Halloween in Spain: Traditions, Events, and How Spaniards Celebrate (2026)

We've spent a few Halloweens in Spain now, and it's not quite what you'd expect. There's less trick-or-treating and fewer lawn decorations than in the US or UK, but there's something deeper going on. Halloween here is part of a three-day celebration that blends imported fun with centuries-old traditions for honouring the dead.

While Spain doesn't go all out with Halloween like America does, it's definitely growing in popularity, especially in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. You'll see costume parties in clubs and themed events at theme parks, but you'll also find families gathering at cemeteries to remember their loved ones with flowers, food, and quiet reflection.

This guide covers everything about Halloween in Spain: the traditions, the regional differences, the traditional foods you should try, and where to find the best events if you're visiting.

The Three Days of Halloween in Spain

Halloween in Spain isn't just October 31st. It's a three-day celebration with distinct traditions for each day.

All Saints' Day (November 1) is a national public holiday in Spain.

Schools, banks, and most businesses close. Large supermarkets switch to reduced hours, and smaller shops typically don't open at all.

How Do Spaniards Celebrate Halloween?

Costumes Are Scarier Than Cute

Forget the cutesy pumpkin outfits.

In Spain, the scarier the costume, the better. Zombies, ghosts, witches, and anything straight out of a horror film are the norm. Spanish Halloween leans into the macabre rather than the family-friendly.

Nightlife and Parties

Spaniards love a good fiesta, and Halloween is no exception.

Cities host massive costume parties, themed club nights, and parades. Madrid and Barcelona are particularly busy, with clubs in neighbourhoods like Malasana, Chueca, and the Gothic Quarter packed with costumed revellers.

Halloween falls on a Friday in 2025, creating a long weekend with the November 1 holiday on Saturday. Expect the parties to be even bigger than usual.

The Heart of It: Dia de Todos los Santos

The real tradition happens on November 1st.

Families visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of loved ones, bringing fresh flowers (especially chrysanthemums), candles, and sometimes food. It's a solemn but celebratory day, and many families spend hours at the cemetery, even bringing picnics.

You'll notice florists everywhere in the days before November 1st, with streets lined with flower stalls selling chrysanthemums and arrangements specifically for graves.

Regional Halloween Traditions

Different parts of Spain celebrate in different ways, with some regions having centuries-old traditions predating modern Halloween.

Galicia: Noite dos Calacus

Galicia, in northwestern Spain, has Celtic roots that predate the Roman era. Their Halloween tradition, Noite dos Calacus (Night of the Pumpkins), includes ghost stories, pumpkin carving, and ancestral rituals.

The legend of the Santa Compana adds a haunting element.

This is a ghostly procession said to roam the Galician countryside, foretelling death to those who encounter it. On Halloween night, locals gather to share stories of these supernatural beings.

Catalonia: La Castañada

In Catalonia, the night of October 31st is dedicated to La Castañada. Families gather to roast chestnuts (castanyas) and sweet potatoes over open fires, drink sweet Moscatel wine, and eat panellets (traditional marzipan sweets).

Street vendors selling roasted chestnuts appear throughout Barcelona and other Catalan cities. The smell of roasting chestnuts is one of autumn's most distinctive scents in this region.

Andalusia: Community Celebrations

In Andalusia, Dia de Todos los Santos combines remembrance with community celebration. Local festivals feature parades, music, and traditional dances that blend the solemn with the festive.

Basque Country and Northern Spain

In the Basque Country, Asturias, and Cantabria, ancient Celtic traditions influence local celebrations. These regions share Galicia's connection to pre-Christian rituals, with bonfires, storytelling, and foods like roasted chestnuts.

Traditional Halloween Foods in Spain

Spanish Halloween has its own traditional foods, none of which involve candy corn.

Huesos de Santo (Saint's Bones)

These marzipan tubes filled with sweet egg yolk cream are shaped to resemble bones.

They appear in bakeries and pastry shops throughout Spain in late October. The name and shape are deliberately macabre, fitting the theme of honouring the dead.

Panellets

Catalonia's signature All Saints' treat, panellets are small, dense sweets made from almonds, sugar, and egg. The most traditional version is covered in pine nuts, but modern bakeries offer chocolate, coconut, coffee, and fruit-flavoured variations.

Buñuelos de Viento

These light, airy doughnuts are "wind-filled" with air pockets, then stuffed with custard, cream, or chocolate. They're popular in Madrid and southern Spain, and bakeries sell them by the dozen during the Halloween season.

Halloween Events in Spain

Madrid

Madrid transforms for Halloween, with events ranging from family-friendly to adults-only horror experiences.

Theme Parks:

• Parque de Atracciones (Casa de Campo): Halloween hub from late September to early November with multiple scare zones
• Parque Warner (San Martin de la Vega): "Scary Nights" on select October dates, adults-only events until 3am (5am on Halloween night)

City Events:

• Halloween Pub Crawl: Starting in Plaza Mayor, costume-required bar hopping
• Anden 0 (Platform 0): Free themed tours of an abandoned metro station, with actors performing spooky scenes (registration required)
• Casa de Mexico: Dia de los Muertos events including workshops, film screenings, and an impressive Altar de Muertos

Nightlife Districts:

• Malasana, Chueca, Sol/Gran Via, and Lavapies host costumed pub nights, drag shows, and ticketed parties

Barcelona

Barcelona's Halloween scene combines Catalan traditions with modern celebrations.

Theme Parks:

• Poble Espanyol: Family-friendly Halloween events from mid-October through early November, including a tunnel of terror, costume contests, and a "haunted" cemetery
• PortAventura World (near Tarragona): Halloween celebrations from late September through mid-November

Local Events:

• Sitges Zombie Walk: One of Spain's most famous Halloween street events, held the second Saturday of October. Makeup sessions run from noon, with the parade starting around 8pm through Sitges' seaside streets
• La Castañada: Roasted chestnut vendors and panellet stalls throughout the city
• Ruta de Altares: Mexican-influenced Dia de los Muertos altar displays in bars, restaurants, and galleries

Valencia

Valencia offers a more compact celebration with walkable nightlife and family programming.

Areas:

• Ruzafa and El Carmen: Walkable neighbourhoods with bar crawls and costume parties
• Museums and cultural centres: Family-friendly programming and workshops

November 1st in Valencia (called Tots Sants in Valencian) is calmer, perfect for cemetery visits and finding chestnut vendors.

Trick-or-Treating in Spain

Trick-or-treating exists in Spain, but it's far less common than in the US or UK. Some residential areas in suburban Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia organise community trick-or-treating, with participating houses marked on local maps.

In most areas, children are more likely to attend school Halloween parties or family gatherings than go door-to-door. If you're hoping for traditional trick-or-treating, check with expat communities or local Facebook groups for organised events.

Tips for Celebrating Halloween in Spain

What to Expect

• October 31: Costume parties, themed events, busy nightlife
• November 1: Quiet, reflective day; many closures; cemetery visits
• November 2: Normal business resumes; some religious services continue

What to Pack

If you're visiting specifically for Halloween:

• A costume (scary preferred, not cute)
• Comfortable shoes for pub crawls and walking
• Warm layers (late October nights can be cool)
• Cash for street vendors and small bars

Spanish Horror Films to Watch

Spain has a rich tradition of horror cinema. If you want to get into the spirit, watch some classic Spanish horror films:

Some Spanish cinemas host screenings of classic horror films on Halloween night.

FAQ