Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is an important religious celebration in Spain, which commemorates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and is observed with a public holiday, series of ceremonies, traditional processions and community events.
The dates for Semana Santa vary each year as they are linked to Easter. This year, 2025, the celebrations start on April 13th (Palm Sunday) and run until April 20th (Easter Sunday). The Holy Week always lasts for 7 days, starting and ending on a Sunday.
During this week, children are usually off school and many locals enjoy time off on Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo) which falls on April 17th this year and the following day April 18th which is Good Friday (Viernes Santo).
As spring unfolds across the Costa del Sol, Marbella prepares for one of the most profound and atmospheric events of the year: Semana Santa. During this sacred week, the city’s historic streets are transformed into open-air theatres of devotion, where the air is filled with the scent of incense, the solemn beat of drums, and the soft flicker of candlelight. Whether you're strolling through the Old Town or watching a procession pass beneath a starlit sky, the experience is both deeply moving and uniquely Andalusian.
Nazarenes wearing red robes and hoods lighting a candle during a nighttime Holy Week procession
During Semana Santa, the streets of Marbella come alive with processions that have been an integral part of the city's culture for many years. Participants, often members of local brotherhoods, wear traditional robes and carry candles as they walk through the streets, accompanied by brass bands and impressive floats displaying religious images. While Marbella offers its own distinctive celebrations, some of the most elaborate processions can be found in cities such as Málaga or Sevilla, where parades may begin at dawn and continue into the early hours of the following day.
Holy Week procession on a street in Marbella
The Holy Week holds significant cultural meaning as a time for reflection and religious observance. For many, it provides an opportunity to contemplate themes of sacrifice and renewal. The events of the week serve as a reminder of Spain's deep-rooted Catholic traditions and foster a sense of community, with each city showcasing its own unique ceremonies and customs, each day featuring a different procession representing a distinct moment from Jesus’s final days on earth.
Marbella’s programme
During Semana Santa, Marbella becomes a gathering place to watch the processions and participate in community events. Alongside the religious ceremonies, there are street performances and markets where foods and crafts are available.
Palm Sunday procession in Marbella
Starting on April 12th “Passion Saturday” as the prelude to Palm Sunday, Marbella will have its first procession starting at 6:30p.m., led by The Brotherhood of Our Lady of Bitterness and Saint Anthony of Padua. The procession route will start from the main church in Old Town: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, as the brothers make their passage through the historic streets, heading into several squares such as the Plaza de Los Naranjos and Plaza Puente de Ronda, before ending in the church square.
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Palm Sunday procession in Marbella
Official programme for Easter Week in Marbella
Passion Saturday: April 12, 2025
Palm Sunday: April 13, 2025
Holy Monday: April 14, 2025
Holy Tuesday: April 15, 2025
Holy Wednesday: April 16, 2025
Holy Thursday: April 17, 2025
Good Friday: April 18, 2025
Easter Sunday: April 20, 2025
Event times can be subject to change. To keep up to date we recommend visiting the official website of the Ayuntamiento de Marbella: Official programme for Easter Week in Marbella where you will find the full programme of events taking place in Marbella centre, San Pedro de Alcántara and Nueva Andalucía. This website is excellent and has stacks of information, maps, starting times historical background and more.
For those considering a move to Marbella, Holy Week offers a powerful glimpse into the heart of local tradition, community, and faith — as well as an excellent opportunity to discover why Easter is the perfect time to buy property in Marbella.
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