All the proposals for Easter in Catalonia 2026

Holy Week is one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar, and in Catalonia, it is observed with great devotion and tradition. This week, which culminates on Easter Monday, is filled with ceremonies and religious events that commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Holy Week , the Passion plays are celebrated, dramatic theatrical performances that recall the Gospel episodes of the life of Jesus Christ; some of the most important are the Passion of Esparreguera or the Passion of Olesa.

When is Holy Week celebrated in Catalonia in 2026 and what are the most important days?

Holy Week is celebrated from Thursday, April 2nd to Monday, April 6th, 2026. However, schools and educational centers begin their holidays a few days earlier, from Monday, March 27th to April 6th.

Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week

Holy Week celebrations in Catalonia begin on Palm Sunday with the blessing of palms and olive branches, which are taken to churches and hung in homes for protection. From then on, a week full of religious events, processions, and theatrical performances takes place. One of the most important events held on this day is the Procession of the Little Donkey in Barcelona 's Old Town (Ciutat Vella).

Although in most municipalities Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, in some municipalities of Catalonia it begins on Good Friday, which corresponds to the Friday before Palm Sunday, the celebration is dedicated to the Virgin of Sorrows.

Holy Thursday

The celebration continues with Holy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. Some important events held in Catalonia on this day include the Dance of Death in Verges and the Procession of the Mysteries in Badalona.   or the Night of Silence in Mataró.

Good Friday

One of the most significant events of Holy Week in Catalonia is the Stations of the Cross, which takes place on Good Friday. This ceremony, representing Jesus Christ's journey to the cross, is celebrated in churches and also in public places, where the faithful walk a route that simulates the Way of Calvary. Cities like Tarragona celebrate the Good Friday Procession of the Holy Burial, in which more than 4,000 people currently participate, belonging to guilds, brotherhoods, and congregations that carry the floats in this procession. The floats are preceded by the armed men who break the silence with the sound of their drums. It was declared a "Traditional Festival of National Interest" by the Generalitat of Catalonia in 1999 and reclassified in 2010 as a "Heritage Element of National Interest."

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is a day of mourning, commemorating the passion and death of Jesus Christ, and the world prepares for his resurrection. For the Catholic Church, it is a day on which no sacraments are administered.

Easter Sunday

Without a doubt, the most important event of all the demonstrations that take place during Holy Week is Easter Sunday, a day of joy that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his death and crucifixion.

Easter Monday

In Catalonia, Easter Monday, the day after Easter Sunday, marks the end of Holy Week. It is also a public holiday in Catalonia, and families gather to prepare and eat the "Mona de Pasqua," a traditional cake with chocolate as its main ingredient, which godparents give to their godchildren.

Holy Week is a unique festival that draws thousands of people to the streets. The best way to preserve this traditional celebration is by experiencing it firsthand!