Festivals in Galdakao
Discover the main festivals, celebrations and traditions of Galdakao, municipality of Vizcaya, in Basque Country.
Local festivals of Galdakao
Date and duration. The patron saint festivities of Santakurtzak They are celebrated in September and have as their main day the 14 September, Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The City Council describes a usual duration of diez días consecutivos, spread over two full weekends. The traditional opening is the climb of groups from Plazakoetxe to the Town Hall along Juan Bautista Uriarte Street, and the closing comes with the so-called repeat Sunday.
Places, events and participation. The programme extends throughout the urban centre and uses spaces such as Plazakoetxe, Kurtzeko plaza, Juan Bautista Uriarte street and Ardantza park. Regular events include concerts, parades, sports, children's activities and gastronomic events. The groups, associations integrated into the Festival Commission, the City Council and the citizens participate. For the edition of 2026, the council has already set the main concerts in Ardantza on the days 11, 12, 18 and 19 September; The Commission elects one and registered people over 16 years of age vote for the other three. These dates are a confirmed part of the edition, they do not replace the complete programme.
Local public holiday of 2026. The official calendar of Bizkaia declares that Galdakao is not a working day for work. Monday, 14 September, for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is a single local workday and should not be confused with the ten-day Santakurtzak celebration.