From a large number of festivals to the clocks going again, the brand new EES system for travellers and driving check adjustments, here is what is going on on in Spain in October 2025.
Festivals
October is one other month full of festivals in Spain (which month isn’t?). One of the largest celebrations is the Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza round October twelfth. There’s a complete host of actions deliberate together with a mass floral providing, processions and fireworks. Then from October 4th – twelfth the Galician metropolis of Lugo celebrates the Fiestas de San Froilán, a pageant of conventional Galician tradition. Another pageant in Galicia this month is the O Grove Seafood Festival from the 2nd to the twelfth. And, on the theme of meals, Consuegra’s Saffron Rose Festival additionally takes place this month in Castilla-La Mancha. In Crevillant in Valencia, the Moors and Christians Festival additionally takes place on October 4th and fifth.
Of course this the month of Halloween too, and whereas Spain doesn’t historically have fun it the best way they do within the US, they do have a few of their very own celebrations such because the O Samaín Celtic pageant in Galicia and La Castanyada chesnut pageant in Catalonia. Spain’s large cities similar to Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia will inevitably have some extra of the standard spooky Halloween occasions too.
READ ALSO: Is Spain’s Galicia the true birthplace of Halloween?
Clocks change
This October the clocks return by an hour and winter closes in with shorter days. This yr it would happen within the early hours of Sunday October twenty sixth.
Free Bank of Spain Tours
This October the Bank of Spain, situated in Madrid, will maintain an open doorways programme permitting free of charge visits. The programme goals to make historic and creative heritage extra accessible to the general public. It will likely be open on Fridays and weekends, in addition to on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4pm (with excursions led by volunteers). You can guide tickets right here.
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Spanish unions name mass pro-Palestinian rallies for all job sectors
Two of Spain’s greatest unions the UGT and the CCOO have known as for a “jornada de lucha” (day to battle) in help of Palestine on October fifteenth in “all personal and public workplaces all through the nation”. They need sufficient folks to have a adequate presence to “denounce the genocide dedicated by the Israeli state”.
EXPLAINED: Why is Spain so brazenly pro-Palestine?
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EU’s new EES system to start
The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is because of kick off on October twelfth with a six-month phased introduction. It implies that knowledge assortment will likely be progressively launched at border crossing factors with full implementation by April tenth 2026. Travellers will now have to finish EES pre-registration or present biometrics, which is ready to exchange guide passport stamping. It applies to non-EU nationals, for each those that want a brief keep visa for European nations and those that don’t. It doesn’t apply to non-EU residents who’ve residency in Spain or the opposite nations within the EU.
Travel to Spain: Your questions answered about EES and ETIAS
Spain’s National Day on October twelfth
Spain celebrates its nationwide day on October twelfth with a number of occasions throughout the nation. Madrid holds an enormous army parade alongside the town’s Paseo de la Castellana and Málaga holds a army procession in its Parque Huelin. There are additionally celebrations in Huelva and Zaragoza.
Be conscious although, some areas don’t have fun this present day in any respect, although it’s a public vacation all through the nation. There gained’t be any particular occasions for it locations similar to Catalonia or the Basque Country. Many Latin Americans in Spain will even not be celebrating this present day because it marks the so-called ‘discovery’ of the Americas by Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in Spanish).
READ ALSO: How Spain celebrates its National Day (and why many aren’t glad about it)
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Driving concept check adjustments
Driving licence exams will bear important adjustments beginning in October, which will likely be totally carried out by the DGT in 2026. The concept check with 30 questions will stay, however brief movies will even be included within the check. It will imply it is going to be simpler for drivers to interpret harmful conditions. These forms of questions are already getting used within the UK and France. The query financial institution will even be up to date with the brand new site visitors indicators which have been impact from July 1st, 2025.
Architecture days
Several cities throughout Spain maintain weeks or weekends devoted to structure wherein particular buildings open to the general public. Madrid Architecture Week will happen from October third – twelfth and in addition to visits to buildings, there will likely be guided routes, exhibitions, programs and lectures. On October twenty fifth and twenty sixth Barcelona will host its 48H Open House occasion wherein folks can get pleasure from free excursions round a few of the metropolis’s emblematic buildings, not often open to the general public.
Home renovation funds accessible in Madrid
Madrid will open the appliance interval for the brand new Rehabilitation Plan grants on October 1st. The complete funding will likely be €50 million and is anticipated to profit greater than 14,000 households. The grants cowl between 40 and 90 % of the price of accessibility, conservation, vitality effectivity, and different initiatives similar to asbestos removing. Since the plan was launched in 2020, Madrid City Council has allotted €268 million to renovate greater than 110,000 properties within the capital.
Granada will get low-emissions zone
From October 1st, 2025, the Andalusian metropolis of Granada will implement its low-emissions zone in a bid to scale back air pollution and enhance air high quality and meet EU requirements. This is particularly vital in Granada because it’s one of many provincial capitals with the best air pollution ranges. Legally the ZBE has been in place since April, when the ordinance adjustments have been authorized, however in follow, the consequences have not be seen as fines weren’t being issued. This meant prohibited automobiles continued to enter.
