Explore 17 events and festivals in Granada, Andalusia throughout 2026.
Día de la Toma de Granada (Day of “The Taking of Granada”)
Each year on January 2nd, Granada marks the anniversary of the surrender of the Nasrid Kingdom to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 with a solemn civic-religious ceremony. The highlight is the "tremolación" of the Royal Standard from the balcony of City Hall and from the Capilla Real, where the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella rest. The event includes a military parade by the Spanish Legion, a Mass at the Cathedral, and a formal procession through the historic centre attended by city councillors.
San Cecilio Festival
Granada honors its patron saint, San Cecilio, on February 1st with a traditional pilgrimage (romería) to the Sacromonte neighbourhood. Thousands of granadinos climb the hill to the Sacromonte Abbey, where a solemn Mass with the Mozarabic Choir is celebrated at noon and the city authorities renew their annual vow to the saint. Visitors can explore the ancient catacombs free of charge, enjoy folk music and dance performances on the esplanade, and receive the traditional handout of habas (broad beans) and salaíllas (flatbreads) from the city council.
Festival Internacional de Tango
The 12th World Tango Summit (Cumbre Mundial del Tango) descends on Granada from March 12 to 22, bringing together 145 artists from 40 cities across the globe. Born from the deep cultural ties between Andalusia and Argentina, the festival fills the city with live orchestras, stage shows, exhibitions, and social milongas where dancers of all levels share the floor. Granada, which gave tango its first foothold in Europe, serves as the fitting backdrop for workshops, competitions, and late-night dance sessions throughout its historic venues.
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Holy Week in Granada runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, with more than 32 brotherhoods (cofradías) staging processions through the city streets. Standout moments include the dramatic "Cristo de los Gitanos" procession through Sacromonte lit by bonfires, the solemn "Cristo del Silencio" march, and the Palm Sunday "La Burriquilla" that opens the week from the parish of San Andrés. Good Friday is especially intense, with six separate processions converging on the city centre, drawing crowds from across Spain to witness the intricate floats and centuries-old traditions.
Book Fair
The 44th Feria del Libro de Granada runs from April 23 to May 3, 2026, under the theme "Así que pasen cinco años" in honour of Granada's bid for European Capital of Culture 2031. Dozens of booksellers, independent publishers, and literary presses set up stands across the city, while a packed programme of author signings, book launches, and cultural talks brings literature into the open air. Admission to the fairground is free, making it the largest free cultural event in the city.
International Poetry Festival
The Festival Internacional de Poesia de Granada (FIP) is one of Spain's most prestigious literary gatherings, bringing together internationally acclaimed poets from across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Arab world for five days of free public readings, recitals, and discussions. Events are hosted at landmark venues including the Palacio de Carlos V inside the Alhambra complex, the Centro Federico Garcia Lorca, and open squares throughout the city. All activities are free to attend with prior registration, reflecting the festival's commitment to making poetry accessible to all.
Corpus Christi Fair
Corpus Christi is Granada's most important annual celebration, filling the city for a full week with religious ceremony and popular festivity. The week opens on Saturday night with the "alumbrao," a spectacular illumination of the city centre, and culminates in the solemn Corpus Christi procession from the Cathedral through the decorated streets. The Recinto Ferial in Almanjáyar hosts the fairground, with over 75 casetas, 150 fairground rides, and the iconic parade of La Tarasca, a costumed figure that traditionally opens the festivities on the preceding Wednesday.
Open-Air Cinema in Sacromonte
Every Tuesday and Thursday throughout July and August, the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte transforms its cave terrace into an open-air cinema under the stars. The XXII Muestra Internacional de Cine al Aire Libre screens a curated programme of award-winning national and international films, covering a wide range of genres against the backdrop of the Albaicín hillside. Screenings begin at nightfall and admission is free, making it one of Granada's most atmospheric summer traditions.
International Festival of Music and Dance
The International Festival of Music and Dance Granada is one of Spain's most prestigious classical arts events, held each year across the iconic spaces of the Alhambra and Generalife. The 2026 edition runs from July 13 to 19, presenting symphonic concerts, ballet, opera, and world music performed by leading international ensembles in the open-air Teatro del Generalife and other historic venues within the palace complex. Organised by the Patronato de la Alhambra, the festival has been a cornerstone of Granada's cultural life since 1952.
Guitar Festival
The Festival Internacional de la Guitarra de Granada is one of the world's foremost guitar festivals, held each summer at historic venues including the Palacio de Carlos V within the Alhambra, Casa de los Pisa, and Pena La Plateria. Spanning classical, flamenco, and contemporary styles, the festival also hosts the prestigious Antonio Marin Montero International Guitar-Building Competition, considered the most important of its kind globally. Concerts run from late August through early September, drawing virtuoso performers and luthiers from around the world.
Lorca and Granada in the Generalife Gardens
Running every August since 2002, this celebrated flamenco festival honors the legacy of Federico Garcia Lorca with open-air performances on the stage of the Generalife Theatre, set against the iconic backdrop of the Alhambra. The 2026 edition features Manuel Linan with his show "Llamame Lorca" through August 16, followed by Miguel Poveda and other leading flamenco artists later in the month. Performances begin at 10 pm, making the most of Granada's warm summer nights.
Lorca and Granada in the Generalife Gardens
An annual flamenco theatre and dance festival held in the Generalife Theatre of the Alhambra, celebrating Federico García Lorca's legacy through performances by leading artists. Created in 2002 by the Andalusia Ministry for Culture, it blends poetry, flamenco, and choreography against the backdrop of Granada's most iconic gardens at 22:00 each evening.
Open-Air Cinema in Sacromonte
An open-air summer cinema program at the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte, in Granada's historic cave neighbourhood. Screenings on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 22:00 offer a selection of award-winning national and international films in a unique hillside cave setting for €5 per person.
Biennial Flamenco Festival
The inaugural Bienal de Flamenco de Granada transforms the city's most iconic neighborhoods into open-air flamenco stages across three weeks in September, with over 30 events including headline concerts, cine-flamenco screenings, exhibitions, and late-night juergas in the cave venues of Sacromonte. Performances take place in the winding lanes of the Albayzin, the squares of the historic center, and intimate cave-houses, celebrating flamenco as a living art form rooted in Granada's Gypsy heritage. The festival combines ticketed headline shows with free street performances, making it accessible to both devoted aficionados and curious first-time visitors.
International Jazz Festival
Founded in 1980, the Festival Internacional de Jazz de Granada is one of the oldest and most important jazz festivals in Europe and the only Spanish festival in the Europe Jazz Network. Held each November, it has hosted legendary artists including Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter across more than four decades of uninterrupted programming. With over 80 concerts and activities spread across the city, the festival blends world-class headline performances with free events and educational programs for all audiences.
International Film Festival – Lorca Awards
The seventh edition of the Festival Internacional de Cine de Granada - Premios Lorca runs from November 20 to 28, 2026, celebrating Spanish and international cinema with screenings, industry talks, and competitive awards named in honor of the city's most famous son, Federico Garcia Lorca. The festival has a broad scope, welcoming feature films, shorts, and documentaries from filmmakers worldwide and placing a particular emphasis on films that explore cultural identity and the human condition. Screenings take place at cinemas and cultural venues across Granada, making it an accessible event for both film professionals and general audiences.
Hocus-Pocus Festival
Founded by Granada magician Miguel Puga ("Magomigue"), the Hocus Pocus International Magic Festival brings together the finest illusionists and close-up magic performers from Spain and abroad for a week of shows at the Teatro Isabel la Católica in central Granada. The festival program ranges from grand illusion galas to intimate sleight-of-hand performances, with workshops and masterclasses for enthusiasts. It is the only dedicated international magic festival in Andalusia, and tickets sell out quickly for the headline gala evenings.
