Andalusia is one of the autonomous communities with the greatest number of popular festivals. And many of them receive the highest distinction, protection, and promotion from institutions. In this post, we present the 10 Festivals of International Tourist Interest in Andalusia, which you can mark in your personal calendar to plan an entire trip around any one of them.
What is a Festival of International Tourist Interest?
This is the highest distinction awarded by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade to a popular festival. To this end, its cultural value and ethnographic characteristics are taken into account; these must be historical and representative of the place. Its tourism potential is also assessed, so it could be considered a local equivalent of UNESCO’s designation of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, although in this case it is linked to a specific date of celebration.
Its name suggests an idea: the Festivals of International Tourist Interest in Andalusia have the ability, on their own, to attract travellers from other countries. Below them are those declared of National and Regional Tourist Interest, with the same spirit but with a more limited power of attraction for Spanish or local visitors, respectively.
The 10 Festivals of International Tourist Interest in Andalusia
The 10 Festivals of International Tourist Interest in Andalusia are very diverse, both thematically and geographically. Here is the list of all of them, according to the date on which they were designated as such:
- Carnivals of Cádiz: 1980. During Carnival days, therefore on variable dates in February and March
- Pilgrimage of El Rocío, Almonte (Huelva): 1980. On the night from Pentecost Sunday to Monday (50 days after Holy Week), with events before and after that day
- Jerez de la Frontera Horse Fair (Cádiz): 1980. One week after Seville’s April Fair, to avoid coinciding with it
- Seville April Fair: 1980. One or two weeks after Holy Week
- Holy Week in Málaga: 1980. On variable dates, between mid-March and mid-April
- Holy Week in Seville: 1980. On variable dates, between mid-March and mid-April
- Jerez de la Frontera Grape Harvest Festival (Cádiz): 1980. At the beginning of autumn, usually in the second half of September
- Sanlúcar de Barrameda Horse Races (Cádiz): 1997. At the end of August
- Holy Week in Granada: 2007. On variable dates, between mid-March and mid-April
- El Cascamorras of Baza and Guadix (Granada): 2013. At the beginning of September
If you would like to experience any of these 10 Festivals of International Tourist Interest, Andalucía Exclusiva can help you organise your trip. We can provide accommodation, transport, and any other bespoke service so that you can attend under the best possible conditions. Please note that, on their celebration dates, attendance is very high, so it is advisable to plan all the details of the trip well in advance. Contact us, and we will make sure you enjoy the experience to the fullest!
