Public holiday in Spain
Feast of St. John the Baptist in Spain
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Regional public holiday
Observed in Catalonia, Galicia, Valencian Community
Feast of St. John the Baptist is a regional public holiday in parts of Spain, observed on 24 June. In Catalonia, Galicia and the Valencian Community, it marks a midsummer date with local religious and popular significance.
About Feast of St. John the Baptist in Spain
In Spain, Feast of St. John the Baptist is not a nationwide holiday but a regional public holiday in Catalonia, Galicia and the Valencian Community. It falls on 24 June and is associated with midsummer customs, so its practical effect is strongest in places where local celebrations continue into the night before or the day itself. The holiday is especially noticeable in Catalonia, where it is closely linked to the Sant Joan celebrations that begin on the eve of 24 June.
History
The date corresponds to the Christian feast day of John the Baptist, which has long been fixed in the liturgical calendar on 24 June. In Spain, the day’s regional public-holiday status reflects local and autonomous-community observance rather than a single nationwide legal tradition.
Traditions
In Catalonia, the holiday is associated with coca de Sant Joan, a sweet flat cake commonly eaten around the feast, often with candied fruit and pine nuts. Bonfires are also part of the Sant Joan period in many places, continuing older midsummer customs that have become linked to the saint’s day. In the Valencian Community and Galicia, the date is likewise connected with local religious observance and seasonal celebration rather than a single uniform national custom.
How Feast of St. John the Baptist is celebrated in Spain
Celebrations usually concentrate on the evening of 23 June and the day of 24 June, especially in Catalonia, where many towns and neighbourhoods hold street gatherings, fireworks and bonfires. In the regional holiday areas, the day may be marked by family meals, church services and local events tied to the feast.
Interesting facts
The holiday’s strongest popular association in Spain is with the night before the feast, not only the calendar date itself. Among the regions where it is observed, Catalonia has the most widely recognised public-facing customs tied to the day.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 Jun 2026 | — | Catalonia, Galicia, Valencian Community |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.