Ready for Spain’s autumn festivals? Here are a few highlights to enjoy this season:
- Wine Harvest Festival in Jerez de la Frontera (through Sept. 18): Marking the start of the Andalusian grape harvest, this festival offers grape stomping, street theatre, live music, equestrian parades and riding demonstrations. Visitors can join vineyard tours and wine tastings, explore art exhibitions and experience authentic flamenco performances.
- Árabe Andalusí Festival in Salares, Malaga (Sept. 17–18): This cultural celebration includes music, dance, poetry and visual arts alongside traditional gastronomy. Set in the picturesque village of Salares, known for its historic architecture, the festival showcases regional cultural initiatives and community-led events.
- Carthaginians and Romans Fiesta in Cartagena (Sept. 16–25): The festival opens with a dramatic reenactment of the city’s capture in 209 BC and features a spectacular parade filled with costumed participants, music and food. Expect theatrical displays inspired by gladiatorial and ancient Roman themes—entertainment designed for visitors rather than historical combat.
- Festival of la Mercè in Barcelona (Sept. 22–25): One of the city’s major annual events, la Mercè features concerts, fireworks, large-scale audiovisual projections, circus acts and street art. The Parc de la Ciutadella hosts many core activities, while the historic Barri Gòtic offers traditional Catalan elements like human towers, falconry displays and drumming troupes. The festival culminates in a spectacular musical fireworks show along Avinguda de Maria Cristina.