The St James Festival (Festas do Apóstolo) takes place in Santiago de Compostela every year in the last two weeks of July, culminating on July 25th — St James’ Day and Galicia’s National Day. The highlight is the fireworks display projected onto the cathedral facade on the night of July 24th. On July 25th, the cathedral hosts a High Mass usually attended by the Spanish Royal Family, and the famous Botafumeiro swings through the nave. The festival closes with fireworks on July 31st.
If you are walking the Camino de Santiago and planning to arrive in Santiago de Compostela in July, aim to arrive before July 25th and stay for a few days. This is one of the most extraordinary celebrations in Spain — and one of the most meaningful moments of any Camino pilgrimage. For a full overview of festivals and events along the Camino routes throughout the year, see our Camino festivals and events calendar. In Holy Year 2027, when St James’ Day falls on a Sunday, the celebrations will be exceptional. For timing advice, see our guide on when to walk the Camino in Holy Year 2027 and our best time to walk the Camino guide.
What is the St James Festival?
The St James Festival — known in Galician as the Festas do Apóstolo — is the annual celebration of Saint James, patron saint of Santiago de Compostela and Galicia. It combines religious tradition with contemporary culture: free concerts by major artists, traditional Galician music and dance, theatre, exhibitions and street entertainment fill the old town and its main squares for two weeks every July.
July 25th is also Galicia’s National Day — a public holiday in the region since 1979, though its origins go back to 1919. On this day, Galicians from across the region travel to Santiago to celebrate their language, culture and identity alongside pilgrims arriving from every corner of the world. The result is one of the most vibrant and emotionally charged days on the Camino calendar.
Key Events of the St James Festival
July 24th — Eve of St James’ Day: The Fireworks
The most spectacular event of the festival takes place at midnight on July 24th, when locals and visitors gather in the Praza do Obradoiro for the traditional fireworks and light display projected onto the facade of Santiago Cathedral. It is one of the most breathtaking sights in Galicia — and for pilgrims who have just completed the Camino, an unforgettable way to mark their arrival.
July 25th — St James’ Day: The High Mass
On the morning of July 25th, Santiago Cathedral hosts its solemn High Mass — usually attended by the King of Spain or a member of the Spanish Royal Family. This is one of the special occasions when the famous Botafumeiro swings through the cathedral nave — a giant silver incense burner weighing 53kg, operated by eight attendants. Watching the Botafumeiro in full swing is one of the most moving experiences the Camino offers, and on St James’ Day it carries an additional weight that is hard to describe.
Throughout July — Cultural Programme
The two weeks surrounding St James’ Day are filled with free concerts by major artists, traditional Galician music and dance performances, theatre, exhibitions and cultural events across the old town. The full programme is published annually on the Santiago Turismo website — check there for the current year’s schedule. For other festivals and events along the Camino routes throughout the year, see our Camino festivals and events calendar.
July 31st — Closing Fireworks
The festival officially closes on July 31st with a final fireworks display, marking the end of the most celebrated fortnight on the Galician calendar.
St James’ Day in Holy Year 2027
When St James’ Day falls on a Sunday, the year is declared a Holy Year — the Ano Xacobeo. The next Holy Year is 2027, and the St James’ Day celebrations that year will be extraordinary. The Holy Door of Santiago Cathedral will be open throughout the year, pilgrim numbers are expected to break all records and the July 25th celebrations will draw pilgrims and visitors from across the world in numbers not seen in a generation.
If attending St James’ Day 2027 is on your Camino bucket list, book your accommodation in Santiago as early as possible — it will be one of the most in-demand dates in Europe that year.
Planning Your Visit Around St James’ Day
If you are walking the Camino and want to arrive in Santiago for the festival, plan your itinerary to arrive on or before July 23rd — giving yourself time to collect your Compostela, settle in and enjoy the eve of the celebrations without rushing.
See our guides on what to do in Santiago de Compostela after you arrive and how to plan your Camino stages to time your arrival perfectly. Our Camino Planner allows you to build your itinerary around your preferred arrival date.
Plan your Camino to arrive for St James’ Day | Contact our team
FAQs
St James’ Day — July 25th — is the feast day of Saint James the Apostle, whose remains are said to be buried in Santiago Cathedral. Saint James is the patron saint of Santiago de Compostela and Galicia, and July 25th is also Galicia’s National Day. The combination of religious significance, regional identity and the annual arrival of thousands of pilgrims makes it one of the most celebrated days in Spain.
On July 25th, Santiago Cathedral hosts a solemn High Mass usually attended by the King of Spain or a member of the Royal Family. The Botafumeiro swings through the cathedral nave during the Mass. The city is filled with music, cultural events and celebrations throughout the day, and the Praza do Obradoiro is packed with pilgrims and visitors from across the world.
On the night of July 24th at midnight, the traditional fireworks and light display is projected onto the facade of Santiago Cathedral in the Praza do Obradoiro. It is one of the most spectacular events of the festival and one of the most photographed moments in Galicia. Arrive early to get a good position in the square.
The Botafumeiro is the enormous silver incense burner that hangs from the ceiling of Santiago Cathedral and swings dramatically through the nave during certain Masses. It weighs 53kg and requires eight attendants to operate. It swings on St James’ Day and on other special occasions — check the cathedral’s official schedule for confirmed dates and times.
The Festas do Apóstolo begins in mid-July and runs for approximately two weeks, culminating with closing fireworks on July 31st. The peak days are July 24th (eve fireworks) and July 25th (St James’ Day itself).
Yes. July 25th has been an official public holiday in Galicia since 1979. Banks, government offices and many businesses close. The city of Santiago de Compostela is at its most festive and most crowded on this day.
If you want to experience the fireworks on July 24th and the High Mass on July 25th, plan to arrive in Santiago by July 23rd at the latest. Book your accommodation in Santiago well in advance — particularly for Holy Year 2027 when demand will be exceptional. Use our Camino Planner to build your itinerary around your preferred arrival date.
The complete festival programme is published annually on the Santiago Turismo website. Check there for confirmed concert dates, cultural events and the full schedule for the current year. For other Camino festivals throughout the year, see our Camino festivals and events calendar.
