Festivals & Fiestas

Fiesta of the Virgin of Candelaria (August Festival)

🇬🇧 English-friendly Free

📅 15 Aug 2026 · Candelaria

The Canary Islands' biggest pilgrimage and patron-saint festival, drawing huge crowds to the seafront basilica every 15 August. Expect processions, a floral offering, folk music and a lively all-day atmosphere honouring the Virgin of Candelaria.

📅
When
15 Aug 2026
📍
Where
Basilica of Candelaria and Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias · Candelaria
🎟️
Price
Free
🔁
Happens
Annual, every 15 August (plus around 10 days of build-up festivities) (annual)
👥
Good for
Great for visitorsGood for expats

Locals call this "the festival of the islanders", and on 15 August the seafront town of Candelaria fills up well beyond its usual size. Pilgrims walk in across the island, some for hours through the night, to reach the basilica and the dark statue of the Virgin they come to honour. The plaza in front, right by the water, becomes the centre of things.

The highlight is the Guanche ceremony, a torchlit reenactment of how the island's pre-Hispanic people first found the figure on the shore. Around it you'll get processions, brass and folk music, Canarian wrestling matches and concerts, with the build-up running for roughly ten days beforehand. It's free, busy and unapologetically Canarian. Go early if you want any breathing room near the church.

Source: https://www.holaislascanarias.com/eventos/tenerife/fiestas-de-la-candelaria/

🚗

Getting around

A car is the easy way to reach this one. Compare hire deals across the major Spanish airports.

Some links are affiliate links — booking through them supports the site at no extra cost to you.

More events coming up

Culture & Arts
⭐ Local Gem 🇬🇧 English-friendly Free

Jesus Madrinan: 'The Firmness of an Instant' (photography exhibition)

21 Feb–5 Sep 2026 · Alacant/Alicante
Great for visitors
Culture & Arts
🇬🇧 English-friendly

Painting Exhibition: 'Pigmentos' by Candy López & 'Pintando la Vida' by Nati Pamies

14 Mar–11 Dec 2026 · el Castell de Guadalest
Great for visitors
Culture & Arts
🇬🇧 English-friendly

Antonio Maya: Figured Lives (Exhibition)

10 Apr–11 Oct 2026 · Vélez-Málaga
Great for visitors Good for expats
Culture & Arts
🇬🇧 English-friendly

Exhibition: A Sky Full of Fish

17 Apr–28 Jun 2026 · Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Great for visitors

Past events

Recently been and gone — for reference and next year's planning.

Food & Drink Past event
Free

Sant Joan Cookery at the Museum: Festive Ensaïmades

16 Jun 2026 · Ciutadella de Menorca
Good for expats
Festivals & Fiestas Past event
⭐ Local Gem 🇬🇧 English-friendly Free

Traditional 40 Laps Eve (Sant Joan Fiestas)

16 Jun 2026 · Muro
Great for visitors Good for expats
Sport & Active Past event

Wine Run La Geria

15 Jun 2026 · Yaiza
Great for visitors Good for expats
Sport & Active Past event
⭐ Local Gem 🇬🇧 English-friendly

Guguy Trail Entrecorrales Tasartico (Mountain Trail Race)

14 Jun 2026 · La Aldea de San Nicolas
Great for visitors