Winter festivals in Mallorca, November to February: Dijous Bo, Christmas, Three Kings, Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià

1 November is a public holiday across the island. Around that date the pastry shops fill with panellets, small almond and pine-nut sweets which, with chestnuts, are what you eat on the night of All Saints.

The Dijous Bo in Inca is Mallorca's biggest fair: stalls of livestock, machinery, crafts and leather fill the whole centre. It takes place on the fourth Thursday counted from the Sunday after 18 October, that is, always in mid-November (in 2026, 19 November); Wednesday is the Dimecres Bo and the following Friday is a local holiday in Inca. There are also Dijous Bo fairs in Selva and Mancor de la Vall. With the Footwear Museum and a tasting at a winery in Inca, the day stretches out.

Palma's Christmas lights and markets fill the centre from the end of November to early January; in the previous edition the lights were switched on at the end of November in Plaça d'Espanya and the market ran until 7 January, with stalls on the Plaça Major, the Rambla and the Parc de les Estacions. The town hall announces each year's dates in autumn.

On the night of 24 December, Christmas Eve, a child or a woman sings the Song of the Sibyl, the prophecy of the Last Judgement, a cappella with a raised sword; it has been on UNESCO's Intangible Heritage list since 2010 and is heard in Palma Cathedral, at the Lluc sanctuary and in most parish churches. On 31 December, with a preliminary event on the 30th, the Festa de l'Estendard marks Jaume I's entry into Palma in 1229, with a procession of the royal standard to the Seu, cossiers dances and the reading of La Colcada at Cort.

Public holidays are 8 December (Immaculate Conception), 25 December and 1 January; in 2026 26 December (Sant Esteve) is a holiday too. Many shops, museums and restaurants close or cut their hours on those days.

On 5 January, in the late afternoon and evening, the Three Kings arrive by sea at Palma's Moll Vell and parade through the centre on floats, handing out sweets, ending at Plaça de Cort. 6 January, Epiphany, is a public holiday and shops close. It is a festival designed for families: arrive early, because the route fills up, and wrap up warm, since in January lows are around 4 °C.

On the night of 16 January the foguerons (bonfires) burn in squares and streets in many villages, with dimonis, grill parties and correfocs; on the 17th pets and farm animals are blessed, the beneïdes. The best-known celebrations are those of Sa Pobla, Manacor, Artà, Pollença, Alcúdia and Muro, but there are bonfires in many more villages. In Muro, according to the press, the beneïdes are being put forward for cultural heritage status.

The programme changes from year to year: the rule is 16 and 17 January, and each town hall publishes its timetable. Combine the festival with a cave in Manacor or Artà, the s'Albufera nature park or the Roman ruins of Pollentia in Alcúdia.

Palma honours its patron saint with the revetla on the night of 19 January: bonfires and grill parties in the squares, concerts, xeremiers (pipers), giants, a correfoc and the Drac de na Coca. 20 January is a local holiday in Palma: museums and shops may close, so book ahead. It is a night with lots of people out on the streets, so arrive early at the square you want.

With the day off in Palma, castles and museums make a good plan: Bellver Castle and Es Baluard are listed as open all year in our records, though confirm the hours for that holiday.

Palma's Carnival, Sa Rua, is a big parade of floats and costumed groups from the Rambla to Avinguda Jaume III, with a concert and prize-giving at the end. It is held before Lent and the exact date is announced each year (in 2026 it was on 15 February). 1 March is Balearic Islands Day: a public holiday with official events and free visits to historic buildings; if it falls on a Sunday, the holiday moves to Monday.