Christmas in Cordoba 2026: a practical guide

When do Cordoba's Christmas lights come on in 2026?

2026 date: not announced. The council has already approved its 2027 festivities calendar, which sets the Christmas programme from 1 December 2026 to 6 January 2027 and the New Year's Eve party on the 31st (City Council).

2025 for reference:

• Switch-on: Tuesday 2 December at 18:30 on Calle Cruz Conde, together with the rest of the city (council programme).
• Local singer India Martínez, one of the voices in the show, pressed the button (Cordópolis).

Cruz Conde and the best streets for lights

The highlight is the Cruz Conde light and sound show: a tunnel of 21 arches running for about 230 metres, with almost 488,000 LEDs between the tunnel and the magnolia trees (Cordópolis).

2025 for reference:

• From 2 December to 5 January, five shows a day: 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00 and 20:30. The 19:00 and 20:00 shows had the sound turned down (council programme).
• A hearing loop for people with hearing aids or implants (Cordópolis).

Suggested walk: Cruz Conde from Ronda de los Tejares down to Las Tendillas, then Gondomar, Concepción, Claudio Marcelo and Jesús y María. In 2025 there were children's rides in Las Tendillas and on the Bulevar (El Debate) and a drone show by the Calahorra tower on Saturday 13 December, at 19:00 and 20:00 (council programme).

Christmas markets

• Christmas tent on Paseo de la Victoria: run by the street traders' association Comacor. In 2025 it opened on 21 November and stayed until 6 January, 10:00 to 22:00, with 26 stalls and free gift wrapping (Cordópolis).
• Las Tendillas: in 2025 the square had a Christmas market and children's rides until the New Year's Eve stage went up (El Debate). We have not found official dates.

2026 dates are not out.

City nativity scene and nativity trails

Belén Municipal (2025 for reference): in the Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, from 2 December to 5 January, free. Open 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00; mornings only on the 24th and 31st; closed on the 25th and 1 January (council events listing). Made by Cordoba's nativity association (El Debate).

• Other scenes: in 2025 the council programme included visits to those at San Hipólito church, Kutxabank, Fundación Cajasol and the Diputación (council programme).
• By bike: in 2025 the council ran six family bike rides around nativity scenes, with sign-up and your own bike (council events listing).

Patios at Christmas

The most Cordoban thing to do at Christmas. In 2025, from 5 to 28 December, more than forty courtyards opened for free over weekends (Friday to Sunday), 17:00 to 21:00, on routes that changed each weekend (San Basilio, Judíos, Martín de Roa, Zarco, Pastora...), with flamenco carols, choirs and classical concerts at the Palacio de Orive and the Posada del Potro (City Council; council events listing).

2026: courtyard owners could sign up from 8 to 22 October (City Council); dates and routes are pending.

New Year's Eve in Las Tendillas

Cordoba sees in the new year by the Las Tendillas clock, which strikes midnight with a flamenco soleá guitar phrase by Juan Serrano. The council holds a party with music and fireworks below it, and Andalusian TV usually broadcasts it (City Council).

2025 for reference: a children's party from 10:00 with a kids' countdown at 12:00, sweets instead of grapes; at night, music from 22:00 and concerts before and after midnight (El Debate). The 2026 programme is not out.

Three Kings Parade 2027: date, time and route

The parade will be on Tuesday 5 January 2027 (council calendar). The draw to choose King Caspar is open until 30 October (City Council). The 2027 time and route are not published.

2026 for reference:

• Start at 17:00 (council programme), with 14 floats and the closing adoration in Plaza del Cristo de Gracia (Cordópolis).
• Aucorsa diverted buses on Miraflores, Avenida de Cádiz, Conde de Vallellano, Paseo de la Victoria, Ronda de los Tejares, Ollerías, Ronda del Marrubial and Padres de Gracia from 15:00 to 22:00 (Aucorsa).
• Full route published for 2025: Plaza de Santa Teresa, Avenida de Cádiz, San Rafael bridge, Corregidor, Vallellano, Paseo de la Victoria, Ronda de los Tejares, Plaza de Colón, Avenida de los Molinos and Ollerías, finishing around 21:30 (Cordópolis).

Practical tips

• Public holidays: in Andalusia, Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December 2026, plus 25 December and 1 January (Junta de Andalucía).
• Shops: the Andalusian calendar allows opening on 29 November and on 7, 13, 20 and 27 December 2026 (Ministry of Trade), and on 3 January 2027 (BOJA 16 June 2026). Cordoba is not among the towns with published day swaps (BOJA 4 June 2026), so 8 December is not a general opening day.
• Traffic: in 2025 police controlled Cruz Conde and Tendillas from 17:30 to 22:30, with possible access closures (Cordópolis). Walking is best.
• Buses: on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 2025, Aucorsa city buses made their last departures at 20:00 (Aucorsa).