Easter Week in 2026 will be earlier than in 2025: it will start at the end of March instead of April. The official calendar places Friday of Sorrows on March 27, so Palm Sunday (the official start of Holy Week) will be March 29. The final touch will come on Sunday, April 5, the day of Easter Sunday and the end of Easter.
This advance responds to the traditional calculation of the holiday: Lent begins with Ash Wednesday (this year on February 18) and ends with Easter, which is set on the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon following March 21, in line with church norms.
Thus, each year Easter Week varies its location in the calendar, which has repercussions in many areas: educational, labor, cultural and touristic.
Holidays and calendar by autonomous community
The Holy Week of 2026 includes special days that vary according to the autonomous community. Maundy Thursday (April 2) and Good Friday (April 3) will be holidays in most territories: Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Galicia, Community of Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Basque Country, La Rioja and Ceuta.
However, communities such as Catalonia and the Valencian Community do not enjoy Maundy Thursday as a non-working day. Instead, along with Castilla-La Mancha, Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja, they will celebrate Easter Monday (April 6) as a public holiday, thus extending the long weekend holiday for many citizens.
These types of variations mean that Easter Week is not homogeneous throughout Spain, which means that every year there are different adjustments to school and work calendars.
Tradition, faith and tourism: a cocktail of celebration
Holy Week is one of the most emblematic festivities in Spain. Every year, brotherhoods in numerous municipalities carry images representing the passion, death and resurrection of Christ in processions. These manifestations of faith, tradition and art attract thousands of the faithful and visitors, and constitute an essential part of the country’s cultural identity.
In addition, Holy Week has evolved in recent years to combine tradition with modernity: many cities complement processions with concerts, exhibitions, guided tours and cultural activities. This has managed to attract new audiences, including international visitors, consolidating the festivity as a key tourist attraction.
The fact that Easter Week in 2026 coincides with the beginning of spring, when temperatures tend to improve, could favor a greater influx of tourists in cities with a tradition of brotherhoods, as well as in municipalities and rural areas that combine nature, heritage and religious events.
Preparations and logistics of the confraternities in view of an early calendar
With Easter Week 2026 set for the end of March, the cofradías are already beginning to adjust their internal calendars. Rehearsals, preparations and restoration work are being brought forward to adapt to an earlier calendar, which in some areas, with more unstable weather in March, can pose logistical challenges.
In many localities, the month of April, traditionally with good weather, is replaced by March, which may have rain or lower temperatures. This will influence the planning of processions, routes, discipline of nazarenos, participation of costaleros and expectation of the faithful.
On the other hand, tourist municipalities may see additional pressure on their services: transportation, accommodations, security services and customer service will have to adapt to different dates than usual, which requires careful coordination.
Significant impact on key sectors: schools, tourism and employment
The early Easter holiday has effects on several sectors. In education, many communities will adjust their school calendars, scheduling Easter vacations earlier. This may affect the organization of the school year, evaluations and lesson plans.
In terms of employment and the economy, sectors such as tourism, hotels and commerce often see Easter as an important boost to their activity. An early calendar can favor an early reopening of the tourist season in many areas, but it also requires a rapid adaptation of the offer: accommodation, transport, services and events must be prepared in advance.
For workers, the change may imply adjustments in the planning of vacations, leaves or family reconciliation, especially in communities where different holidays coexist according to regional regulations.
2026, a year of early Easter and high expectations
Easter Week 2026 already has its dates confirmed: from March 29 to April 5, with holidays varying according to the community. This occasion offers a unique opportunity: an early Easter Week, coinciding with the beginning of spring, which may favor a more pleasant climate and a greater influx of tourists.
For churches, brotherhoods, institutions and sectors involved, it is a challenge of adaptation: planning of processions, logistics, coordination of religious and cultural events, as well as adjustments in school and work calendars.
But for many citizens, this Easter Week promises to be special: earlier, with better temperatures, a combination of tradition and leisure, and a new way of experiencing one of Spain’s most emblematic celebrations.
