Summer festivities 2025 in Bizkaia

From now until late October, towns along the coast, in the mountains, and in the valleys —both rural and urban— celebrate their local festivities. They are all fun and entertaining

Localities on the coast and inland Biscay celebrate their patronal holiday during the summer period. There are plenty of concerts, pilgrimages, sporting events such as cycle races, regattas of “traineras”, “pelota mano”, “pala” or “cesta”, exhibitions of traditional sports (“herri kirolak”), street theatre, markets of loca products, gastronomic competitions and other events. All in all, great vibes and thousands of people looking forward to celebrating life. Just get into the spirit

All in all, great vibes and thousands of people looking forward to celebrating life. Let yourself flow with it.

Local festivals begin to spread in Biscay from the end of June onwards. Each town, district or neighbourhood has its own festival, with its own pride and joy. However, some of the most popular are the following.

Santurtzi

In mid-July, Santurtzi celebrates the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of seafarers.

On July 16th each year, the oldest and most traditional seafaring procession on the Basque coast takes place.

Barakaldo

Barakaldo, the second most populated city in Biscay, also honours Carmen.

Its free concerts bring together thousands of young people.

Getxo

Getxo’s festive calendar is full of numerous celebrations.

• Santa Ana is celebrated in Las Arenas around 20 July.
• San Ignacio in Algorta around 29 July.
• Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles in Romo between 1 and 5 August.
• The International Paella Competition, which takes place in the Aixerrota meadows, will be held on 25 July.
• The unique Puerto Viejo, where kalimotxo (a drink consisting of coke and red wine) was invented, wears the arrantzale shirt (the blue shirt the fishermen used to wear) in the second week of August.

Bermeo, Mundaka y Elantxobe

The Madalenas are a highlight of the Basque Country’s calendar. Every 22nd July Bermeo, Mundaka and Elantxobe carry on a tradition that certifies that the Island of Izaro belongs to Bermeo.

The 24-hour fiesta takes place at sea and in each of the three ports. It is the Sanfermines of the sea, with waves and water buckets instead of bulls.

Gernika

In mid-August, Gernika hosts the Gernika festivities.

Spectacular games of cesta punta, oxen trials, stone-lifting and log-cutting, as well as concerts and other events light up the night in Gernika.

Lekeitio

Lekeitio celebrates the first week of September with its famous geese challenge, which takes place on 2nd September, the day of San Antolin. Groups of young people row in their txalupas to the spot where, for many years now, a goose has been hanging from a towrope. The aim is for one of them to hold onto the goose’s neck while the cable rises from the port’s water to a height of several metres and then falls back down again.

This tradition dates back more than three and a half centuries.

Lezama, Lanestosa, Dima, Otxandiano, Fruiz y Bermeo

From the first week of September onwards, for example, the Virgin is worshipped in Lezama, Lanestosa, Dima, Otxandiano and Fruiz. And Santa Eufemia, in Bermeo.

Aste Nagusia 2025 en Bilbao

Bilbao will celebrate Aste Nagusia 2025 from 16 to 24 August. Aste Nagusia is Bilbao’s main celebration, as well as one of the biggest in the peninsula. It lasts nine days, beginning on the Saturday after the Feast of the Virgin of Begoña, the town’s patron saint. The programme, most of which is free, runs practically 24 hours a day.

The festivities get underway with the launch of the ‘txupinazo’ from the balcony of the Arriaga Theatre under the protection of Mari Jaia, the smiling female genius of the festival.

The Arenal, Casco Viejo, Plaza Nueva, a large part of Paseo de Uribitarte, Jardines de Albia, Doña Casilda Park and the whole city centre come alive for the long-awaited Aste Nagusia. Theatre, bullfighting, concerts, children’s activities, pilgrimages, dancing, parades and cultural and gastronomic events of all kinds take over daily life, as do the endless proposals of Bilboko Konpartsak.

Hotels and other private entities also contribute to the programme of festivities Don’t miss Aste Nagusia. Go and paint the town red in Aste Nagusia!

Since 2009, Aste Nagusia has been one of Spain’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Treasures.