Feria de Murcia

When is it celebrated

The Fair usually takes place during the first half of september. It begins around the descent of the Virgen de la Fuensanta from her sanctuary to the Cathedral and culminates with the return pilgrimage, which is celebrated on the second Tuesday of September. Opening dates, venues and activities change every year and must be confirmed in the municipal programme.

The entire Fair does not constitute a public holiday period. The Pilgrimage Day is a local holiday in Murcia according to municipal tourist information, without prejudice to the formal approval of each year's work calendar.

A fair spread throughout Murcia

The events are not concentrated in a single venue. The garden and promenade of the Malecón host the Orchards and cultural activities; The Fica venue brings together the attractions; The Cathedral and the Fuensanta sanctuary articulate the events dedicated to the patron saint; and the urban centre serves as a stage for parades, parades and cultural events.

The itineraries, schedules and access conditions depend on each edition. The territorial breadth of the Fair makes it especially important to consult the official programme before traveling.

Origin and history

The Fair has its roots in the medieval livestock and trade fairs granted to Murcia by Alfonso X the Wise. As time went by, that economic framework incorporated religious celebrations, shows, gastronomy and leisure until forming the current September Fair.

Contemporary tradition maintains this plural condition: it is not a single act, but the coexistence of devotion to Fuensanta, the amusement fair, the Huertos del Malecón, the bullfighting fair, the Moors and Christians and a cultural programme that is renewed every year.

Huertos del Malecón

During the Fair, entities and groups install enclosures known as the Huertos on the Malecón. There, gastronomy from the Murcian garden is served and performances and activities are scheduled in an environment closely linked to the agricultural identity of the city.

Among the associated flavors are blood sausages, sausages, michirones, potatoes with garlic and paparajotes. The offer and participating entities vary, so these examples describe the stable tradition and not a guaranteed menu for all editions.

Moors and Christians, attractions and other festivities

The Moors and Christians festivals remember the Islamic founding of Murcia and the Castilian conquest. Comparsas and groups parade through the centre and raise cabilas and troops on the Malecón promenade, accompanying the historical reenactment with music, clothing and gunpowder.

La Fica becomes the great attraction venue. Added to this are the bullfighting fair, concerts, theater, family activities, exhibitions and parades, whose specific presence depends on each year's programming.

The Virgin of Fuensanta and the Pilgrimage

The descent of the patron saint from the sanctuary to the Cathedral marks the symbolic beginning of the Fair. At the end of the festive cycle, thousands of people accompany the Virgin of Fuensanta back to her sanctuary in the September Pilgrimage.

This religious component coexists with civil and leisure events without being confused with them. The Pilgrimage has its own route, schedules, mobility device and recommendations that the City Council communicates for each edition.

Organisation and public

The Murcia City Council coordinates the programming and municipal services together with cultural entities, clubs, fairgrounds, garden groups, the Federation of Moors and Christians and participating organisations. The Fair brings together residents of the city and its districts, families, associations and visitors.

Sources

• Murcia Tourism: history, spaces and celebrations of the September Fair.
• Murcia Tourism: historical guide to the Fair, the Orchards and the pilgrimage.
• Murcia City Council: institutional presentation of the Murcia Fair 2026.
• Murcia City Council: tradition and inauguration of the 2026 Fair.