Easter in Spain 2027: Semana Santa dates and where to go

Easter in Spain falls on Sunday 28 March 2027, with Good Friday on 26 March and Holy Week, or Semana Santa, starting on Palm Sunday, 21 March. Of our three picks, Málaga has the biggest processions, Alicante the steep old-town streets and Torrevieja a smaller local week. Only Good Friday is a holiday everywhere.

When is Easter in Spain in 2027?

Holy Week 2027 runs from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March. That is eight days earlier than in 2026, so pack for March. UK clocks also go forward on Easter Sunday, so double-check any flight that morning.

Spain does not share one Easter calendar, and Málaga and the Costa Blanca have different days off.

These come from the official 2027 list published in the BOE, Spain's state gazette, on 13 October 2026. Each town also sets up to two local holidays.

Which is better for Semana Santa: Málaga, Alicante or Torrevieja?

Choose Málaga for scale, Alicante for atmosphere in old streets, and Torrevieja if you are already staying on the southern Costa Blanca and want an easy evening out.

The 2027 timetables were not out when we checked on 31 October 2026, so every time below comes from the 2026 programmes and is only a guide.

Both 2026 programmes came out in February, so expect the 2027 versions early next year.

What will you see at a Semana Santa procession?

A procession is a religious act, not a show for visitors, so keep your voice down and do not cut across the line. Four words will help:

• Nazarenos. Penitents in robes and tall pointed hoods, called capirotes, which hide the face so that attention stays on God and not the wearer. Some carry candles or wooden crosses.
• Trono or paso. The float carrying sculpted figures of Christ or the Virgin Mary. The word trono is used in Málaga.
• Saeta. A short, mournful song sung to a float as it passes. It comes from Andalusia, so listen for one in Málaga.
• Aleluyas. Paper thrown from windows and balconies, as in Alicante on Easter Sunday.

What is Semana Santa in Málaga like?

It is huge. The 2026 timetable listed 44 processions, with nine on Palm Sunday and eight each on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Some thrones need more than 250 bearers.

Almost all of them share one official route, which in 2026 ran through Plaza de la Constitución and the main stand, down Calle Marqués de Larios, along Atarazanas and the Alameda Principal, then up Molina Lario past the cathedral's south tower.

Two of the best known are:

• El Cautivo, Holy Monday. In 2026 it left the Trinidad district at 5.30pm, reached the main stand at 8.30pm and returned at 2.30am.
• Mena, Maundy Thursday. The Spanish Legion accompanies this one. In 2026 it left at 6.55pm, reached the main stand at 8.20pm and finished at 2.10am.

The longest night in 2026 was Holy Tuesday, when one brotherhood left at 3.45pm and got home at 4.30am.

Can you book seats in Málaga?

Yes, but not casually. Chairs and stands are run by the Agrupación de Cofradías, the city's brotherhoods association. Existing holders can renew for 2027 until 30 January. Requests for new season passes, which cover the whole week, go by email between 1 and 31 January. Any seats left over may be sold as non-renewable passes or by the day.

Read the rules before you pay. If bad weather suspends a procession, the regulations give no refund.

What happens at Semana Santa in Alicante?

Alicante is more intimate. The city tourist office counts nearly 30 brotherhoods, and the old-town streets put you close to the floats. In 2026 the key points were:

• Palm Sunday. The blessing of palms outside the Diputación on Avenida de la Estación at 11.15am, then La Borriquita at 11.30am, with children carrying palms and olive branches. The stretch along the Explanada is the one to see.
• Holy Wednesday. The Santa Cruz brotherhood left its hermitage at 7pm and returned at 12.30am. Its programme recommends the descent through the Santa Cruz quarter, especially the bend where calle San Antonio meets calle San Rafael.
• Good Friday. The Santo Entierro procession, with the Santo Sepulcro leaving San Nicolás at 8.45pm.
• Easter Sunday. The Risen Christ and the Virgen de la Alegría meet at noon in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento under a shower of aleluyas.

If you can stay on, Alicante has one more date. The Santa Faz pilgrimage falls two Thursdays after Maundy Thursday, which makes it 8 April 2027, with shuttle buses on the day.

Is Semana Santa in Torrevieja worth seeing?

Yes, if you keep your expectations in proportion. Fourteen brotherhoods process through the town centre, and the Valencian government has declared the week a festival of tourist interest. The tourist office page gives no route or times, so ask at the office when you arrive. Treat it as a local evening out, not a reason to fly in.

For something bigger without leaving the area, go inland to Orihuela. Its Holy Week holds International Tourist Interest status. Highlights are the Maundy Thursday procession of the Cristo del Silencio, lit only by lanterns, and La Diablesa, a float showing the triumph of the cross, on Holy Saturday. This is Orihuela town, not Orihuela Costa.

Does Spain shut down for Easter?

No, but it thins out, and the pattern depends on where you are. Good Friday is the only Easter holiday across the whole country. Most regions add Maundy Thursday, and the Balearics, Catalonia, Navarre, the Basque Country, La Rioja and the Valencia region have Easter Monday.

Shops on the Costa Blanca. Larger shops in the Valencia region can open on up to 11 approved Sundays and holidays a year. The 2026 list included Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and the regional page still showed only 2026 when we checked. Independent shops under 300 square metres, bakeries and convenience stores have free hours. Tourist zones have more freedom:

"May open" is the point. Each shop still decides.

Torrevieja market. 26 March is a Friday, the usual market day, from 8am to 2pm on Avenida Delfina Viudes. The town hall's market page says nothing about public holidays, so check before you plan around it.

Banks and offices. Treat every public holiday in the table above as a day with no paperwork.

Málaga city centre. The official route runs down Calle Larios, the main shopping street, so do not plan errands there on the two holidays.

Bars and restaurants. Each sets its own hours, so book ahead for Good Friday and Easter Sunday lunch.

What is the weather like at Easter in Spain?

Mild, and not reliably dry. These are the long-term March averages from Spain's weather agency, AEMET, for 1981 to 2010:

Take a jacket, because a procession can keep you outdoors past midnight. Málaga also gets more than twice Alicante's March rain, which matters when rain can suspend a procession. Our guide to spring on the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol covers the rest of the season.

What do people eat at Easter in Spain?

Torrijas are the classic Holy Week sweet: stale bread soaked in milk or wine, dipped in egg, fried in olive oil and often finished with cinnamon. The classic savoury dish is potaje de vigilia, a stew of salt cod, chickpeas and spinach from the meat-free Fridays of Lent.

On the Costa Blanca, look for the mona de Pascua, a sweet bun, often baked around an egg. Families in the Valencia region traditionally head outdoors on Easter Monday to eat it, often with longaniza de Pascua sausage. One custom is to crack the egg on someone else's forehead, so watch out.

What should British and Irish visitors plan for?

• Passports. UK visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area, and earlier trips count. Your passport must be under 10 years old on arrival and valid for at least 3 months after you leave. Irish citizens, as EU citizens, are outside this rule.
• Border queues. GOV.UK says the EU Entry/Exit System can mean giving fingerprints and a photo, and to be ready for longer waits. Allow extra time.
• Valuables. GOV.UK advises care with valuables at large events and warns that thieves often work in teams.

If you are combining Easter with a property visit, go for Monday 22 to Thursday 25 March on the Costa Blanca, or wait until after Easter Monday. Our guide to where to live in Spain and our Torrevieja area guide will help you shortlist towns before you travel, and you can browse homes in Torrevieja or read about everyday life in Spain.

For other dates in the Spanish year, read our guides to the best Spanish festivals and Christmas in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

When is Easter in Spain in 2027?

Easter Sunday in Spain is 28 March 2027. Good Friday is 26 March, Maundy Thursday is 25 March and Palm Sunday, which opens Holy Week, is 21 March. Easter Monday is 29 March, a public holiday on the Costa Blanca but a normal working day in Málaga.

Does Spain shut down for Easter?

Not completely. Good Friday is the only Easter holiday across all of Spain, and most regions add Maundy Thursday. The Valencia region has Easter Monday instead. Shops in tourist zones such as Torrevieja may open, but treat public holidays as days when banks and offices are closed.

Is Maundy Thursday a holiday on the Costa Blanca?

No. In 2027 the Valencia region, which includes Alicante, Torrevieja and Calpe, keeps Thursday 25 March as a working day. Its holidays are Good Friday, 26 March, and Easter Monday, 29 March. Málaga is the reverse: Thursday and Friday are holidays, while Monday is a normal day.

Where is the best place in Spain for Semana Santa?

Seville and Málaga are the best known, and both have held International Tourist Interest status since 1980. Near the Costa Blanca, Orihuela holds the same status, and Alicante has been a National Tourist Interest since 2022. Choose Málaga for scale, Alicante for old streets, and Torrevieja for an easy evening.

Can you buy seats for Semana Santa in Málaga?

Yes, but it takes planning. The Agrupación de Cofradías sets out chairs along the official route, and requests for new season passes go by email between 1 and 31 January. Leftover seats may be sold by the day. Bad weather does not give you a refund, so read the rules first.

Is Spain warm at Easter?

Mild rather than hot. Long-term March averages show daytime highs of 19.6°C in Alicante and at Málaga Airport, with nights of around 9°C to 10°C. Easter 2027 falls in late March, so take a jacket for evening processions and treat a beach day as a bonus.

Thinking about more than a week in the sun?

If Holy Week leaves you wondering what a town is like to live in, talk to us. We are a licensed agency, RAICV 4221, with offices in Torrevieja and Calpe, and we work in English from the first call to the notary. Our clients don't pay us commission. Call +44 20 3888 0008 or send us a message.

Sources

Last checked: October 2026

1. BOE, Resolution of 8 October 2026, public holidays for 2027 (official): boe.es
2. DOGV, resolution of 10 September 2025, Sundays and holidays for trading in 2026 (official): dogv.gva.es
3. Generalitat Valenciana, trading hours (official): cindi.gva.es
4. Generalitat Valenciana, tourist zone list, updated 12 June 2026 (official): cindi.gva.es
5. AEMET, climate normals 1981 to 2010, Alicante (official): aemet.es
6. AEMET, climate normals 1981 to 2010, Málaga Airport (official): aemet.es
7. Alicante City Council tourism, Holy Week: alicanteturismo.com
8. Junta Mayor de Hermandades y Cofradías de Alicante, El Capuchino 2026 programme: alicanteturismo.com
9. Alicante City Council tourism, Santa Faz: alicanteturismo.com
10. Turismo de Torrevieja, festivals and traditions (official): turismo.torrevieja.es
11. Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja, weekly market (official): torrevieja.es
12. Comunitat Valenciana tourism board, Holy Week in Orihuela (official): comunitatvalenciana.com
13. Agrupación de Cofradías de Málaga, Horarios e itinerarios 2026: agrupaciondecofradias.com
14. Agrupación de Cofradías de Málaga, chair and stand regulations, 25 September 2024: agrupaciondecofradias.com
15. Agrupación de Cofradías de Málaga, renewal of passes for 2027: agrupaciondecofradias.com
16. GOV.UK, Spain entry requirements: gov.uk
17. GOV.UK, Spain safety and security: gov.uk
18. GOV.UK, when the clocks change: gov.uk
19. Wikipedia, Semana Santa en Málaga: wikipedia.org
20. Wikipedia, Holy Week in Málaga: wikipedia.org
21. Wikipedia, Holy Week in Spain: wikipedia.org
22. Wikipedia, Semana Santa en Alicante: wikipedia.org
23. Wikipedia, Semana Santa en Orihuela: wikipedia.org
24. Wikipedia, Capirote: wikipedia.org
25. Wikipedia, Mona de Pascua: wikipedia.org
26. Wikipedia, Torrija: wikipedia.org
27. Wikipedia, Potaje de vigilia: wikipedia.org