Festivals in Melilla
Local festivals in Melilla
Melilla Fair and the events in honour of the Virgen de la Victoria form the city's principal festival cycle. The fairground, central streets and the patronal church host concerts, caseta gatherings and religious celebrations.
Usual celebration
The Fair is usually celebrated for just over a week from late August into early September. The Autonomous City, associations, brotherhoods, performers and residents participate in the fairground opening, concerts, family events, floral offering and the patron's procession through central streets.
Programme for 2026
The 2026 edition ran from 29 August to 6 September, a nine-day period, with nightly concerts in the fairground's Caseta Oficial. The patronal calendar continued with events dedicated to the Virgen de la Victoria at her sanctuary and in the city centre.
Local public holidays in 2026
The official calendar designates Tuesday 8 September, Virgen de la Victoria, and Thursday 17 September, Melilla Day, as the two local public holidays in 2026. These are specific non-working days rather than the full duration of the Fair.
Other cultural events
Melilla Day completes September's civic calendar, while the annual cultural programme also includes celebrations belonging to the city's different communities.