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Cáceres runs a busy festival calendar that peaks with WOMAD, a free world music festival that takes over the old town every May. The city’s Holy Week is one of the most atmospheric in Spain, and spring and autumn add theatre, a medieval market and the dragon-burning of San Jorge. These are the events worth planning a trip around, with dates. For a full overview of the city, read our Cáceres guide.
Cáceres Events and Festivals in Spring
WOMAD Cáceres (early May)
WOMAD, the World of Music, Arts and Dance festival founded by Peter Gabriel, has run in Cáceres every year since 1992. It is completely free and takes over three stages in the old town: the Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Santa María and Plaza de San Jorge. In 2026 the 33rd edition runs from 7 to 10 May, with 21 acts from 14 countries, plus workshops, a global market and street performances. Concerts start in the early evening and run past midnight, and the city’s hotels sell out weeks ahead, so book early using our where to stay in Cáceres guide.
Semana Santa (Holy Week, March or April)
Cáceres Holy Week is declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. The highlight is the procession of the Cristo Negro, the Black Christ, carried from the Concatedral de Santa María through the lantern-lit old town. Dates move with Easter, falling in late March or April. Arrive before dusk to secure a spot near the Arco de la Estrella. For what to see and do, see our things to do in Cáceres guide.
San Jorge and the Burning of the Dragon (23 April)
On 23 April the city honours its patron saint, Saint George. The main event is the quema del dragón, the burning of a large dragon effigy in the Plaza Mayor, accompanied by a re-enactment and fireworks. It is a family-friendly evening and marks the start of the spring festivity season. For the weather around this date, check our Cáceres weather by month page.
Cáceres Events and Festivals in Summer
Festival de Teatro Clásico de Cáceres (June)
Every June the Festival de Teatro Clásico stages Spanish Golden Age theatre in the open air, with the Plaza de San Jorge inside the old town as its main stage. Productions of Lope de Vega, Calderón and Tirso de Molina run over several nights, with tickets around €10 to €15. Nights are warm but not yet at peak summer heat, making June one of the better months to visit, as our best time to visit Cáceres guide explains.
Feria de San Fernando (late May)
The Feria de San Fernando, held around 30 May, is the city’s local fair, with casetas, fairground attractions, music and the traditional bullring events. It takes place at the fairground site near the south of the city rather than in the old town. Note that the Helga de Alvear Museum closes on the local festivity day, so plan museum visits around it. For a district-by-district breakdown, see our Cáceres neighborhoods guide.
Cáceres Events and Festivals in Autumn and Winter
Mercado Medieval de las Tres Culturas (mid-November)
Each November the old town hosts a large medieval market re-enacting the Christian, Jewish and Muslim Cáceres of the Middle Ages, with stalls selling crafts and food, falconry displays, music and costumed performers. It usually runs over a long weekend in mid-November. November is the wettest month at 89 mm, so bring a waterproof, but the market is lively rain or shine.
Christmas and the Plaza Mayor lights (December)
From early December the Plaza Mayor is strung with Christmas lights and hosts a small seasonal market, with a nativity scene and children’s activities. It is a quiet, low-cost time to visit the city, with temperatures around 5°C to 12°C. For getting there and what to pack, see our Cáceres travel tips page.
