January through April. Basque cider houses (sagardotegiak) open their doors for the txotx season, where you stand at large wooden barrels and catch cider straight from the tap as it streams from the cask. The traditional menu includes cod omelette, txuleton steak, and cheese with quince paste. Prices: 30-40 euros per person for the full menu with unlimited cider. Cider houses are mostly in the hills around Astigarraga (5km from the center, bus or taxi). Reservations essential for weekend evenings. Petritegi and Zapiain are two well-known sagardotegiak accessible from the city.
Jazzaldia (San Sebastian Jazz Festival)
Late July, 5 days. Free outdoor concerts on Zurriola Beach and at the Trinity Square in the Old Town, plus ticketed indoor performances at the Kursaal and Victoria Eugenia. Past headliners include Jamie Cullum, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. Free beach concerts draw large crowds — arrive early for a spot near the stage.
Late September, 9 days. One of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals (category A, alongside Cannes, Venice, and Berlin). Screenings at the Kursaal Centre, the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, and the Principe Cinema. Top films screen in the 1,800-seat Kursaal auditorium. Public tickets go on sale about a week before the festival — prices range 7-15 euros per screening. The city fills with journalists, actors, and film buffs; book hotels by June.
Basque Cider House Season (Txotx)
January through April. Basque cider houses (sagardotegiak) open their doors for the txotx season, where you stand at large wooden barrels and catch cider straight from the tap as it streams from the cask. The traditional menu includes cod omelette, txuleton steak, and cheese with quince paste. Prices: 30-40 euros per person for the full menu with unlimited cider. Cider houses are mostly in the hills around Astigarraga (5km from the center, bus or taxi). Reservations essential for weekend evenings. Petritegi and Zapiain are two well-known sagardotegiak accessible from the city.
Jazzaldia (San Sebastian Jazz Festival)
Late July, 5 days. Free outdoor concerts on Zurriola Beach and at the Trinity Square in the Old Town, plus ticketed indoor performances at the Kursaal and Victoria Eugenia. Past headliners include Jamie Cullum, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. Free beach concerts draw large crowds — arrive early for a spot near the stage.
Mid-August, week surrounding August 15. The city’s biggest summer festival with nightly international fireworks competitions over La Concha Bay (best viewed from the beach or promenade), free concerts, street theater, and traditional Basque sports including rowing regattas and stone-lifting. The fireworks start around 22:45 each night. Hotels are fully booked and prices are at their annual peak.
San Sebastian International Film Festival
Late September, 9 days. One of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals (category A, alongside Cannes, Venice, and Berlin). Screenings at the Kursaal Centre, the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, and the Principe Cinema. Top films screen in the 1,800-seat Kursaal auditorium. Public tickets go on sale about a week before the festival — prices range 7-15 euros per screening. The city fills with journalists, actors, and film buffs; book hotels by June.
Basque Cider House Season (Txotx)
January through April. Basque cider houses (sagardotegiak) open their doors for the txotx season, where you stand at large wooden barrels and catch cider straight from the tap as it streams from the cask. The traditional menu includes cod omelette, txuleton steak, and cheese with quince paste. Prices: 30-40 euros per person for the full menu with unlimited cider. Cider houses are mostly in the hills around Astigarraga (5km from the center, bus or taxi). Reservations essential for weekend evenings. Petritegi and Zapiain are two well-known sagardotegiak accessible from the city.
Jazzaldia (San Sebastian Jazz Festival)
Late July, 5 days. Free outdoor concerts on Zurriola Beach and at the Trinity Square in the Old Town, plus ticketed indoor performances at the Kursaal and Victoria Eugenia. Past headliners include Jamie Cullum, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. Free beach concerts draw large crowds — arrive early for a spot near the stage.
January 19-20. San Sebastian’s largest festival: 24 hours of continuous drumming by 100-plus organized groups (tamborradas) dressed as soldiers and cooks. The festival begins at midnight on January 19 in Constitution Square with the raising of the city flag and ends 24 hours later with its lowering. Over 15,000 adults and 5,000 children participate. The parade routes through the Old Town and city center. Free to watch. Book accommodation months ahead — this is the city’s biggest local celebration.
Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia)
Mid-August, week surrounding August 15. The city’s biggest summer festival with nightly international fireworks competitions over La Concha Bay (best viewed from the beach or promenade), free concerts, street theater, and traditional Basque sports including rowing regattas and stone-lifting. The fireworks start around 22:45 each night. Hotels are fully booked and prices are at their annual peak.
San Sebastian International Film Festival
Late September, 9 days. One of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals (category A, alongside Cannes, Venice, and Berlin). Screenings at the Kursaal Centre, the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, and the Principe Cinema. Top films screen in the 1,800-seat Kursaal auditorium. Public tickets go on sale about a week before the festival — prices range 7-15 euros per screening. The city fills with journalists, actors, and film buffs; book hotels by June.
Basque Cider House Season (Txotx)
January through April. Basque cider houses (sagardotegiak) open their doors for the txotx season, where you stand at large wooden barrels and catch cider straight from the tap as it streams from the cask. The traditional menu includes cod omelette, txuleton steak, and cheese with quince paste. Prices: 30-40 euros per person for the full menu with unlimited cider. Cider houses are mostly in the hills around Astigarraga (5km from the center, bus or taxi). Reservations essential for weekend evenings. Petritegi and Zapiain are two well-known sagardotegiak accessible from the city.
Jazzaldia (San Sebastian Jazz Festival)
Late July, 5 days. Free outdoor concerts on Zurriola Beach and at the Trinity Square in the Old Town, plus ticketed indoor performances at the Kursaal and Victoria Eugenia. Past headliners include Jamie Cullum, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. Free beach concerts draw large crowds — arrive early for a spot near the stage.
San Sebastian’s event calendar reflects its dual identity as a Basque fishing city and an international cultural destination. From the 24-hour Tamborrada drumming marathon in January to the A-list film festival in September, there’s rarely a quiet month.
Major Events in San Sebastian
Tamborrada
January 19-20. San Sebastian’s largest festival: 24 hours of continuous drumming by 100-plus organized groups (tamborradas) dressed as soldiers and cooks. The festival begins at midnight on January 19 in Constitution Square with the raising of the city flag and ends 24 hours later with its lowering. Over 15,000 adults and 5,000 children participate. The parade routes through the Old Town and city center. Free to watch. Book accommodation months ahead — this is the city’s biggest local celebration.
Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia)
Mid-August, week surrounding August 15. The city’s biggest summer festival with nightly international fireworks competitions over La Concha Bay (best viewed from the beach or promenade), free concerts, street theater, and traditional Basque sports including rowing regattas and stone-lifting. The fireworks start around 22:45 each night. Hotels are fully booked and prices are at their annual peak.
San Sebastian International Film Festival
Late September, 9 days. One of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals (category A, alongside Cannes, Venice, and Berlin). Screenings at the Kursaal Centre, the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, and the Principe Cinema. Top films screen in the 1,800-seat Kursaal auditorium. Public tickets go on sale about a week before the festival — prices range 7-15 euros per screening. The city fills with journalists, actors, and film buffs; book hotels by June.
Basque Cider House Season (Txotx)
January through April. Basque cider houses (sagardotegiak) open their doors for the txotx season, where you stand at large wooden barrels and catch cider straight from the tap as it streams from the cask. The traditional menu includes cod omelette, txuleton steak, and cheese with quince paste. Prices: 30-40 euros per person for the full menu with unlimited cider. Cider houses are mostly in the hills around Astigarraga (5km from the center, bus or taxi). Reservations essential for weekend evenings. Petritegi and Zapiain are two well-known sagardotegiak accessible from the city.
Jazzaldia (San Sebastian Jazz Festival)
Late July, 5 days. Free outdoor concerts on Zurriola Beach and at the Trinity Square in the Old Town, plus ticketed indoor performances at the Kursaal and Victoria Eugenia. Past headliners include Jamie Cullum, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. Free beach concerts draw large crowds — arrive early for a spot near the stage.
