Maritime Holy Week of Valencia
From March 27 to April 5, 2026. Festivity declared of Tourist Interest
Many Spanish cities celebrate Holy Week with moving processions of international fame, such as those in Seville, or massive drum rolls like in Calanda. In Valencia, Holy Week has a different flavor: a flavor of the sea. Although less known abroad, the celebration of the Maritime Holy Week in Valencia surprises those who witness it with its passion, creativity, and also good humor. Are you in?
With the embers of the Fallas still smoking, Valencians prepare for the next festivities, especially in the neighborhoods of Cabañal, Canyamelar, and Grao, where the Maritime Holy Week is celebrated. These are ancient fishing and seafaring villages that, despite joining the large metropolis of Valencia, have preserved their identity and unique traditions.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE MARITIME HOLY WEEK
Palm Sunday. Palm Procession, March 29.
The Palm Procession commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. This procession begins at 10:00 and lasts two and a half hours, with very emotional moments such as the blessing of the palms in Plaza de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles.
Justo Vilar Street
Holy Thursday. Torch Procession, April 2.
On the night of Holy Thursday, starting at 20:00 and continuing past midnight, visits to the Holy Monuments take place accompanied by kettledrums and drums. Afterwards, the streets fill with candles in different processions of silence and reflection. At 23:45 the Torch Procession begins.
José Benlliure Street
Good Friday. Holy Burial Procession, April 3.
The first important event takes place on Las Arenas beach starting at 08:00, with a tribute to the victims of the sea. At 18:30 the most important procession of the Maritime Holy Week begins: the Holy Burial procession, which lasts five hours and passes through all the streets of the maritime districts.
Las Arenas Beach and Calle de la Reina
Easter Sunday, April 5.
From 13:00 the Resurrection parade begins, a very colorful procession with a constant shower of flowers thrown by the previously silent audience, now applauding and cheering.
Mediterráneo Avenue
HOW TO GET THERE
El Cabanyal-El Canyamelar, València, Spain
UNIQUE TRADITIONS
These are some of the unique traditions that make Easter in Valencia different:
Christ on the beach
Watch out if you are sunbathing on the Malvarrosa beach on Good Friday. You may suddenly be “invaded” by a procession carrying a statue of the Christ to the sea. For fishermen, the sea means life, and also death, and that is why they come here at Easter to offer their prayers for those who died at sea and peace around the world. In moving scenes, locals will throw wreaths and flowers onto the sea.
Saints at home
The sea is not the only unusual place where you will find religious statues at Easter. You will see them in people’s houses too! These are members of the 30 cofradías or brotherhoods, who take pride in turning their home into a temporary chapel in honour of a saint or a specific moment in the Passion of the Christ. On Maundy Thursday a procession accompanied by incessant drumming visits all these locations.
Time to dress up
You may be familiar with the image of hooded penitents in Spanish Easter processions. You will see them in Valencia too, but also Roman legionnaires, crusaders, French soldiers and people, young and old, dressed as biblical characters. Lazarus carrying his bandages, Mary Magdalene with a pot of perfume, Judith with a severed head on a tray… they will all parade through the streets on the main procession on Good Friday.
Celebrate with a bang
At midnight on Saturday, the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection begins with a bang…or two! Fireworks mark the start of the party, but there is extra noise as locals throw old pots and crockery from their balconies onto the streets – watch out as they may throw water too! Out with the old, in with the new, that is the significance of this peculiar trencà dels perols tradition. The final Easter Sunday parade is also a joyous one, where the penitents take off their hoods and throw flowers to the public instead.
In between processions, you will see the locals – probably still in their costumes – enjoying a drink on one of the many terraces. Make sure you join them too or replenish your energy with a paella at Casa Carmela or some delicious tapas at Casa Montaña. And if you fancy something sweet, Easter is the time to enjoy the traditional mona de Pascua (cake with a hard-boiled or chocolate egg) or a panquemao (fluffy sponge cakes with a slightly burnt crust). Then head to the beach and sit in the sun… until the next procession!
