Christmas in Santiago de Compostela 2026: a practical guide

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

2026 date: not announced. 2025 for reference, from the city programme 'Compostela, a estrela do Nadal' (City Council):

• Friday 28 November: at 18:30, two folk-group street parades (ruadas), from the Christmas market and from Porta do Camiño; at 19:00, a light and juggling show in Praza do Obradoiro and the switch-on.
• Lights: 28 November to 6 January.

Where to see the lights

The 2025 highlights (City Council):

• Obradoiro: a 20-metre Christmas tree and a light show on the façade of Pazo de Raxoi, the City Hall.
• Praza da Quintana: an eight-pointed star, the city's emblem, lit up on one of its walls.
• Toural and Cervantes: umbrellas of garlands over the fountains, with light shows every five minutes.
• Alameda: the Paseo da Ferradura turned into a forest of light.
• Projections in Praza Roxa, Porta Faxeira and Bonaval.

Evening walk: the Alameda, Porta Faxeira, Rúa do Vilar, Obradoiro, Quintana and Cervantes.

Christmas markets and ice rink

2025-2026 dates for reference (City Council):

• Mercado de Nadal: 12:00 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 21:00; mornings only on the 24th and 31st; closed on the 25th and the 1st. It has a children's area with workshops.
• Alameda en xogo: 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:30; mornings only on the 24th and 31st; closed on the 25th and the 1st. Free, subject to capacity.

Nativity scenes and the Apalpador

• San Fiz de Solovio nativity scene: the city's traditional crib, by nativity maker José Uzal, with over 500 figures, moving pieces and light and sound effects. In 2025 it was open from 28 November to 7 January; from 2 to 19 December, 11:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, and at weekends, on holidays and in school holidays until 21:00 (City Council).
• The Apalpador and the Apalpadora, Christmas figures from Galician tradition: in 2025 they visited the neighbourhood community centres and had their own street parade (ruada).

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Cathedral

According to the Cathedral's liturgical calendar for 2026:

• Thursday 24 December: Midnight Mass, presided over by the Archbishop.
• Friday 25 December, 11:40: chapter procession with the botafumeiro, then Mass. Note: the Cathedral says the botafumeiro is temporarily out of use for restoration works, with no return date.

31 December 2026: the Holy Door opens

New Year's Eve 2026 is different in Santiago. The Cathedral's liturgical calendar sets the opening of the Holy Door for Thursday 31 December at 17:00, on Praza da Quintana, followed by Mass with the Archbishop. It marks the start of the 2027 Holy Year. The Cathedral has not yet said how access will be managed: expect the Quintana and surrounding streets to be packed from early afternoon. For the jubilee, Cathedral visits and the Compostela, see our Holy Year 2027 guide.

New Year's Eve 2025 for reference (City Council; El Correo Gallego):

• Afternoon: the 'Tardevieja', the old town's vermouth gathering, was packed from midday.
• 17:00: San Silvestre race from the Obradoiro.
• Midnight: chimes from the Berenguela, the Cathedral clock, in the Obradoiro, with a city party (from 23:30 in the programme) and the Mekánika Rolling Band. Galician TV (TVG) broadcast it live.

The 2026 city programme is not out. In 2025 the San Silvestre left the Obradoiro at the same time as the Holy Door opens on the Quintana in 2026: watch for changes.

Three Kings Parade 2027

It will be on Tuesday 5 January 2027. Time and route are not published. 2026 for reference (City Council; Blog Mundo R):

• Morning: the Kings were due to fly in to Lavacolla airport.
• 17:30: start from Praza de Nosa Señora da Mercé, in Conxo.
• Route: Avenida de Ferrol, Frei Rosendo Salvado, Praza Roxa, República do Salvador, Hórreo, Praza de Galicia, Senra, Porta Faxeira, Rúa do Vilar, Praterías and Obradoiro.
• 19:30: royal reception at Pazo de Raxoi.

Practical tips

• Public holidays: in Galicia, Tuesday 8 and Friday 25 December 2026. The 6th falls on a Sunday and is not moved: the Xunta swapped it for other days in the year (Xunta). Santiago has no local holiday over Christmas (DOG).
• Shops: they may open on Sunday 29 November and Sundays 6, 13, 20 and 27 December (Ministry of Trade).
• Accommodation: with the Holy Door opening on the 31st, book early and with free cancellation.
• Rain: almost everything in this guide is outdoors; bring an umbrella.