Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is one of Spain’s most important religious celebrations, commemorating the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Observed across the country with public holidays, processions and ceremonies, it is a time when tradition, community and faith come together in a uniquely Spanish expression.
The dates change each year, following the Easter calendar. In 2026, Semana Santa begins on March 29th (Palm Sunday) and concludes on April 5th (Easter Sunday).
Throughout the week, schools close and many locals take time off, particularly on Maundy Thursday (April 2nd) and Good Friday (April 3rd), both public holidays in Andalucía.
Nazarenes wearing red robes and hoods lighting a candle during a nighttime Holy Week procession
The traditions of Semana Santa
As spring settles over the Costa del Sol, Marbella’s historic centre becomes the setting for a series of deeply moving processions. Streets are softly illuminated by candlelight, the air carries the scent of incense, and the slow rhythm of drums echoes through the Old Town.
Brotherhoods, known as cofradías, take to the streets in traditional robes, many wearing the recognisable pointed hoods. They accompany elaborately decorated floats, or tronos, which carry religious sculptures through carefully planned routes across the city.
While Marbella’s celebrations are intimate and atmospheric, nearby cities such as Málaga and Sevilla are known for their larger-scale processions, some continuing late into the night or beginning in the early hours of the morning.
Beyond its visual spectacle, Semana Santa remains a time of reflection and renewal, deeply rooted in Andalucía’s cultural identity. Each procession represents a different moment from the final days of Christ, giving the week a narrative rhythm that unfolds day by day.
Holy Week procession on a street in Marbella
Marbella’s programme
During Semana Santa, Marbella becomes a focal point for both residents and visitors, with processions passing through the Old Town, Marbella centre and San Pedro de Alcántara. Alongside the religious events, the city takes on a vibrant yet respectful atmosphere, with local cafés, terraces and plazas quietly filled with spectators.
The week traditionally begins with Passion Saturday (March 28th, 2026), acting as a prelude to Palm Sunday. One of the first processions typically departs from the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación in Marbella’s Old Town, weaving through emblematic locations such as Plaza de los Naranjos and surrounding historic streets before returning to the church square.
From here, each day introduces new brotherhoods, routes and processional themes, culminating in Good Friday before the more celebratory tone of Easter Sunday.
Palm Sunday procession in Marbella
Official programme for Easter Week in Marbella
• Passion Saturday: March 28, 2026
• Palm Sunday: March 29, 2026
• Holy Monday: March 30, 2026
• Holy Tuesday: March 31, 2026
• Holy Wednesday: April 1, 2026
• HolyThursday: April 2, 2026
• Good Friday: April 3, 2026
• Easter Sunday: April 5, 2026
Event times and routes may vary each year. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, including detailed itineraries, maps and procession routes across Marbella, San Pedro de Alcántara and Nueva Andalucía, we recommend consulting the official programme published by the Ayuntamiento de Marbella: https://semanasanta.marbella.es/inicio/marbella.html
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Palm Sunday procession in Marbella
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