Spain's International: Fiestas as a tourism magnet

How the southern European country celebrates throughout the year, honoring its most attractive festivals.

Benedicta Sánchez Her whole face is beaming. The 86-year-old Galician woman is guest of honor at the festival Feira do Cocido in the small Spanish town Lalin, where everything revolves around the Cooked turns, a hearty dish made with vegetables and porkShe beams at the cameras, then suddenly leans towards the person opposite her and whispers: "I wonder if they all know that I'm a vegetarian?"

Benedicta Sánchez as guest of honor at the festival. Photo: © Tobias Büscher

It's the year 2020. This year, Benedicta is the star of Spanish cinema because she is appearing at an advanced age. best up-and-coming actress an Goya received – for her role in the feature film "It will burn" (O que arde) of director Oliver Laxe about Forest fires.

And it is the year in which the festival Feira do Cocido de Lalín is elevated to the status of fiesta de interés internacionál by the Spanish Minister of Tourism. Mayor José Crespo He can hardly believe his luck. Because now the party of his metropolis with the many pig farmers in a league with the Refractory Fallas From Valencia and Corpus Christi in Toledo.

A catchy title and the magic number 10

Six years later. This year too, the Ministry of Tourism Two festivals in Madrid raised to the highest rank of interest: the Festival of Lovers in Teruel and culinary Botillo Festival in León, which is about a Sausage specialty This means the Spanish government portal now lists online already 86 such Fiestas up. Already for the year 1979 The idea arose to create festivals with the designation "international interest" to provide. Back when the slogan was still "Spain is different". The motive: The media attention to the host venues link and with that the Boost tourism.

Aviles, Asturias, Spain. Photo: © Tobias Büscher

Especially Andalusia initially benefited from this. seven first awarded Events Southern Spain belonged to Wine festival in Jerez de la Frontera, the Holy Week in Seville and the Carnival in CádizMeanwhile, festivals from lesser-known regions such as Asturias, Cantabria, and Extremadura have also been added. However, the reasons for the designation remain unchanged.

The celebration must be long tradition have, from the residents be supported and at least ten times appear in international media. respective mayor strong, which maintains contact with Editorial offices abroad search. And so it is no coincidence that also artificial You might even get invited if you haven't yet reached 10 publications. A recent example: In February 2025, the magazine for craftspeople, gourmets, and explorers visited... Festival of Lovers in TeruelAnd presto: Just one year later, 2026, the Ministry of the Fiesta announced the international statusThe number 10 had been reached.

Processions in times of secularization

The Lovers of Teruel. Photo: © Tobias Büscher

While in Germany famous festivals Karneval der Culturen (Berlin) and Africa Festival (Würzburg) is called, there are in Spain Significantly more religious festivals, regardless of church departures: 27 of the 86 Fiestas have Holy Week as its content, including in Ávila, Cuenca, Málaga, Mérida, Salamanca, Valladolid and Zamora.

Mayors all over the country are vying for the Favor of the tourism office in Madrid, because behind the "International Interest" label lie concrete local motives. Furthermore, the ranking system has only a limited connection to international attention. controversial bull runs Bous a la Mar in Dénia Reporters from Tokyo to Toronto know that Butchers' Festival in Lalín Almost no one. But anyway, the Strategy of tourism officials lately geändert.

"You think you know Spain?"

Visitors to the bullring in Málaga. Photo: © Tobias Büscher

Turespaña Last summer, they already developed a new advertising campaign with the slogan: Think You Know Spain? Think again. You think you know Spain? Think again. That's understandable, because overtourism per year with 12 million Visitors to Mallorca is in stark contrast to undertourism of the region Aragon with perceived 1200 visitors.

Numerous commercials Those in charge now present it online, in order to do so rather Unknown Spain in focus to move inwards. And so the regional focus will continue to shift. So far, there are in the Regions of Valencia and Andalusia 25 of 86 International fiestasin Asturias (canoe competition) and Navarre (Bull Driving) only one.

Here, the highest award of a festival It's definitely a political issue. There's no other way to explain why... Festivals in Catalonia and the Basque Country They don't appear on this list at all so far. The Basques, however, will hardly be bothered by this. Because one of their festivals is likely to be alongside the Sanfermines in Navarre's capital Pamplona Spain's most famous worldwide: the International Film Festival in San Sebastián.

Spain's most attractive fiestas with the highest quality sealAndalusia
• Juggler's Run Cascamorras between Baza and Guadix (2013)
• Holy Week in Malaga (1980)
• Jerez de la Frontera Horse Fair (1980)
• Carnival in Cádiz (1980)
• Rocío pilgrimage in Almonte (1980)

Aragon
• The Weddings by Isabel de Segura, Teruel (2026)
• Pilar City Festival in Zaragoza (2019)

Asturias
• International canoe race on the Sella River in Arriondas (1980)

Estremadura
Carnival in Badajoz (2022)
• Holy Week in Mérida (2018)
• Holy Week in Cáceres (2011)

Gallego
• Roman History Festival Arde Lucus in Lugo (2023)
• Arbo Lamprey Fish Festival in Pontevedra (2023)
• Sea Octopus Festival in O Carballiño (2022)
• Gourmet Festival Cocido de Lalín, Pontevedra (2020)
• Carnival Entroido in Xinzo de Limias (2019)
• Albariño Wine Festival in Cambados (2018)
• Wild horse rodeo A Rapa das Bestas in San Lorenzo de Sabucedo-A Estrada (2007)
• International Bagpipe Celtic Festival in Ortigueira
• Viking festival in Catoira (2002)
• Feast of the Apostles in Santiago de Compostela (2001)

Canary Islands
• Carnival of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria (2023)
• Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1980)

Castile
• Holy Week - The Drum Parade of Hellín (2007)
• Corpus Christi in Toledo (1980)
• Week of Religious Music in Cuenca (1980)
• Sausage Festival Botillo in León (2026)
• Corpus Christi in Béjar (2019)
• Bull racing in Cuéllar (2018)
• The Mutiny of Aranjuez (2014)

Murcia region
• Moors and Christians, Murcia (2025)
• Celebration of the Immaculate Conception of Yecla (2024)
• Holy Week in Cieza (2023)
• The Night of Drums of Mula (2022)
• Holy Week in Jumilla (2019)
• Carthaginian and Roman Festival of Cartagena (2017)
• Águilas Carnival (2015)
• Proclamation of the Huerta of Murcia (2012)
• Holy Week in Murcia (2011)
• Holy Week in Lorca (2007)
• The Burial of the Sardine in Murcia (2006)
• Song Festival Cante de las Minas de La Unión (2006)

Valencian Community
• Moors and Christians in Ontinyent (2024)
• All Saints' Day in Concentaina (2019)
• Moors and Christians in Crevillente (2017)
• Holy Week in Orihuela (2010)
• The Magdalene of Castellón (2010)
• Bull and horse racing in Segorbe (2005)
• Moors and Christians in Villajoyosa (2003)
• Tomato battle La Tomatina in Buñol (2002)
• Palm Sunday procession in Elche (1997)
• Habaneras and Polyphony Music Festival in Torrevieja (1994)
• St. John's Fire of San Juan in Alicante (1983)
• The Misterio de Elche (1980)
• Fallas fire festival in Valencia (1980)
• Moors and Christians in Alcoy (1980)

Gastro parties
Especially in northwestern Spain Culinary fiestas are the ultimate experience. Even if they haven't received the highest tourism seal of approval, they are... very attractive. The long coastline and the green hinterland bring the freshest products into the country.

So there is in Silleda, the Feast of the Piein O Grove, the Seafood Festivalin Burella the Festival of Tunain Antas de Ulla, the cheese festivalIn Foz, there's a cockle festival, and in the main square of Monterrei, even a paella festival. The latter is rather curious, though: no rice grows in the entire surrounding area.

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