Explore 12 events and festivals in Biscay, Basque Country throughout 2026.
Now in its 5th edition, Cambré Dance Festival brings together salsa and bachata enthusiasts in an intimate setting in Bilbao. The program features Spanish and international artists running workshops in bachata sensual, contemporary bachata, and body movement. Attendees enjoy direct access to artists and social dancing throughout the weekend.
Held every February 3rd, the San Blas Fair in Abadiño is one of the most beloved rural fairs in Biscay. The barrio comes alive with a livestock market, traditional Basque rural sports, and a festive street atmosphere. The celebration is deeply rooted in Basque culture and draws visitors from across the province.
Bilbao Basque Fest transforms the city each Easter Week into a showcase for the richness of Basque culture and avant-garde creativity. Held April 16–19, the festival offers music, traditional sports, gastronomy, and contemporary arts — most activities free and open to all. It is equally aimed at locals and the many visitors who come to Bilbao during the holiday period.
Ibilaldia is the annual mass gathering organised by the Basque-language schools (ikastolas) of Biscay to celebrate and promote the Basque language. In 2026, Kirikiño Ikastola in Bilbao takes charge of organising the event on May 31st, bringing together thousands of families for a day of walking, food stalls, music, and shared festivity. It is one of the largest popular celebrations in support of Euskara in the Basque Country.
The Sampedros of Lekeitio, celebrated June 29 – July 1, are among the most vibrant patron saint festivities on the Biscay coast. The programme opens with a solemn maritime procession carrying the image of St. Peter from the church of Santa María to the harbour, followed by floral offerings, masses, and three days of music and dancing in the streets. The festival has a strong seafaring identity, reflecting the town's deep ties to the fishing tradition.
The Madalenas, held every July 22nd, are a shared maritime festivity linking the fishing villages of Bermeo, Mundaka, and Elantxobe. The celebration commemorates an ancient dispute over ownership of the tiny island of Ízaro, with the mayor of Bermeo traditionally hurling a roof tile from a boat — a symbolic act that re-enacts the historic settlement. Processions on sea and land, music, and communal feasting make it one of the most distinctive coastal events in Biscay.
Aste Nagusia — Bilbao's Great Week — is the city's biggest annual festival, running nine days from the third Saturday of August. Born in 1978 from a public competition for ideas, it has grown into one of the most important popular celebrations in northern Spain, centred on the playful figure of Marijaia. The festival fills the streets with free concerts, spectacular fireworks competitions, txosnas (bar tents run by local groups), Basque rural sports, and a full programme of cultural events.
Goose Day (Antzar Eguna) on September 5th is the centrepiece of Lekeitio's San Antolín festivities and one of the most talked-about traditional contests in the Basque Country. Young men in boats attempt to hang onto a greased goose suspended by a rope over the harbour while the rope is repeatedly raised and lowered, dunking them into the water. Dating back centuries, the contest draws large crowds to the seafront and is accompanied by music and the full atmosphere of the town's patron saint week.
Arrantzale Eguna, held on September 9th during Bermeo's Andra Mari festivities, is one of the most heartfelt celebrations on the Biscay coast. The day honours the town's fishing community with a maritime procession, traditional costumes, music, and activities for all ages. It reflects Bermeo's deep identity as one of the most important fishing ports in the Basque Country, and the pride locals take in their seafaring heritage.
Bilbao BBK Live is an internationally renowned music festival held on the slopes of Mount Kobetas overlooking the city. The 2026 edition marks the festival's 20th anniversary, bringing together a lineup of global headliners including Robbie Williams and Lily Allen alongside new artists shaping contemporary music. Set across multiple stages with panoramic views of Bilbao, it combines world-class live music with the distinctive energy of the Basque city.
Bilbao Night Running Fest on October 17, 2026 is described as unique in Europe — an urban race after dark through illuminated city streets, with fireworks and live music performances along the route. Options include a 21K half marathon and a 10K "pirate race," making it accessible to runners of all abilities. The spectacular nighttime setting and festival atmosphere set it apart from a conventional road race.
The Santo Tomás Fair on December 21st is one of Bilbao's most beloved and longest-running traditions, filling the city's squares and streets with stalls selling local produce. Farmhouses and rural producers from across the Basque Country set up to offer txakoli wine, artisan cheeses, honey, rosquillas, fruits, vegetables, and handicrafts directly to the public. The festive atmosphere, with baserritarras (farmers) in traditional dress, marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season in Bilbao.