2026 Alcalá de Henares Fair and Festival programme

The official programme runs from Friday 21 to Sunday 30 August 2026, with the formal opening on Saturday 22. This guide arranges the principal daily events and continuing activities in the council programme, which contains more than 300 events.

Notice: the council states that the programme is subject to change. Some activities require a ticket, booking or registration.

Activities throughout the Fair

  • Isla del Colegio fairground: 21-30 August; Sunday-Wednesday, 19:00-03:30, and Thursday-Saturday, 19:00-05:00; on Friday 21 and Sunday 30, until 01:00.
  • Children's Days: Wednesday 26 and Sunday 30, with reductions on some rides.
  • Low-noise sessions: Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26, 19:00-21:00, at the fairground.
  • La Plaza en Ferias: food and drink stalls in Plaza de Cervantes; 21 August, 20:00-24:00; 22, 27, 28 and 29 August, 20:00-03:00; 23-26 August, 20:00-02:00.
  • Gigantes y Cabezudos exhibition: from 22 August, 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-21:00, Capilla del Oidor; the troupe is out on its morning routes.
  • Family visits: 24-28 August at 11:00, leaving from the Capilla del Oidor Tourist Office, with advance booking.

Friday 21 August

  • 12:00: blessing of the fairground, beside the big wheel at Isla del Colegio.
  • 19:00: children's opening speech by Peña El Desbarajuste, its marquee at the fairground.
  • 21:00: La pasión infinita, Teatro Salón Cervantes, Calle Cervantes 7.

Saturday 22 August

  • 19:15: floral offering to the Cristo de las Peñas, church of the Discalced Carmelite convent, Calle Imagen.
  • 20:30: presentation of the Damas de Ferias, Town Hall council chamber.
  • 21:15: placement of the peñas' standard on the Town Hall balcony.
  • 21:30: opening speech by APHISA, central Town Hall balcony, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 22:45: Gizzard concert, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 23:00: Loquillo, Huerta del Obispo; doors 20:30 and Ciclonautas 21:30.
  • 23:45: Efecto Pasillo followed by DJ Xtinson, Plaza de Cervantes.

Sunday 23 August

  • 09:00: pétanque tournament, Boulódromo Municipal, Calle Serracines.
  • 10:00: Gigantes y Cabezudos from Plaza de Cervantes through District II and back by Calle Mayor.
  • 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00: unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell and Plaza de Palacio.
  • 13:00: foam party, Ruinas de Santa María; 13:30, charity vermouth gathering for APHISA, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 19:00 and 21:30: Alcalá Comedy Show, Teatro Salón Cervantes.
  • 22:00: zarzuela, Parque de Sementales, and Ballet Flamenco Cristian Pérez, Santo Tomás de Villanueva courtyard.
  • 22:30: dancing with Orquesta Cougar, Plaza de Cervantes.

Monday 24 August

  • 10:00: Gigantes y Cabezudos from Plaza de Cervantes through Barrio Venecia and back by Calle Mayor.
  • 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00: unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell and Plaza de Palacio; 11:00-13:00, inflatables, Plaza del Barro.
  • 13:00: foam party, Ruinas de Santa María; 13:30, peñas' vermouth gathering, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 16:30-24:00: Fair Padel Tournament, Pádel Indoor Alcalá and Alcalá Cisneros clubs, continuing to the 29th.
  • 22:00: Danza y palabra, Santo Tomás de Villanueva courtyard; Generación Milenial tribute, Parque de Sementales; night visit to the walled enclosure from Calle Cardenal Sandoval y Rojas.
  • 22:30: Orquesta La Bestia, Plaza de Cervantes.

Tuesday 25 August

  • 10:00: Gigantes y Cabezudos from Plaza de Cervantes around the Virgen del Val area.
  • 11:00: large mus card tournament, Plaza de Palacio; 11:00-14:00, unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell.
  • 13:00: foam party, Ruinas de Santa María; 13:30, vermouth gathering and charity migas, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 18:00-20:00 and 20:30-24:00: 3x3 basketball, CD Espartales sports hall.
  • 22:00: Nino Bravo tribute, Parque de Sementales; En un lugar de la danza, Santo Tomás courtyard; night visit to the Town Hall.
  • 22:00: Orquesta Chicas de La Habana, Plaza de Cervantes.

Wednesday 26 August

  • 10:00: Gigantes y Cabezudos from Plaza de Cervantes through District IV and back; 11:00, mus tournament finals, Círculo de Contribuyentes.
  • 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00: unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell and Plaza de Palacio; 13:00, foam party, Ruinas de Santa María; 13:30, vermouth gathering, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 19:00-21:00: inflatables, Parque Andalucía.
  • 21:00: Yllana's Gool, Teatro Salón Cervantes.
  • 22:00: Diego Larrea, Parque de Sementales; Ballet Albéniz, Santo Tomás courtyard; night visit to Casa de Hippolytus.

Thursday 27 August

  • 10:00: Gigantes y Cabezudos through Ensanche, Las Sedas and El Olivar.
  • 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00: unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell and Plaza de Palacio; 13:00, foam party, Ruinas de Santa María; 13:30, vermouth gathering, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 20:00: Muralla Pop Fest, Huerta del Obispo; doors 19:00.
  • 21:00: Gool, Teatro Salón Cervantes.
  • 22:00: Sonia Andrade, Parque de Sementales; Raíces en movimiento, Santo Tomás courtyard.
  • 22:30: Orquesta Erosión, Plaza de Cervantes; bull-leaping contest, bullring.

Friday 28 August

  • 10:00: release of cattle, bullring; Gigantes y Cabezudos through District IV.
  • 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00: unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell and Plaza de Palacio; 13:00, foam party, Ruinas de Santa María; 13:30, charity paella and vermouth gathering, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 19:00: bullfight with Daniel Luque, Emilio de Justo and Fernando Adrián, bullring.
  • 20:00: Muralla Camp with Fangoria, Chenoa, Nancys Rubias, Raúl, Coyote Dax and Zapato Veloz, Huerta del Obispo.
  • 21:00: Canadá, Teatro Salón Cervantes; Banda Sinfónica Complutense, Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 22:00: Patricia Velasco, Parque de Sementales; Ensemble Sapere Aude, Santo Tomás courtyard; 22:30, Estopa tribute, Plaza de Cervantes.

Saturday 29 August

  • 10:00: Armed Forces and emergency services display, Ciudad Deportiva El Val; release of cattle, bullring; Gigantes y Cabezudos through District III.
  • 11:00-14:00 and 18:00-21:00: unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell and Plaza de Palacio; 13:30, foam party at Ruinas de Santa María and vermouth gathering in Plaza de Cervantes.
  • 19:00: novice bullfight with picadors, bullring; 19:00 and 21:30, Mejor no decirlo, Teatro Salón Cervantes.
  • 22:00: Vanesa Martín, Huerta del Obispo; Tuna de Alcalá and Agua Rata, Plaza de Cervantes; Pilar Barbancho dance company, Santo Tomás courtyard; The Fábula, Parque de Sementales.
  • 23:30: Rosa López followed by DJ Xtinson, Plaza de Cervantes; 23:45, Fórmula Pop, Parque de Sementales.

Sunday 30 August

  • 09:00: archery tournament, Campo Municipal de Tiro con Arco; 09:45, rapid chess, Plaza de San Diego.
  • 10:00: release of cattle, bullring, and Gigantes y Cabezudos from Plaza de Cervantes via Plaza de San Diego, Libreros, Calle Mayor and Santos Niños.
  • 11:00-14:00: unplugged games, Parque O'Donnell; 13:00, foam party, Ruinas de Santa María.
  • 19:00: bullfight with Diego Urdiales, Alejandro Talavante and Víctor Hernández, bullring; Mejor no decirlo, Teatro Salón Cervantes.
  • 20:00: grand float parade from the Luis de Medina/Vía Complutense roundabout to Plaza de Cervantes; removal of the peñas' standard afterwards.
  • 21:00: Teatro Independiente Alcalaíno, Santo Tomás de Villanueva courtyard.
  • 23:59: fireworks, Huerta del Obispo.

Information and official sources

See the general guide to the Alcalá de Henares Fair and Festival. The council PDF gives full details of contests, peña activities, registration, routes and all supplementary events.

Today's international trade fair

You can also find information about international trade fairs and discover today's featured trade fair at FeriasHoy.com.