Explore 13 events and festivals in Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha throughout 2026.
The Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos is held on the evening of January 5th, when the Three Wise Kings parade through the streets of Guadalajara on floats and horseback, tossing sweets to children gathered along the route. Organized by the city council, the procession is one of the most anticipated events of the year, drawing thousands of families to celebrate the Epiphany eve before gifts are opened on the morning of January 6th.
La Endiablada is one of Spain's most visually striking traditional festivals, held each year on February 2nd and 3rd in Almonacid del Marquesado to honor San Blas and the Virgen de la Candelaria. Participants dress in vivid devil costumes adorned with large cowbells and perform energetic dances through the village streets, creating a thunderous, carnival-like spectacle rooted in pre-Christian folk traditions. The festival is recognized as a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
Semana Santa in Guadalajara is a deeply moving series of processions that takes place across Holy Week, featuring ornate Baroque statues carried through the city by cofradias (brotherhoods). The Wednesday procession of the Cristo de las Injurias and the solemn Good Friday La Congregacion procession are considered the highlights, drawing visitors from across Spain. The celebrations run from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, covering the city's historic center.
The Caballada de Atienza is one of Spain's oldest and most unique equestrian festivals, dating back to 1162 when mule drivers from Atienza allegedly helped rescue the infant King Alfonso VIII from his enemies. Every Pentecost Sunday, the muleteers' guild rides on horseback and mule in a solemn procession from the town to the hermitage of La Estrella, reenacting the legendary escape. Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, the 2026 edition takes place on May 24th.
The Marathon de los Cuentos is a world-renowned storytelling marathon held each June in Guadalajara, where professional and amateur storytellers take turns narrating tales continuously for over 24 hours at the historic Palacio del Infantado. Now in its 35th edition in 2026 (June 12-14), the event draws storytellers and audiences from across Spain and internationally, celebrating the oral tradition across all genres and age groups. It is organized by the Seminario de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil de Guadalajara.
The Festival Medieval de Hita is an acclaimed open-air festival held in the medieval village of Hita, Guadalajara, celebrating the legacy of the 14th-century poet Juan Ruiz, Arcipreste de Hita. For three days in early July (July 3-5 in 2026), the cobblestone streets and main plaza transform into a stage for theatrical performances, troubadour music, jousting displays, and a bustling medieval market. The festival is recognized as a Festival of National Tourist Interest and is one of Spain's longest-running medieval events.
The Fiestas del Carmen in Molina de Aragon span ten days from July 7th to 17th, combining religious devotion with popular festivities in honor of the Virgen del Carmen. Highlights include a military brotherhood parade on July 15th and a maritime-style procession of the Virgin on July 16th, alongside concerts, cultural events, and traditional celebrations throughout the festival period. It is one of the most important summer festivals in the Guadalajara province.
The Fiesta de la Botarga in Belena de Sorbe is a rare and ancient folk tradition in which a costumed figure known as the Botarga performs ritual dances and antics through the village streets, warding off evil spirits and blessing the community. Held annually on the feast day of La Candelaria, the celebration is one of several surviving botarga traditions in the Guadalajara province and reflects deep pre-Christian roots preserved in rural Castilian culture. The August outing marks the Botarga's second appearance of the year.
The Danzantes de La Huerce is a centuries-old ritual dance tradition performed by eight male dancers in the small mountain village of La Huerce, in the Sierra Norte of Guadalajara. The dancers wear distinctive white long-sleeved shirts adorned with blue or red ribbons and perform intricate choreographies passed down through generations, honoring the local patron saint during the August festival. The tradition is one of the most authentic surviving examples of ritual folk dance in the Guadalajara highlands.
La Soldadesca de Codes is a vibrant folk military parade held every August 16th in the village of Codes, honoring San Roque and the Virgen del Buen Suceso. Participants in historical military costumes march through the village with drums and firearms, performing a ceremonial reenactment that has been passed down for generations. The festival has been declared a Festival of Tourist Interest for its cultural significance within the Guadalajara province.
The Ferias y Fiestas de Guadalajara is the city's main annual celebration, typically held in mid-September, featuring a packed program of concerts, carnival rides, parades with giants and big-heads, street performances, bullfighting events, and fireworks. Religious ceremonies, sporting competitions, and neighborhood verbenas round out the week-long festivities, which draw visitors from across the province. It is the largest popular festival of the year in the city of Guadalajara.
The Fiestas de Octubre in Guadalajara city is a month-long cultural program running from early October through early November, offering a wide range of free and ticketed events including concerts, dance performances, theater, and exhibitions. The program caters to all ages and culminates in festivities around the Day of the Dead at the end of October. It is one of the most diverse and accessible cultural offerings of the year in the provincial capital.
The Champions Burger is a popular touring gourmet burger festival that visits multiple Spanish cities, bringing together over 20 competing burger restaurants in a high-energy outdoor food event. Visitors can sample and vote for their favorite creations as burger joints from across Spain compete for the national championship title. The Guadalajara edition in October 2026 is part of the festival's national circuit.