Lanzarote’s event calendar revolves around religious fiestas rooted in the island’s Catholic heritage, combined with a growing lineup of sports events, music festivals, and the spectacular February Carnival. Most towns and villages hold their own annual fiesta honouring their patron saint, featuring processions, live music, traditional Canarian wrestling (lucha canaria), and street food stalls. Here are the major events and festivals in Lanzarote throughout the year.
Events and Festivals in Lanzarote: Winter and Spring
Carnival (February/March)
Lanzarote’s Carnival is the island’s biggest annual party, held over 10 days in February or early March depending on the liturgical calendar. The main parades and events centre on Arrecife, where the Carnival Queen gala kicks off proceedings with elaborate costumes weighing up to 50kg. The Grand Carnival Parade (Coso) on Carnival Tuesday brings thousands of people to the streets in costume, with floats, samba bands, and DJs playing until the early hours. Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, and Costa Teguise all hold their own smaller carnival celebrations on different weekends. The Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) on Ash Wednesday , a mock funeral procession with a giant paper-mache sardine , is a uniquely Canarian tradition marking the end of festivities. Most events are free and open to all. Book accommodation 2-3 months ahead if visiting during Carnival week.
Ironman Lanzarote (Late May)
One of the toughest Ironman races on the global circuit, Ironman Lanzarote sees around 2,000 athletes swim 3.8km from Playa Grande in Puerto del Carmen, cycle 180km through the volcanic landscape (including the climb to Haria), and run a full marathon along the coastal promenade. The race typically takes place on the third Saturday in May. The event fills hotels in Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, and surrounding areas , book 4-6 months ahead if you are not racing but want to spectate. The finish line on Avenida de las Playas is electrifying from late afternoon through to the midnight cutoff. Spectating is free, and the athlete briefing and expo in the days before the race are open to the public.
Semana Santa (Holy Week, March/April)
Easter in Lanzarote, as throughout Spain, is marked by religious processions rather than chocolate eggs. Arrecife and Teguise hold the most elaborate processions, with hooded penitents (nazarenos) carrying heavy religious floats (pasos) through the streets, accompanied by brass bands. The Good Friday procession in Arrecife, starting at the Iglesia de San Gines around 20:00, is the most atmospheric. Many Spanish families travel to Lanzarote for Semana Santa, so hotel prices spike and availability tightens during this week. Restaurants and attractions remain open as normal.
Dia de Canarias (May 30)
Canary Islands Day is a public holiday across the archipelago celebrating Canarian culture. In Lanzarote, towns hold traditional events including lucha canaria (wrestling) demonstrations, folk music performances, craft markets, and communal meals featuring local specialities like papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes with mojo sauce), goat stew, and bienmesabe (almond dessert). Arrecife’s Charco de San Gines area is the hub of celebrations, with stalls selling local produce and handicrafts from 10:00. Most shops and some restaurants close for the day.
Events and Festivals in Lanzarote: Summer
Fiesta de Nuestra Senora del Carmen (Mid-July)
The Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patron saint of fishermen, is Lanzarote’s most important summer religious event, celebrated across all coastal towns on and around July 16. The standout celebration is in Puerto del Carmen, where a statue of the Virgin is carried from the old town church to the harbour and placed on a fishing boat decorated with flowers. A flotilla of boats follows the Virgin into the bay as fireworks are launched from the beach at midnight. Street parties, live music, and food stalls run from the evening of July 15 through the early hours of July 17. Playa Blanca, Arrieta, and Punta Mujeres hold similar (smaller) maritime processions. All events are free.
Lanzarote International Windsurfing Competition (July)
Held at Playa de las Cucharas in Costa Teguise, this competition draws professional windsurfers from across Europe to compete in slalom and freestyle disciplines over 4-5 days. The exact dates vary each year but typically fall in mid-July. Spectating from the beach is free, and the event village at Las Cucharas has equipment demos, live commentary, and evening entertainment. The trade winds in July reliably deliver the 15-25 knot conditions the competitors need. The event is organised by the Canarian Windsurfing Federation.
Fiestas de San Gines (Late August)
San Gines is Arrecife’s patron saint festival, running for two weeks around August 25. The programme includes open-air concerts in the Charco de San Gines (the lagoon in the city centre), sporting events, children’s activities, and the Romeria de San Gines , a pilgrimage procession with decorated carts, traditional dress, and Canarian music. The closing night features a major fireworks display over the waterfront. The festival is primarily for locals but visitors are warmly welcomed. Most events are free; the concert programme is published on the Arrecife town hall website (ayuntamientodearrecife.com) in early August.
Events and Festivals in Lanzarote: Autumn and Winter
Fiesta de Nuestra Senora del Pino (Early September)
Held in the village of Mancha Blanca near Timanfaya, this pilgrimage festival (romeria) on the first weekend of September draws thousands of Canarians to honour the Virgin of the Pine. The legend holds that the Virgin’s intervention stopped the 1730 lava flows from destroying the village. Pilgrims walk from across the island, many in traditional dress, carrying offerings of produce. The weekend includes a craft fair, folk music, and communal meals. The village is 2km north of the Timanfaya National Park entrance on the LZ-67. Parking is extremely limited , arrive early or take the special bus service from Arrecife.
Festival de Musica de Canarias (January/February)
The Canary Islands Music Festival is a classical music series running January through February across all seven Canary Islands. Lanzarote’s concerts are typically held in the Jameos del Agua auditorium (inside the volcanic cave), the Convent of Santo Domingo in Teguise, and the Teatro Insular in Arrecife. The programme features international orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists. Tickets range from 15-40 euros depending on the venue and performer. The full programme is published in November at festivaldecanarias.com. The Jameos concert is the highlight , classical music in a volcanic cave has no equal in Europe.
Christmas and New Year
Christmas in Lanzarote is low-key by Northern European standards but has its own charm. Arrecife installs festive lights and a nativity scene (belen) in the Plaza de la Constitucion from early December. The main celebration is Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), when families gather for a late dinner typically featuring roasted lamb or fish. New Year’s Eve (Nochevieja) sees celebrations across the resorts, with Puerto del Carmen’s Avenida de las Playas hosting an open-air party and midnight fireworks. On January 5, the Three Kings Parade (Cabalgata de Reyes) brings floats through Arrecife and the main resorts, with sweets thrown to children. Restaurants typically require reservations for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners (book by late November).
