Vitoria Events Calendar: Discover the City’s Upcoming Events

The events calendar in Vitoria-Gasteiz proves that any time of year can be a great opportunity to discover the city. Music festivals, sporting competitions, conferences, local festivities and major cultural events fill the calendar and provide the perfect excuse to plan a getaway.

Some travellers come to Vitoria specifically to attend one of these events, while others discover them once they arrive and decide to include them in their plans. In this guide, we’ve brought together the main events still to come in 2026, as well as some of the city’s recurring annual highlights worth keeping in mind when planning a trip for 2027.

Vitoria-Gasteiz Events Calendar: Highlights for 2026

Vitoria’s programme of events is constantly changing, so it is always worth checking the cultural calendar before travelling. Knowing what is happening in advance not only helps you organise your stay, but also allows you to book accommodation early when your trip coincides with one of the city’s most popular events.

Some of the main events scheduled for the final months of 2026 include:

• FesTVal | 7–12 September: Vitoria-Gasteiz’s Television Festival brings together premieres, audiovisual industry professionals and some of the best-known faces on Spanish television.
• Magialdia | 14–20 September: the International Magic Festival fills different venues around the city with illusion and magic shows featuring performers from numerous countries.
• Medieval Market | 25–27 September: for one weekend, Vitoria’s Medieval Quarter travels back in time with craft stalls, food and activities filling its historic streets.
• International Theatre Festival | 25 September–13 December: the 2026 edition brings together dozens of theatre, dance and circus performances, alongside new forms of performing arts.
• Ardoaraba | December: one of the city’s most eagerly awaited gastronomic events, perfect for discovering Rioja Alavesa wines accompanied by pintxos and local produce.

If you are travelling specifically to attend any of these events in Vitoria, always check the official programme before your trip, as schedules, venues and activities may be subject to change.

Events That Shape Vitoria’s Calendar Every Year

Beyond the upcoming events, Vitoria has several established celebrations that form part of the city’s identity and attract thousands of visitors every year. If you are already thinking about a getaway in 2027, these are well worth keeping on your radar, even though the exact dates of some editions have yet to be confirmed.

Virgen Blanca Festivities

Every August, Vitoria celebrates its biggest festivities with the Virgen Blanca Festival, the city’s most important celebration. The traditional Descent of Celedón marks the beginning of several days filled with concerts, popular activities, parades and entertainment for all ages.

During these days, the streets of the city centre are buzzing with activity from early in the morning and visitor numbers increase considerably. If you want to experience Vitoria at its most festive, this is one of the best times to visit, although booking accommodation well in advance is highly recommended.

Azkena Rock Festival

The Azkena Rock Festival has established itself as one of Spain’s leading rock festivals, turning Vitoria into a meeting point for music fans from around the world every summer. Usually held at Mendizabala, the festival combines major international artists with cult bands and emerging talent. Over the years, some of rock music’s most iconic artists and bands have performed on its stages, helping the festival develop a distinctive identity and a loyal audience.

During the festival, the atmosphere extends far beyond the venue and can be felt in the bars, terraces and streets of the city centre, making it one of Vitoria’s busiest weekends of the summer.

Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival

Another of the city’s major musical events is the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, considered one of Europe’s most important jazz festivals. Every summer, it brings together international stars and emerging talent at venues such as Mendizorrotza and the Europa Conference Centre. In 2026, for example, the line-up included artists such as Rubén Blades, Snarky Puppy, Sun Ra Arkestra, Take 6 and The Bad Plus.

The programme is complemented by other activities that bring jazz to different parts of the city. It is an especially appealing event for travellers looking to combine live music, gastronomy and a cultural city break in Vitoria.

KaldeArte

KaldeArte transforms Vitoria’s streets and squares into large open-air stages. Theatre, dance, circus, music and visual arts form part of a programme that invites visitors to explore the city while coming across performances around almost every corner.

Many of the activities are free and suitable for all ages, making this one of the most interesting events for families and anyone looking for a different cultural experience during a weekend in Vitoria.

Martín Fiz Marathon

The Martín Fiz Marathon is another major sporting event on Vitoria’s calendar. Every year, the race welcomes runners of different levels and offers several distances, making it accessible to both experienced athletes and amateur runners.

Beyond the competition itself, the event is the perfect opportunity to combine sport and sightseeing, discovering a city that is particularly easy to explore on foot and surrounded by numerous green spaces.

Europa Conference Centre: Conferences and Events in Vitoria-Gasteiz

Not every trip to Vitoria is purely for leisure. The Europa Conference Centre is one of the city’s main professional and cultural venues and welcomes visitors throughout the year for conferences, business events, trade fairs and shows.

Its location on Avenida Gasteiz, very close to the city centre, makes it easy to combine a professional event with a visit to the Medieval Quarter, a gastronomic route or a walk through Vitoria’s green spaces.

Conferences and Professional Fairs in Vitoria

The Europa Conference Centre hosts national and international conferences, corporate conventions, technical seminars and meetings related to sectors such as innovation, sustainability, education, healthcare and employment.

Among the events held at the venue is Empleo Gune, the Vitoria-Gasteiz Employment Forum, which in 2026 brought together nearly one hundred companies and organisations and offered more than 750 job opportunities.

For business travellers, staying in a well-connected location makes it easier to reduce travel times and make the most of the breaks between sessions. Free time can also be used to discover Vitoria’s gastronomy, museums and some of the city’s most iconic spots.

If, in addition to attending a conference, you are thinking about organising a meeting, presentation or professional event, you can check out our guide on how to organise a corporate event in Vitoria, where you will find planning tips and information about the different business spaces available at Kora Green City.

Concerts and Shows at the Europa Conference Centre

The Europa Conference Centre is not exclusively dedicated to conferences. Its programme also includes concerts, dance performances, talks and a variety of cultural events open to the public. For this reason, it is worth checking the official programme before travelling. A trip originally planned for business might end up including an unexpected concert or show.

Where to Stay When Travelling to an Event in Vitoria

When travelling for a festival, conference or sporting competition, staying somewhere with good connections can make the entire experience much easier. Being able to travel conveniently to the city centre and the main venues means you do not have to rely constantly on a car and can make better use of your time.

Kora Green City combines the comfort of an eco-friendly aparthotel with services that are particularly useful for this type of stay. Its studios and apartments feature fully equipped kitchens and spacious interiors, as well as a breakfast buffet, bicycle rental, Cinemax and a terrace with a swimming pool.

Its location makes it easy to reach central Vitoria and connect with many of the venues where the city’s main events take place. Book your stay at Kora Green City and organise your trip to Vitoria with complete flexibility.

Tips for Enjoying Events in Vitoria

Major festivals, conferences and sporting competitions attract thousands of visitors to Vitoria every year, so planning ahead can make the difference between an improvised getaway and a much more comfortable experience.

• Book your accommodation in advance: during La Blanca, Azkena Rock, the Jazz Festival, IRONMAN and major conferences, availability can decrease quickly.
• Buy your tickets before travelling: some concerts and shows may sell out several weeks before the event.
• Always check the official programme: schedules, venues and activities may change as the event approaches.
• Walk, cycle or use public transport: many venues are well connected to the city centre, helping you avoid traffic and parking problems.
• Make the most of your free time: explore the Medieval Quarter, discover the Green Belt, visit museums or enjoy a pintxos route.
• Complete your getaway with other plans: if you are staying for several days, take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area or discover Vitoria with our guide to what to see in Vitoria in two days.

Ultimately, checking the Vitoria events calendar before travelling can help you not only choose the best dates for your getaway, but also discover a city that changes its rhythm with every festival, concert and event. Culture, music, sport and gastronomy fill the calendar throughout the year, always offering a different reason to return.