Seville Events

Seville is the birthplace of flamenco and bullfighting – both known to be important cultural arts in Spain. Although bullfighting is a rather controversial subject these days, it is still very much alive in today’s world. To catch a match, the best time to do so is during the bullfighting season. It begins at the end of Semana Santa on the Resurrection Sunday and continues through to the Feria de Abril after which there are less frequent fights. The season only comes to an end in July although you can still catch some in September and October. Tickets are sold at the Plaza de Toros and ticket outlets along Calle Tetuan.

As a religious festival only celebrated in Seville, Granada and Toledo, the Corpus Christi involves a series of processions and fairs. Although the festival has got religious roots, it is seen in a more casual light these days. In Seville, procession participants carry figures of Seville´s patron saints into the Cathedral. This festival carries less importance than Semana Santa and is usually celebrated over a day or weekend.

Held in the characteristic district of Triana, this religious lights festival is celebrated in honour of its patron virgin, Santa Ana. Dating back to the 13th century, Velá de Santa Ana has been celebrated every July with elaborated street lightings and musical performances. The elaborated lightings begin at el Pregón, through the Isabel II Bridge until the Plaza del Altozano. Along the busiest street in Seville, Calle Betis, square tents are set up with plenty of beer and food on sale. The celebrations culminate on 26 July, when massive fireworks light up the skies at midnight, signifying the end of the festival.

Established in 1980, the Seville Biennial has taken place every two years ever since, setting the benchmark for achievement in the fields of flamenco dance, guitar and singing (respectively: "baile", "toque" and "cante"). The artists who perform here are the best around. Flamenco lovers flock to the city for the festival, which takes place in a number of different venues, including some outdoors. Past performers have included Lope de Vega with Jose de la Tomasa, Diego Clavel, La Tobala, Nano de Jerez y Concha Vargas, the Canta Jerez with El Capullo, El Torta, Fernando de la Morena, Jose Mendez and Mercedes Ruiz, and many other outstanding performers.

Seville has long claimed fame to having the biggest Semana Santa celebrations: grand processions, massive street parades and ceremonies in the Cathedral. During the week leading up to Easter, there are over 60 processions taking place throughout the city centre. These processions, also known as pasos, feature brotherhoods dressed in robes and hoods carrying giant sculptures of Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ along the streets. The highlight of the celebrations is on the night of Holy Thursday, when all the processions end in the Cathedral.

In Spain, it is a tradition for every city (or town) to hold its own fair (feria). As Seville is a stronghold of traditions, its fair is also known to be one of the biggest and fanciest in the whole of Spain. Every April, the city comes alive as locals get dressed in traditional polka-dotted dresses and head out to the fields of Los Remedios neighbourhood for a week of fun. The fair is essentially made up of rows of casetas or square tents that act as temporary restaurants, bars and arcades.