November is a quieter month in Spain, with no major events on the calendar. Cities begin switching on their Christmas lights, and the calendar is split between small to mid-sized music festivals, village festivals with their own traditions and walks in the countryside.
This is the guide to what not to miss in Spain in November 2026.
November highlights
Christmas lights
In the second half of November, several Spanish cities switch on their Christmas lights. Each one has its own decorations and, often, an opening event to kick off the festive season. The tradition brings out locals and visitors, keeps the shops busy and is already part of the month's cultural calendar.
If you visit at the end of November, the streets are already decorated and you will beat the December crowds. Here are the dates when the main cities switch on their lights:
Madrid
Saturday, November 21
Barcelona
Thursday, November 26
Valencia
Late November (TBC)
Málaga
Friday, November 27
Seville
Late November (TBC)
Santiago de Compostela
Friday, November 27 (the city council is considering postponing it)
Bilbao
Late November (TBC)
Zaragoza
From November 20 (ceremony TBC)
Vigo
November (TBC)
Walks in forests and gardens
November is one of the best months for walking and visiting Spain's forests. Temperatures drop gradually and the vegetation in the mountains and natural parks takes on yellow tones before winter. The change in the landscape makes nature routes one of the most popular options of the season. The selection below brings together a few trails across several regions of the country:
- Castañar de El Tiemblo (Ávila): ancient chestnut woods, home to El Abuelo, a tree more than 500 years old.
- Vineyards of La Rioja: once the harvest is over, the vine leaves turn red, orange and gold.
- La Fageda d’en Jordà (Catalonia): a beech wood growing on the lava flow of the old Croscat volcano, in the volcanic area of La Garrotxa.
- Selva de Irati (Navarre): the second largest beech and fir forest in Europe, in the Pyrenees.
- Faedo de Ciñera (León): a small wood named Spain’s best-kept forest, with beech trees more than 500 years old.
- Somiedo Natural Park (Asturias): a Biosphere Reserve and one of the last refuges of the Cantabrian brown bear, with golden woods and glacial lakes.
For prices, access and tips for each place, see our article on autumn routes in Spain.
Music festivals
November brings small to mid-sized festivals, mostly with Spanish line-ups and a few international names.
Jazz Madrid
Music: jazz
Where: Madrid, at various venues
When: until 30 November
More information
The 2026 edition marks the centenaries of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and the line-up includes Cécile McLorin Salvant, Paquito D'Rivera and David Murray.
Jazz Palencia Festiva
Music: jazz
Where: Palencia
When: 30 October to 22 November
More information
Now in its 13th edition, with Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets, Michel Camilo and Billy Cobham among the performers.
Lion Rock Festival
Music: hard rock and AOR
Where: León
When: 7 November
More information
A festival to melodic hard rock, with both international and Spanish bands. The line-up includes Kee Marcello, Dare and Michael Schenker.
MIRA Digital Arts Festival
Music: electronic music and digital arts
Where: Barcelona
When: 6 and 7 November
More information
Now in its 15th edition, with 27 artists over two nights, including Arca, Shygirl, Tortoise, Max Cooper and Machine Girl.
Caribe Mix Festival
Music: Latin music
Where: Live Las Ventas, Madrid
When: 7 November
More information
A touring festival that also stops in Mallorca, Santander, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, bringing together artists from the Caribe Mix compilation series. Acts include Soraya, King Africa and Raúl.
Zaragoza Feliz Feliz
Music: indie and independent music, mostly Spanish
Where: Zaragoza
When: 12 to 14 November
More information
A small festival from the independent and underground scene, with 15 artists across two venues, including Cloud Nothings, Triángulo de Amor Bizarro and VVV.
Blackworks Festival Bilbao
Music: hard techno
Where: Barakaldo
When: 28 November
More information
A one-night hard techno rave from Blackworks, a brand that started in Madrid. Despite the name, it takes place in Barakaldo, in the Bilbao area, and is for over-18s only. Acts include Obscure Shape, Dexphase and 6EJOU.
Village Festivals and Curious Traditions
November has festivals all over the country, each with a tradition of its own. These are the ones we find most interesting:
Feria de Todos los Santos (Cocentaina, Alicante), 30 October to 1 November: an agricultural and livestock fair dating back to 1346, now in its 680th edition with more than 800 exhibitors. Expect farm machinery displays, horse shows and a medieval market in the Arrabal district, inspired by Islamic souks. It is recognised as a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
San Martiño and Magosto Popular (Ourense), 11 November: a celebration of St Martin’s Day with the magosto, the Galician chestnut festival. It has been a Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia since 2008 and draws people from all over the region.
Fiesta de San Martín, or Fiesta de los Humanitarios (Moreda de Aller, Asturias), 11 November: an autumn folk festival run by the Humanitarios de San Martín society and recognised as a Festival of Tourist Interest. There is a sung Mass with Asturian bagpipes, an auction of a blessed spelt loaf, a parade of decorated carts and a lunch of fabada, the Asturian bean stew.
Fiesta del Orujo (Potes, Cantabria), 13 to 15 November: a festival devoted to orujo, a strong spirit distilled from grape skins that is typical of the region. Producers distil it live in copper stills in the town and you can try it in the streets, though anything made during the festival has to be drunk there and then. Local food is part of the fun too, with cocido lebaniego (a chickpea stew), Picón cheese, music and talks. The festival has been held since 1984 and has National Tourist Interest status.
Virgen de los Pegotes (Nava del Rey, Valladolid), 30 November to 8 December: a festival in which the image of Our Lady of the Conception is carried from the chapel of Pico Zarcero to the town on the night of 30 November, in a horse-drawn carriage lit by bonfires and torches. On 8 December it goes back to the chapel, and the festival ends with local food and roast chestnuts.
