâché. Its burial combines the farewell to Carnival with a mock funeral. Find out exactly what lies behind this quirky tradition here.

An overview of public holidays in the Canary Islands

When planning, we distinguish between public holidays, island-specific dates and local holidays. Día de Canarias on 30 May applies equally across all Canary Islands. This also applies to, among others:

1 January: New Year’s Day
6 January: Epiphany
2 April: Maundy Thursday
3 April: Good Friday
1 May: Labour Day
12 October: Spanish National Day
25 December: Christmas

Incidentally, Boxing Day is not an official public holiday in Spain.

Added to these are island-specific public holidays. Just how important the choice of holiday destination is can be seen, for example, in the case of Shrove Tuesday: on 17 February 2026, only 46 of the 88 municipalities declared it a local public holiday.

Summer fiestas in the Canary Islands: the July festivities

The Fiestas de Julio in Puerto de la Cruz demonstrate just how varied local celebrations can be. The July festivals are among the port city’s oldest traditions. They combine religion, culture, music and the commitment of the local people. At the heart of the Fiestas de Julio are three revered patron figures: the Señor del Gran Poder de Dios, the Virgen del Carmen and Saint Telmo.

The programme includes, for example, the open-air ‚Noche en Blanco‘, the ‚Baile de Magos‘ with a Canarian dinner, and the ‚Noche de los Tributos‘ on the harbour promenade. There are also numerous liturgical celebrations. The packed programme is aimed at all age groups, including families.

The boat procession is particularly well attended every year. It symbolises the town’s maritime tradition and the festivities in general. The town celebrates its connection to the sea. Whether you are religious or not, and regardless of your denomination, we recommend that you include religious and community events in your plans alongside the music. You can find the specific times and programmes here (more on this below).

Tips for your visit to the fiestas in the Canary Islands

You don’t need to be familiar with every tradition to join in the celebrations respectfully. However, do bear in mind whether you are attending a religious service or a street festival. These tips will help:

Take announcements seriously and keep passageways clear. Never push your way into processions, and ask for permission before taking close-up photos of individuals.
During Carnival, the celebrations continue through the night. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, don’t assume that a call to the Policía Local – the equivalent of the German public order office – will help. Before booking, make sure you check where stages and festival sites are planned. And don’t forget ear protectors, as it gets very, very loud!
Always check for any road closures. After all, what looks like a car park today could well be the official festival site tomorrow. There are plenty of tow trucks in the Canary Islands!
An evening’s entertainment doesn’t necessarily start or finish early. This is important to bear in mind when planning, as buses run less frequently at night. When using public transport, therefore, always check the last possible connection, not just the journey there.

Canary Islands: How to find your fiesta

Start your search in our Canary Islands events calendar and take a look at our weekend tips. Select the island, town and travel dates. Then check whether the event refers to a single parade, a gala or a fiesta lasting several days.

Just before your visit, please take a moment to read through the latest information and the local programme once more. The postponement of the 2027 Santa Cruz Carnival or the complete cancellation of the 2025 parade show that dates from previous years are not a reliable basis for planning. However, once the event and your return journey are confirmed, you can focus entirely on joining in the celebrations once you’re there. We hope you have a wonderful time!