Last updated July 2026, Sant Sebastià Palma is the city's largest midwinter festival, with free concerts and communal bonfires filling several main squares. The 2026 edition runs 10-25 January, with the traditional Revetla night on 19 January and the feast day on 20 January. This guide covers the concert lineup by plaza, torrada etiquette, and correfoc safety rules for Palma's old town.
Sant Sebastià Palma 2026: Dates at a Glance
Sant Sebastià honors Palma's patron saint, credited in local tradition with ending a plague after a relic reached the city in 1524. Fourteen days of events lead up to the feast day, mixing family activities, concerts, and fire rituals. Fire traditions carry over directly from Sant Antoni's 16-17 January bonfires into Palma's own patron-saint week.
Sant Sebastià Petit, the family day at Parc de sa Riera, runs with circus shows, theater, workshops, a mini train, and activities coordinated with EMT, EMAYA, and the Local Police. All stage performances include sign language interpretation.
For 2026, the Ajuntament de Palma suspended the official 19 and 20 January events. This was a mourning gesture after a railway accident in Córdoba. Check the Ajuntament de Palma's official programme before you travel, since updates or a scaled-back Revetla could still appear closer to the date.
- 10 Jan (Sat): Official opening at Plaça de Cort, 10:30-14:00, with the symbolic waking of the Drac de na Coca; the Dia de la Pesta procession follows at 17:30.
- 11 Jan (Sun): Sant Sebastià Petit family day at Parc de sa Riera, 10:30-14:00.
- 16 Jan (Fri): Major concert night at Plaça d'Espanya, 20:00-02:00, headlined by Crystal Fighters.
- 17 Jan (Sat): Tardeo afternoon parties at Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I and Plaça Major, both 18:00-00:00.
- 18 Jan (Sun): Sport and culture day, including a road race and an open-air concert by the Banda Municipal de Música de Palma at Plaça de Cort.
- 19 Jan (Mon), normally Revetla de Sant Sebastià: bonfires and simultaneous concerts across four squares, 18:30-03:00.
- 20 Jan (Tue), normally Dia de Sant Sebastià: public holiday in Palma, plus the Diada Ciclista and the Premis Ciutat de Palma.
- 24 Jan (Sat): Trobada de Gegants giants' parade, 09:45-13:00.
- 25 Jan (Sun): Volada d'Estels kite flying and the closing correfoc, from 19:00.
The Legend Behind Sant Sebastià
Reverence for Saint Sebastian reached Palma during a plague outbreak in 1523-1524, when a ship believed to carry a relic from the saint's arm was forced by a storm to remain in the bay. Local tradition credits the saint with ending the outbreak soon after, and Palma adopted him as its protector, according to Palma's own account of the festival's origins. The relic is still venerated in the city's cathedral today.
The correfoc's demons trace back to the same story. Their fire run through the streets is traditionally read as chasing the plague out of Palma. The Drac de na Coca, the fire-breathing dragon that opens the festival at Plaça de Cort, and the colles de dimonis who weave through the crowd both carry this folklore forward each year.
The Revetla: Choosing Your Plaza by Music Style
On a normal festival year, the Revetla de Sant Sebastià turns four squares into open-air concert venues at once. Pick your plaza by sound rather than by distance alone.
Plaça Major's program opens earliest, with glosada, improvised sung verse, and traditional folk dancing from 18:30. Plaça de Cort's night builds around the Drac de na Coca procession before its own bonfire lighting. Simultaneous programming means you cannot see every plaza, so most visitors commit to one square for the night rather than plaza-hopping.
| Plaza | Music Style | Concert Hours | Closing Act | Public Grill On-Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaça d'Espanya | Pop, reggaeton, mainstream hits | 20:15-03:00 | Alex Martini | Yes |
| Plaça de Cort | Rock, classics, local anthems | 20:45-03:00 | Héroes Tribut Band | Yes |
| Plaça Major | Folk, glosada, roots music | 18:30-03:00 | Toc de Crida | Yes |
| Plaça Joan Carles I | Pop, indie | 20:15-03:00 | Pèl de Gall | Yes |
The Torrada: Palma's Public Barbecues
During the Revetla, Palma sets up public grills, called torradores, at Plaça de Joan Carles I, Plaça Major, Plaça de Cort, and Plaça d'Espanya. The city supplies the fire, the metal grates, and firewood and sand for safety. You bring your own food.
Buy ingredients earlier in the day at Mercat de l'Olivar or the Santa Catalina market, since options near the bonfires thin out by evening. Arrive with food already prepped, since there is no prep space at the fogueró itself. Adapted grills for vegans and people with coeliac disease are set up at each torrador location, according to the city's 2026 programme.
- Sobrassada
- Butifarró
- Llonganissa
- Bread and olive oil for pa amb oli
Correfoc Survival Guide: What to Wear and Where to Stand
Troupes of dimonis carry fireworks through the crowd during the correfoc, often alongside the fire-breathing Drac de na Coca. For 2026, the closing correfoc runs 25 January from 19:00, through Plaça de la Reina, Pont de la Riera, and Avinguda Jaume III.
The correfoc begins 19:00 on 25 January along a fixed path, so driving visitors should plan ahead for road closures that force repositioning or reliance on public transit.
Old-town streets are narrow, so noise and sparks carry further than expected. First-timers may prefer a side street over the main corridor. If you'd rather watch than run, position yourself along Avinguda Jaume III early, since crowd density builds fast once the fire groups start moving. Past editions have reportedly drawn more than 30,000 spectators to the closing run, so claim a spot early.
- Cotton clothing only, no synthetics that can melt
- Long sleeves and long pants
- Closed shoes, not sandals
- A hat
- A scarf or bandana over the neck
- Earplugs for the fireworks noise
Getting Around Palma During the Festival
Driving into the old town is not realistic during the festival. Road closures surround the main squares for the concerts, bonfires, and the correfoc route. Parking near Plaça Major or Plaça de Cort disappears well before evening.
Use EMT Palma's bus network or walk in from a nearby neighborhood instead. Palma's own 2026 guidance for Revetla night asks attendees to move around on foot or by public transport. Sant Sebastià Petit's family-day programming already coordinates directly with EMT, EMAYA, and the Local Police, a sign of how central transit and street management are to the whole festival. Confirm current routes and any festival-specific changes on Mallorca's regional tourism site before you go.
Where to Stay: Old Town vs. Santa Catalina
Staying in the old town puts you within walking distance of Plaça Major, Plaça de Cort, and the correfoc route, useful for moving between squares quickly. Santa Catalina sits close to festival shopping and offers a quieter base, a short walk or bus ride from the main plazas. Expect noise well past midnight throughout the old town during Revetla week, since concerts in multiple squares run to 03:00.
What Sant Sebastià Actually Costs
Street events are free. Every torrada, the Revetla concerts, and the correfoc cost nothing to attend, per Palma's 2026 festival listing. A handful of indoor side-events do charge admission: the 2026 programme lists a Teatre Municipal Xesc Forteza tribute show at €12 and a Catalan-language play, Maruja Alfaro, at €8. The road race held on 18 January registers separately through an online timing platform rather than through the festival's free events, so budget for that entry fee if you plan to run.
Beyond Palma: Pairing Sant Sebastià with Other Winter Festivals
Sant Sebastià's fire theme continues across Mallorca beyond Palma's city limits. Towns including Inca, Sa Pobla, Manacor, and Artà run their own foguerons, xeremiers, and dimonis parades around 19-20 January. Two other 2026 events worth combining with a January trip are Pa amb Oli a la Fresca in Campos and the Mallorca Jazz Sa Pobla Festival.
Menorca runs a different patron-saint tradition entirely. The Sant Joan festival in Ciutadella takes place each June, with its own distinct traditions. It is documented by the Ciutadella city authority and Menorca's regional tourism board.
Mistakes to Avoid at Sant Sebastià
A few planning mistakes come up every year at Sant Sebastià. Most are avoidable with a little preparation.
Planning to attend your preferred plaza concert requires tracking start times: Plaça Major opens at 18:30, while Plaça d'Espanya and Plaça Joan Carles I start at 20:15, so arrive early or miss the opening acts.
- Wearing synthetic fabrics to the correfoc: sparks can melt them onto skin, so stick to cotton.
- Arriving late to a fogueró: the closest spots to the grill fill up fast once it's lit.
- Planning to shop on 20 January: most shops close for the public holiday in Palma.
- Assuming you can drive into the old town: road closures start hours before the first concert.
- Skipping the official programme check: 2026 events were suspended once already, so confirm current listings before you travel.
What Is the Dia de la Pesta?
The Dia de la Pesta is a satirical historical procession connected to Palma’s plague story. It is separate from the Revetla concerts and the solemn feast day.
The event recalls the 1523–1524 outbreak and the local belief that Saint Sebastian’s relic helped end it. Its theatrical approach turns that history into a public street performance rather than a religious service.
In the published 2026 programme, the procession was scheduled for 10 January at 17:30. It followed the morning festival opening at Plaça de Cort, where the Drac de na Coca was awakened.
Visitors can attend both events without crossing the city, making opening day a useful introduction to the festival’s folklore. Arrive in central Palma before the afternoon crowds build and expect temporary street restrictions around the performance area. Check the Ajuntament de Palma programme for the confirmed route and timing, since these details can change independently of later Revetla events.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Sant Sebastià in Palma in 2026?
The 2026 festival runs from 10 to 25 January. The traditional peak, the Revetla and feast day on 19-20 January, was suspended this year as a mourning gesture after a railway accident in Córdoba. Check the official Ajuntament de Palma programme for updates before your trip.
Is Sant Sebastià free to attend?
Yes, the street events are free. This includes the Revetla concerts, the public torradores, and the correfoc. A few indoor theater shows during the festival do charge admission, such as a €12 tribute show at Teatre Municipal Xesc Forteza.
What should you wear to the correfoc in Palma?
Wear cotton clothing only, since synthetic fabrics can melt from sparks. Cover up with long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes, a hat, and a scarf around your neck. Earplugs help with the fireworks noise.
How do the torrada public barbecues work?
Palma sets up grills, firewood, and sand at four squares: Plaça de Joan Carles I, Plaça Major, Plaça de Cort, and Plaça d'Espanya. You bring your own food, typically sobrassada, butifarró, or llonganissa bought earlier that day. Adapted grills are available for vegans and people with coeliac disease.
How do you get to the festival squares if you're not staying in central Palma?
Use EMT Palma's bus network or walk in, since road closures around the main squares rule out driving. Parking near Plaça Major or Plaça de Cort disappears well before the concerts start.
Why were some Sant Sebastià 2026 events suspended?
The Ajuntament de Palma suspended the 19 January Revetla and the 20 January Diada Ciclista and Premis Ciutat de Palma. This was a mourning gesture after a railway accident in Córdoba. Events before and after those two dates, including the 24 January Trobada de Gegants and the 25 January correfoc, remained on the published calendar.
