Explore 16 events and festivals in Ourense, Galicia throughout 2026.
O Entroido de Xinzo de Limia is Spain's longest carnival cycle, beginning six weeks before Shrove Sunday and running through February 14, 2026. Known for its colorful "Pantallas" masked figures, flour fights, street music, and masked balls, it draws visitors from across Galicia and is one of the country's most distinctive carnival traditions.
The Voda da Pita is a theatrical folk celebration held on Carnival Tuesday in the village of As Eiroás, in which locals stage a humorous mock "wedding of the hen." The event features communal dining, folk music by a live orchestra, and costumed comedy that makes it one of Galicia's most endearing rural carnival traditions.
The VI SBK Weekend Ourense is a three-day Afro-Latin dance congress held February 27–March 1, 2026 at the Caballeira de Santa Cruz in Ourense. The event brings together national and international instructors for workshops in kizomba, semba, and urban kizomba styles, alongside evening gala shows.
The Mostra Internacional de Teatro Universitario de Ourense (MITEU) runs April 24–May 8, 2026 and combines university theatre from around the world with professional productions, concerts, exhibitions, and street performances. One of the most important university theatre festivals in Spain, it has grown into a full cultural conglomerate over its many editions.
The Maios festival on May 3 marks the arrival of spring in Ourense with a parade of floats adorned with flowers and fruit, carried by children singing traditional Galician songs. The centuries-old Celtic custom celebrates the renewal of nature and is one of Galicia's most colorful spring traditions.
The Festival Internacional de Música Pórtico do Paraíso runs May 9–17, 2026 with concerts held inside the Cathedral of Ourense and other historic venues. Each edition opens with a sacred music concert under the cathedral's medieval Pórtico do Paraíso, lending the festival its evocative name, and the program features soloists and ensembles performing classical and sacred repertoire.
Ouren Sound Fest is a multi-genre music festival held May 22–24, 2026 at the Parque Tecnolóxico in Ourense, now in its 11th edition. The lineup blends folk, pop, and indie acts — with headliners including Love of Lesbian and Duncan Dhu — set against the natural landscape and gastronomy of the Ourense region.
The Fiesta de Exaltación do Pan de Cea celebrates the IGP-protected Cea bread — one of Galicia's most prized sourdough loaves — in the village of San Cristóbal de Cea on July 5–6, 2026. Local bakers demonstrate traditional stone-oven techniques, and visitors can taste the iconic round loaves that have made this small Ourense village famous across Spain.
Orense Folk Sessions is a summer-long series running throughout August 2026 that brings traditional and contemporary folk acts to towns and villages across the province of Ourense. The dispersed format takes live music to rural communities while celebrating the rich folk heritage of Galicia.
The Festa do Pulpo de O Carballiño, held on the second Sunday of August, is one of Galicia's most celebrated gastronomic events and a Festival of National Tourist Interest. Thousands gather around giant copper cauldrons to eat pulpo á feira — octopus seasoned with olive oil, paprika, and sea salt — served on wooden platters by the town's master cooks.
The Festa da Istoria transforms Ribadavia's medieval old town into a living history spectacle over the last weekend of August, recreating three key periods: the Galician kingdom (1065–1100), the thriving Jewish community (12th–15th centuries), and medieval river trade along the Avia. Stone streets fill with costumed participants, artisan markets, and jousting tournaments.
The Festival Internacional de Cine de Ourense (OUFF) celebrates its 31st edition from September 25–October 4, 2026, showcasing innovative and independent cinema from Spain and around the world. The competition sections focus on emerging filmmakers and unconventional storytelling, making OUFF a vital platform for boundary-pushing film.
Our Fest is Ourense's indie and alternative pop-rock festival, returning for its fifth edition on September 27, 2026. The event has established itself as a key date on Galicia's music calendar, mixing national headliners with emerging artists in an intimate outdoor setting.
The Festival Internacional de Teatro de Ourense (FITO) runs October 15–26, 2026, bringing leading Spanish and international theatre companies to the city's stages. The program spans contemporary drama, dance theatre, and experimental performance, with the Teatro Principal serving as the main venue.
The Magosto is a traditional Galician autumn festival centered on the feast of San Martín (November 11), when communities across Ourense province gather to roast and share chestnuts around open fires. The celebrations are accompanied by young wine (viño novo), folk music, and dancing.
Ourense's December festivities fill the city center with Christmas markets, nativity scenes, light installations, and cultural events throughout the month. The provincial capital and surrounding towns host a range of seasonal markets featuring local crafts and traditional foods in the lead-up to the holidays.