You’ve probably seen the fires, the devils, the concerts… But do you know what’s actually being celebrated?
Every January, Mallorca comes alive with two major winter festivals – celebrated across the island, each with its own rhythm and magic:
🔥 Sant Antoni (around 16–17 Jan)
Honouring Saint Anthony, protector of animals, through fire, folklore and ritual.
Some of the most intense and distinctive celebrations take place in
📍 Sa Pobla, Manacor, Artà, Pollença, Muro & Mancor de la Vall
🎶 Sant Sebastià (10–25 Jan)
Honouring Saint Sebastian, patron saint of Palma, with concerts, bonfires and city-wide festivities.
Centered in
📍 Palma – but felt across the island.
Two festivals, endless magic ✨
Mallorca’s winter spirit is very much alive.
🫰 Want to explore the full programme?
Find all official events at 📲 thecalendarmallorca.com.
🔥 Sant Antoni in Mallorca
Fire, folklore and the island’s deepest roots
Sant Antoni is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted traditions in Mallorca. Celebrated every January around 16–17 January, the festival honours Saint Anthony, protector of animals — but its meaning goes far beyond religion.
At its core, Sant Antoni is about fire, survival, community and the changing of the seasons. Long before modern celebrations, fire marked protection, renewal and togetherness during the darkest time of the year. Today, those symbols remain very much alive.
What happens during Sant Antoni?
Across villages and towns, the island fills with:
- Foguerons (bonfires) where people gather to grill food and sing
- Dimonis (devils), representing temptation, chaos and folklore
- Fire runs (correfocs), with sparks, drums and intense street energy
- Beneïdes, the traditional blessing of animals
- Music, xeremiers, glosadors and all-night gatherings
Sant Antoni is loud, raw and collective – a celebration lived outdoors, shoulder to shoulder.
Different towns, different traditions
Each place celebrates Sant Antoni in its own way, shaped by local history:
- Sa Pobla – One of the biggest and most intense celebrations on the island
- Artà – Known for powerful drumming and fire-filled processions
- Mancor de la Vall – La Baixada del Corb, ritual theatre rooted in folklore
- Pollença – El Pi de Sant Antoni, where a massive pine is carried and raised by collective effort
Despite their differences, all share the same spirit: fire, rhythm and community.
Why Sant Antoni matters
Sant Antoni isn’t a show – it’s something you step into.
It connects Mallorca’s rural past with its present, keeping stories, symbols and shared rituals alive through sound, flame and gathering.
Find out more here – Sant Antoni 2026.
🎶 Sant Sebastià in Mallorca
Palma’s winter festival of music, fire and city life
Sant Sebastià is the patron saint of Palma, and his festival transforms the city every January, usually between 10 and 25 January.
While Sant Antoni belongs mainly to villages and rural traditions, Sant Sebastià is distinctly urban — shaped by music, public space and city life.
What is Sant Sebastià about?
Sant Sebastià celebrates community, resilience and shared culture.
Rather than ritual symbolism, the focus is on music, gathering and occupying the city together, even in the heart of winter.
During Sant Sebastià, Palma becomes a network of stages and meeting points.
What happens during Sant Sebastià?
Key elements of the festival include:
- Large open-air concerts in major squares
- Bonfires lighting up neighbourhood streets
- Tardeos and late-night celebrations
- Family-friendly and inclusive activities
- Traditional events like the Diada Ciclista
- Giants, correfocs and fire beasts closing the festivities
The highlight is the Revetla de Sant Sebastià (19 January), when bonfires are lit and simultaneous free concerts take place across the city.
Where is it celebrated?
The biggest celebrations happen in Palma, especially in:
- Plaça d’Espanya
- Plaça Major
- Plaça de Cort
- Plaça Joan Carles I
While Palma is the epicentre, other towns across Mallorca also honour Sant Sebastià, often with smaller concerts or community gatherings dedicated to the same patron.
Why Sant Sebastià feels different
Sant Sebastià is less about spectacle and more about belonging.
It’s a festival lived in the streets, shared across generations, and deeply tied to Palma’s everyday life.
Find out more here – Sant Sebastià 2026.
If Sant Antoni represents the island’s roots, Sant Sebastià is its beating urban heart.
