What's On

Gran Canaria has become a cosmopolitan island with numerous cultural events throughout the year, including international music, dance, theatre and cinema festivals and the many carnival celebrations, plus a long list of festive activities and religious feasts that take place all over the island. As the inhabitants of the Canary Islands are deeply devoted to tradition, the origin of some of these fiestas goes back as far as Guanche times.



The majority of these fiestas being associated with the cult of saints, in particular patron saints, or - in agricultural regions - marking the end of harvest, they are often celebrated with large and colourful processions or fancy-dress parades and some of them even last from one to three weeks. Besides much entertainment and fun for young and old, these fiestas always offer a full programme of traditional activities, folklore performances, sporting events, such as lucha canaria wrestling and stick fighting competitions, and much more.



With all these fiestas happening around the island, you would be very unlucky if you didn’t come across at least one or two while touring the island – especially if you’re coming in summer time! And if you are looking for a specific fiesta or festival, on this page find out more about some of the most important and most colourful events and when and where they are happening…

It derives from the Italian carne vale - meaning 'farewell to meat' - the idea being that this is a final excuse for feasting and frivolous behaviour before the fasting and self-denial for Lent.