Festivals in San Sebastián

Local festivals in San Sebastián / Donostia

January's Tamborrada and August's Aste Nagusia are the city's two main festive landmarks.

Usual celebration

The Tamborrada fills 20 January with adult and children's companies, the raising and lowering of the flag in Plaza de la Constitución, and parades through the centre and neighbourhoods. In August, Aste Nagusia lasts eight days: the cannon shot in Alderdi Eder opens a programme organised by Donostia Festak and Donostia Kultura in the Old Town, on the beaches, in Sagues, at the Kursaal and in other city venues.

Programme for 2026

Aste Nagusia ran from 8 to 15 August. The opening cannon shot took place at 19:00 on the 8th, and the 61st International Fireworks Competition brought companies from Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Italy to La Concha Bay each night, followed by a closing pyromusical display on the 15th. The programme also included concerts, Basque rural sports, markets and family events.

Local public holidays in 2026

Gipuzkoa's official calendar set 31 July, San Ignacio de Loyola, for the whole historic territory and 20 January, San Sebastián, for Donostia. They are paid, non-recoverable non-working days; Aste Nagusia is not in itself a labour-holiday period.

Other events

Jazzaldia, the International Film Festival and neighbourhood festivities broaden the municipal cultural calendar throughout the year.

Sources

• Donostia Town Council: Aste Nagusia 2026.
• Donostia Town Council: 2026 International Fireworks Competition.
• Basque Government and BOG: Gipuzkoa working calendar for 2026.