Alicante’s festival calendar is anchored by the explosive Hogueras de San Juan in June, one of Spain’s most spectacular fire festivals. But the city fills the rest of the year with religious processions, medieval fairs, and film screenings that reward visitors who time their trips around specific dates. Here are the major Alicante events and festivals, listed chronologically through the year.
Alicante Events and Festivals: Spring
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Alicante’s Holy Week processions, running from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday (dates shift annually: March 29 to April 5, 2026), feature 28 brotherhoods carrying elaborate religious floats (pasos) through the Old Town streets. The most dramatic procession is the Procesion del Santo Entierro on Good Friday, which starts at the Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas at 7:30 PM and winds through the city centre for roughly 3 hours. The procession of El Cristo del Mar (Christ of the Sea) on Holy Wednesday follows a route along the Explanada de Espana to the sea. Unlike Seville’s more famous Semana Santa, Alicante’s version is less crowded and more accessible, you can typically find a spot along the route 15 minutes before a procession starts. Check out our Alicante weather by month for more details Our best time to visit Alicante has detailed recommendations. . Most bars and restaurants stay open, though some close for the duration of key processions.
Alicante Film Festival (Festival de Cine de Alicante)
Running since 2004, this festival takes place in late May or early June each year (usually the last week of May) with screenings at the Teatro Principal, the MACA museum, and outdoor locations including the Castillo de Santa Barbara. The programme focuses on Spanish short films and Mediterranean cinema. Most screenings are free, though tickets for the Teatro Principal’s evening sessions should be reserved online at festivaldecinedealicante.com. The outdoor screenings at the castle (typically 10:00 PM, bring a jacket) are a highlight, with the fortress walls serving as a dramatic backdrop. Check out our things to do in Alicante for more details. The full programme is announced roughly 4 weeks before the festival opens.
Alicante Events and Festivals: Summer
Hogueras de San Juan (Bonfires of Saint John)
Held June 20-24 each year, Las Hogueras is Alicante’s signature festival and the city equivalent of Valencia’s Las Fallas. Some 90 neighbourhood associations spend months constructing massive satirical monuments (hogueras) from wood, cardboard, and papier-mache, some reaching 20 metres in height. The festival starts with the Plantà on June 20 when the monuments are installed across plazas throughout the city. The daily mascletas (coordinated firecracker displays) happen at 2:00 PM in the Plaza de los Luceros, a 10-minute barrage of noise you feel in your chest. The climax comes on the night of June 23-24 (la Crema), when all the monuments are set ablaze starting at midnight. The largest hogueras in the special category, located at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Plaza de los Luceros, and Calle San Fernando, burn around 1:30 AM with firefighter-supervised blazes. The barracas (festival tents) in each neighbourhood serve food and drink from June 20-24 and are open to the public. Book accommodation 4-6 months in advance, the city fills completely. Earplugs are advisable for the mascletas. Check out our best neighborhoods in Alicante for more details. The festival is loud, smoky, and unlike anything else on the European festival calendar.
Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians)
Commemorating the 13th-century Christian reconquest of Alicante, this festival takes place across several Alicante neighbourhoods with each area holding its own celebrations. The main city-wide event occurs in late July (typically July 25-31) in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood on the slopes of Mount Benacantil. Competing troupes in elaborate Moorish and Christian costumes parade through the streets with marching bands, culminating in staged battles with arquebuses (historical firearms) and fireworks. The Saturday desembarco (mock landing on the beach) is the most photogenic event, with the Moorish side arriving by boat at Playa del Postiguet around 11:00 AM. The parades are free to watch from the streets. Many participants belong to comparsas (troupes) that have existed for over a century. Check out our where to stay in Alicante for more details. The festival is loud due to the gunpowder weapons, ear protection is recommended for children.
Alicante Events and Festivals: Autumn and Winter
Medieval Market (Mercado Medieval)
Usually held over a long weekend in late October or early November (dates vary), the Medieval Market transforms the Old Town streets around the cathedral and the Town Hall into a recreation of a 13th-century market. Stalls sell handmade leather goods, ceramics, herbs, cheeses, and roasted almonds. Street performers in period costume include jugglers, falconers, and musicians. The market operates Friday evening through Sunday, roughly 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Free entry. Check out our Alicante travel tips and FAQ for more details. It’s a popular family event and the narrow streets can get very crowded on Saturday evenings, visit during Friday afternoon or Sunday morning for breathing room.
Christmas and Three Kings (Navidad y Reyes)
Alicante’s Christmas season runs from the lighting ceremony in early December through January 6 (Three Kings Day). The main attractions are the nativity scene display at the Town Hall (free entry, December 1 to January 6) and the Christmas market along the Explanada de Espana with wooden stalls selling gifts, decorations, and churros con chocolate. The Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos) on the evening of January 5 is the season’s highlight: the three kings arrive by boat at the port around 6:00 PM, then parade through the city centre on elaborate floats, throwing sweets to children along the route. The parade starts at the port and proceeds along the Explanada, up Calle Rafael Altamira, and through the Old Town. Arrive 30-45 minutes early for a front-row spot along the Explanada.
