Festes de Sant Jaume Alcudia 2026: The Big Festival of the North
Sandor Farkas
Founder and editor of Mallorca Plus
Helps expats and residents navigate authorities, housing and everyday life on Mallorca.
On 25 July, Alcudia celebrates its patron saint Santiago Apostol, and the Festes de Sant Jaume are among the liveliest patron saint festivals in the whole north of the island. If you live in or near Alcudia, the days around 25 July are a fixed date in the calendar. If you are visiting, they show you a side of Mallorca you will not find along the tourist strips. Our guide to culture and traditions on Mallorca explains why every town here spends several days celebrating its own patron saint.
At a glance
The Festes de Sant Jaume take place in Alcudia every year at the end of July, peaking on 25 July, the name day of the town's patron saint. The programme covers processions, concerts, fireworks, sporting events, and correfocs. The celebrations run for several days and take over the entire old town.
When are the Festes de Sant Jaume 2026?
The feast day itself is 25 July. The surrounding programme usually starts a few days earlier, often around 22 or 23 July, and wraps up by 26 July at the latest. In 2026, 25 July falls on a Saturday, which means the festival week ends on a strong weekend and draws visitors from all over Mallorca.
The Programa de Festes is published officially by the Ajuntament d'Alcudia, normally a few weeks before the festival. You will find the current programme details on the website of the Ajuntament d'Alcudia.
Tip: arrive early
On the evenings around 25 July, parking in Alcudia's old town gets tight. Allow plenty of extra time or take the public bus from Port d'Alcudia or Ca'n Picafort.
What actually happens: the typical programme
The Festes de Sant Jaume follow a rhythm that barely changes from year to year. The programme mixes religious and secular parts, and together they make the festival what it is:
- Missa Solemne: a solemn mass is held in the church of Sant Jaume on 25 July. The parish church dates from the 14th century and is one of the oldest places of worship on Mallorca.
- Procession: after the mass, the procession moves through the medieval lanes of the old town, with music, church representatives, and the traditional giant figures (gegants).
- Correfoc: the fire run with costumed dimonis (devils) and pyrotechnics is one of the most thrilling parts of the festival and usually takes place on the evening of 24 or 25 July.
- Concerts and music: local and touring bands play on the main square on several evenings. The repertoire runs from Mallorcan folk songs to modern pop.
- Sporting events: cycling races, swimming competitions in the bay of Alcudia, and other contests round out the programme.
- Fireworks: the fireworks display over the bay of Alcudia is traditionally one of the high points of the week.
What exactly are the Festes de Sant Jaume? Alcudia's patron saint festival honours the apostle James (Santiago / Sant Jaume) as the town's protector. It is a multi-day public celebration with religious, cultural, and sporting elements, carried by the whole community.
Alcudia's old town as a backdrop
A big part of what makes the Festes de Sant Jaume special is the setting. Alcudia has one of the best preserved medieval town walls on Mallorca, and the narrow lanes inside the historic core give the festival an atmosphere that newer resort areas simply cannot match.
The key locations during the Festes are the Plaça de la Constitució (the central square in front of the church), Carrer Major as the main lane, and the town walls themselves, which serve as a backdrop for evening events.
Alcudia has around 20,000 residents, and only a fraction of them live inside the old town year round. During the Festes de Sant Jaume, though, the squares stay full late into the night.
What residents and visitors should know
If you are experiencing the Festes de Sant Jaume for the first time, a few practical points are worth knowing.
The correfoc is not a spectator event you watch from a safe distance. Participants run right through the sparks and firecrackers. If you want to join in, wear long clothing made of non-flammable fabric and bring safety goggles. Children should only watch the correfoc from a safe distance.
Restaurants and bars in the old town stay open much later during the festival week, and they fill up accordingly. Booking a table on 24 and 25 July is a good idea.
Watch out: parking bans in the old town
During the festival days, temporary parking bans are put in place in the old town and the surrounding streets. If you come by car, use the signposted car parks on the edge of town. Illegally parked vehicles do get towed.
Getting there from Port d'Alcudia and elsewhere
If you live in Port d'Alcudia or are staying there, you can walk or cycle to the old town in 15 to 25 minutes, depending on where you start. From Ca'n Picafort, bus line 350 runs regularly to Alcudia, and there are connections from Palma via the motorway too.
For more on bus connections across Mallorca, see the Consorci de Transports de Mallorca.
For more about life in and around Alcudia and Port d'Alcudia outside the festival season, take a look at our overview of Alcudia festivals and events in 2026. And if you want to understand Mallorca's festivals in general, our article on fiestas patronales on Mallorca is a good starting point.
Conclusion
The Festes de Sant Jaume in Alcudia 2026 are one of the finest patron saint festivals in the north of the island. With 25 July falling on a Saturday, the 2026 edition lands on a strong weekend. If you want to see real Mallorcan festival culture, well away from tourist shows and party zones, this is the place. Plan ahead, arrive early enough to park, and let the correfoc surprise you.