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SPAIN · PUBLIC HOLIDAYS · NATIONAL HOLIDAYS · REGIONAL FIESTAS · UK TRAVEL GUIDE
Public Holidays in Spain 2026: Complete Guide for UK Travellers
Spain has 10 national public holidays in 2026, plus regional fiestas in each of the 17 autonomous communities. This guide covers every date, what’s open and closed, and how the calendar compares with UK bank holidays — verified against BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado) and triangulated with Nager.Date.
NEXT PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN SPAIN
Day of the Canary Islands
Saturday 30 May 2026
Regional holiday — Canary Islands only. Next NATIONAL holiday: Assumption Day (Saturday 15 August).
Upcoming public holidays in Spain
The next Spanish public holidays after 23 May 2026, including both national and major regional dates. National holidays are in bold — they apply everywhere in Spain. Regional holidays apply only to specific autonomous communities.
| Date | Holiday | Type | Bridge / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 30 May | Day of the Canary Islands | Regional (Canarias) | Falls on a Saturday |
| Sunday 31 May | Day of Castilla-La Mancha | Regional (CLM) | Falls on a Sunday |
| Thursday 4 June | Corpus Christi | Regional (CLM) | Possible 4-day weekend in CLM |
| Wednesday 24 June | Sant Joan | Regional (Cataluña, Valencia) | Mid-week — famous beach bonfire night |
| Saturday 25 July | Santiago Apóstol | Regional (Galicia, País Vasco) | Falls on a Saturday |
| Saturday 15 August | Assumption Day | National religious | Falls on a Saturday — lost (no shift in Spain) |
| Monday 12 October | National Day of Spain (Día de la Hispanidad) | National civil | 3-day weekend |
| Sunday 1 November | All Saints' Day | National religious | Falls on a Sunday |
| Sunday 6 December | Constitution Day | National civil | Falls on a Sunday — bridge with Immaculate Conception |
| Tuesday 8 December | Immaculate Conception | National religious | Puente — many take Monday 7 off for 5-day break |
| Friday 25 December | Christmas Day | National religious | 3-day weekend with Boxing Day (regional) |
| Saturday 26 December | St. Stephen's Day | Regional (Cataluña) | Falls on a Saturday |
Multi-year calendar — 2026, 2027, 2028
Spain's 10 national public holidays across 2026, 2027 and 2028. Easter and related dates are movable (Catholic calendar). Spain has one of the highest public-holiday counts in the EU when regional fiestas are included — up to 14 per region.
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (Año Nuevo) | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January | Saturday 1 January |
| Epiphany (Día de Reyes) | Tuesday 6 January | Wednesday 6 January | Thursday 6 January |
| Good Friday (Viernes Santo) | Friday 3 April | Friday 26 March | Friday 14 April |
| Labour Day (Día del Trabajo) | Friday 1 May | Saturday 1 May | Monday 1 May |
| Assumption Day (Asunción) | Saturday 15 August | Sunday 15 August | Tuesday 15 August |
| National Day (Día de la Hispanidad) | Monday 12 October | Tuesday 12 October | Thursday 12 October |
| All Saints' Day (Todos los Santos) | Sunday 1 November | Monday 1 November | Wednesday 1 November |
| Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución) | Sunday 6 December | Monday 6 December | Wednesday 6 December |
| Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada) | Tuesday 8 December | Wednesday 8 December | Friday 8 December |
| Christmas Day (Navidad) | Friday 25 December | Saturday 25 December | Monday 25 December |
⚠️ Spanish holidays falling on weekends in 2026
Four national holidays fall on a weekend in 2026: Assumption (Saturday 15 August), All Saints' (Sunday 1 November), Constitution Day (Sunday 6 December) and St. Stephen's Day (Saturday 26 December — regional in Catalonia). Unlike the UK, Spain does NOT shift weekend holidays to a Monday. The day is simply lost. This is why the December puente (Constitution 6 Dec → Immaculate 8 Dec) is so prized — it's the only stretch where you can still get a 5-day break despite the weekend losses.
What's open and closed for UK travellers in Spain
On Spanish public holidays, banks and government offices are firmly closed, but the customer-facing side of Spain stays remarkably open — bars, restaurants, beaches and tourist attractions trade through every national holiday except Christmas Day. For UK travellers, the things most likely to catch you out are pharmacies (rota system) and supermarkets (closed nationals, open Sundays in tourist zones). Here's the practical breakdown:
| 🏦 Banks (Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell) | Closed on all national public holidays. ATMs work normally and UK debit cards (Visa/Mastercard) draw euros from any cash machine — Revolut, Monzo, Starling and Wise typically waive ATM fees up to a monthly limit. Branch hours are normally Mon–Fri 08:30–14:00 only, so plan any in-person banking around weekdays. |
| 🛒 Supermarkets (Mercadona, Carrefour, Lidl, Día) | Closed on national holidays. In tourist zones (Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Mallorca, Barcelona, Madrid Sol), small Carrefour Express and Día stores often open Sunday mornings and even some holidays — but not Christmas Day or New Year's Day. El Corte Inglés (department store) may open on selected regional holidays. |
| 🍽️ Bars, restaurants, tapas (everywhere) | Almost universally open, including on national holidays. Spanish dining culture is built around eating out — Christmas Eve dinner (24 Dec) and New Year's Eve are the biggest restaurant nights of the year. Booking is essential for tourist hotspots in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, San Sebastián. The two exceptions: 25 December (lunch usually open, dinner often closed) and 1 January (most places closed until evening). |
| 🚄 Renfe trains (AVE, Avlo, Iryo, Ouigo) | Operating on a Sunday/holiday schedule. The Madrid–Barcelona AVE runs ~25 services on holidays vs ~35 on weekdays. Direct UK booking via Renfe.com or Trainline; the UK-to-Spain corridor via Paris on Eurostar + TGV is the rail-only route. Bonus: tickets booked 60+ days in advance start from €19 on Avlo and Ouigo. |
| 🏛️ Museums (Prado, Reina Sofía, Sagrada Família, Alhambra) | Most major Spanish museums open on national holidays with Sunday hours. The Prado and Reina Sofía in Madrid offer free entry in the last two hours; the Alhambra requires booking weeks in advance regardless of date. Closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December — universally. Sagrada Família stays open every day of the year. |
| ✈️ Airports (Madrid MAD, Barcelona BCN, Málaga AGP, Palma PMI, Alicante ALC) | All operate 24/7. The UK–Spain corridor is the world's busiest international airline market: easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, British Airways, Iberia all serve direct routes. Fares spike +60% during Semana Santa (Holy Week, 30 March–5 April 2026), August and the Christmas–Epiphany window. Cheapest months from UK: late January and November. |
UK bank holidays that line up with Spain dates
For UK travellers planning a trip, certain combinations of UK bank holidays and Spanish public holidays produce particularly good long-weekend opportunities. Internal cross-reference: see also our complete list of UK bank holidays for 2026.
| Period | UK side | Spain side | Trip tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 May 2026 | Early May Bank Holiday (Mon 4 May) | Labour Day (Fri 1 May) | 4 days · Costa del Sol or Mallorca for early-season sun — flights cheapest of the year |
| 23–26 May 2026 | Spring Bank Holiday (Mon 25 May) | Regional Spanish dates only | 4 days · Barcelona, Madrid or Andalusia city break — pre-summer weather |
| 15–17 August 2026 | Summer leave UK | Assumption (Sat 15 Aug) | Lost Spanish holiday but peak season — beaches packed, expect +60% on flights |
| 10–12 October 2026 | UK weekend | National Day (Mon 12 Oct) | 3 days · Madrid (parade on Paseo de la Castellana), Seville or Valencia — autumn warmth |
| 5–8 December 2026 | UK weekend | Puente de Diciembre (Sun 6 + Tue 8) | 4 days with one day off · ideal for Andalusia road trip or northern Camino |
| 24 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | UK Christmas + New Year | Navidad + Reyes (6 Jan) | 2 weeks · long stay in Spain with Three Kings parades on 5 Jan — the Spanish Christmas climax |
Regional public holidays in Spain's 17 autonomous communities
Beyond the 10 national days, each of Spain's 17 autonomous communities (and two autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla) sets its own additional holidays — typically 4 regional + 2 local per year. These are the most travel-relevant ones for UK visitors:
| Date | Holiday | Region | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb | Day of Andalucía | Andalucía (Seville, Málaga, Granada) | Regional fiesta — major events in Seville, fairs and family gatherings |
| 1 Mar | Day of the Balearic Islands | Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera | Day off across the islands — start of pre-season activity |
| 2 Apr | Maundy Thursday | All regions except Cataluña + Valencia | Holy Week peak — Semana Santa processions in Seville, Málaga, Valladolid |
| 23 Apr | Day of Aragón / Castilla y León | Aragón, Castilla y León | Twin regional dates — quieter regions, good for Camino de Santiago |
| 2 May | Day of Madrid | Comunidad de Madrid | Commemorates 1808 uprising — parades on Plaza del Sol |
| 9 Jun | Day of La Rioja / Murcia | La Rioja, Murcia | Wine-region fiesta in Logroño + Murcia regional events |
| 11 Sep | National Day of Catalonia (Diada) | Cataluña (Barcelona) | Major Catalan political demonstration — Barcelona crowded but vibrant |
| 9 Oct | Day of the Valencian Community | Valencia, Alicante | Regional fiesta — paella feasts, traditional dress, Valencia city parades |
Cultural notes — how Spanish holidays differ from UK bank holidays
Five quirks of the Spanish calendar that catch UK travellers and expats out:
- Three Kings (6 January) is bigger than Christmas Day. Children traditionally receive presents on Epiphany morning (6 January) from the Three Wise Men, not from Santa Claus on Christmas. The 5 January Cabalgata de Reyes parade is the biggest family event of the year — every Spanish city stages one. Christmas Day itself is family lunch, not a present-opening day.
- No Monday substitution for weekend holidays. Unlike the UK system where a bank holiday falling on a weekend is moved to the following Monday, Spain simply loses it. In 2026 this affects four holidays (15 Aug, 1 Nov, 6 Dec, 26 Dec) — Spaniards joke that 2026 is a 'mal año festivo'.
- Holy Week (Semana Santa) shuts down banks for nearly a week. Maundy Thursday (2 April 2026) is a holiday in 15 of 17 regions, Good Friday (3 April) is national, and Easter Monday (6 April) is regional in six communities. Combined with the weekend, that's a 5–6 day shutdown for offices and banks. Tourism, by contrast, runs at maximum capacity — Andalusia processions draw millions.
- Regional fiestas can outweigh national holidays. For locals, a Día de Andalucía (28 Feb) or Diada de Catalunya (11 Sept) is often a bigger deal than the National Day on 12 October. The political symbolism matters — in Catalonia and the Basque Country especially, the National Day of Spain is barely marked.
- Puentes (bridges) are an institution. When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, Spaniards reliably take the Monday or Friday off to make a 4-day break. The most famous is the Puente de Diciembre (Constitution Day 6 Dec → Immaculate Conception 8 Dec) — for UK visitors, this means Madrid, Barcelona and ski resorts (Sierra Nevada, Pyrenees) book out a month in advance.
UK travellers and residents in Spain
Spain hosts approximately 400,000 British residents — the largest UK expat community in continental Europe, concentrated in Andalucía (Costa del Sol), Valencia (Costa Blanca, Alicante), Murcia and the Balearics. Post-Brexit residency rules now require 90/180-day Schengen limits for tourists and the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) for residents. The British Embassy in Madrid and consulates in Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante and Las Palmas are closed on both UK bank holidays and Spanish national holidays — around 22 closures per year. The annual UK–Spain travel volume sits at roughly 17 million visits, making Spain the UK's #1 outbound destination by a wide margin.
Frequently asked questions — Public holidays in Spain
How many public holidays does Spain have in 2026?
Spain has 10 national public holidays in 2026, plus up to 4 regional days per autonomous community and 2 local days per municipality — for a typical worker, that's 14 paid public holidays. Of the 10 national days, 4 fall on a weekend in 2026 (Assumption, All Saints', Constitution, Boxing Day in Catalonia) and are lost rather than shifted, so the effective weekday total is lower than usual.
Are shops open on Spanish public holidays?
Banks, government offices and most supermarkets are closed on all national holidays. Smaller convenience shops in tourist zones (Costa del Sol, Mallorca, Barcelona) often open Sunday and selected holidays. Bars, restaurants, beaches and major tourist attractions remain open — Spain's tourism economy keeps trading through holidays. The two near-universal closures are 1 January and 25 December.
When is Easter Monday in Spain 2026?
Easter Monday falls on Monday 6 April 2026. However, it is a public holiday only in six of Spain's 17 regions: Cataluña, the Balearic Islands, La Rioja, Navarra, the Basque Country (País Vasco) and Valencia. In the rest of Spain — including Madrid and Andalucía — Easter Monday is a normal working day, although Maundy Thursday (2 April) takes its place as the major Semana Santa holiday.
What's the biggest public holiday in Spain?
Culturally, Three Kings' Day (Epiphany, 6 January) is the most important family holiday — bigger than Christmas Day for present-giving and family gatherings. Politically, the National Day of Spain (12 October) features a major military parade in Madrid. For tourism volume, Semana Santa (Holy Week, 30 March–5 April 2026) is the highest-impact period, with millions descending on Seville, Málaga and other Andalusian cities for processions.
Do banks close on Spanish public holidays?
Yes, all Spanish banks (Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell, ING, Bankinter) close on national public holidays and regional public holidays affecting their location. ATMs continue to work and UK card holders (Visa, Mastercard, Revolut, Monzo, Starling, Wise) can withdraw euros normally. Online banking and app transfers run as usual. Spanish bank branches open Mon–Fri 08:30–14:00 in any case, so weekday banking is the norm.
Are public transport services reduced on Spanish holidays?
Yes. Renfe high-speed trains (AVE, Avlo, Iryo, Ouigo) run a Sunday-style timetable on holidays — fewer services but still frequent on major routes. Madrid metro, Barcelona TMB and Bilbao metro run reduced timetables but operate. Long-distance bus operators (ALSA, Avanza) follow Sunday timetables. The biggest reduction is on 25 December and 1 January, when even some city metros close early or run a much-reduced service. Always check the operator's holiday calendar in advance.
Is Boxing Day (26 December) a public holiday in Spain?
Only in Catalonia. There, 26 December is called Sant Esteve (St Stephen's Day) and is a regional public holiday — Catalans typically have a second family lunch, often based around canalons de Sant Esteve. Elsewhere in Spain (Madrid, Andalucía, Valencia, etc.), 26 December is a normal working day. This is the reverse of the UK, where Boxing Day is a nationwide bank holiday.
Do I need a visa to travel from the UK to Spain on a public holiday?
Post-Brexit, UK passport holders can enter Spain for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa — Spain remains in the Schengen Area. Passport must be issued less than 10 years before the entry date and valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure. From mid-2026, ETIAS (the EU's electronic travel authorisation) is expected to be required for short stays — check gov.uk for current status before booking. Public holidays don't affect entry rules.
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Related guides
- All UK bank holidays 2026 — Bank Holidays UK homepage
- Complete List of UK Bank Holidays 2026 — all 8 days explained
- Early May Bank Holiday 2026 — date, history & UK travel angle
Updated for 2026 · Sources: BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado), Nager.Date, UK FCDO travel advice · Last verified: 23 May 2026 · Bank Holidays UK Editorial Team · ← All UK bank holidays