Festivals in Ceuta
Local festivals in Ceuta
The Patronal Festival in honour of the Virgen de África is Ceuta's principal summer celebration. The fairground, Plaza de África, the sanctuary and nearby streets host casetas, music and events dedicated to the patron.
Usual celebration
The fair is usually celebrated over several days around 5 August. The Autonomous City, neighbourhood associations, brotherhoods, fairground operators and residents participate in the lighting ceremony, casetas, concerts, floral offering, Mass and the Virgen de África procession.
Programme for 2026
Official preparations in 2026 included the selection of the child, youth and adult festival queens on 26 June at Parque Marítimo del Mediterráneo. The municipal rules connect the representatives and neighbourhood associations with the scheduled events of the Patronal Festival in honour of the Virgen de África.
Local public holidays in 2026
The official calendar designates Friday 20 March, Eid al-Fitr, and Saturday 13 June, San Antonio, as Ceuta's local public holidays in 2026. The Virgen de África celebration on 5 August appears in the city's general calendar and does not extend those two local holidays.
Other events
San Antonio, Ceuta Day, Carnival and intercultural celebrations are other established dates in the city's cultural and civic calendar.