Sant Antoni Mallorca 2026: Fire, Devils and Animal Blessings

When bonfires burn across Mallorca in mid January and dimonis dressed as devils dance through the streets, Sant Antoni is not far away. The festival on January 16 and 17 is one of the oldest and liveliest traditions on the island. Anyone who has experienced sant antoni mallorca 2026 understands why Mallorcans love this festival more than any other winter celebration. Whether January 17 is a day off in your municipality depends on where you live - our overview of public holidays on Mallorca explains the differences.

What is Sant Antoni Abat?

Sant Antoni Abat is the short form of Saint Anthony the Great (251-356 AD), an Egyptian desert monk venerated as the patron saint of pets and farm animals. On Mallorca he is the patron of farmers and animals - which explains why the animal blessing (Beneides) is the central element of the feast day.

Sant Antoni Abat (feast day on January 17) is one of the most important folk festivals of the year on Mallorca: a multi-day ritual of bonfires, devil parades and ceremonial animal blessings that goes back to pre-Christian fire festivals and is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

The roots of the festival reach far back before Christianisation. Fire in winter, driving out evil, blessing the animals - these elements existed as pagan rituals long before the church linked them to Saint Anthony. That also explains why the devil (dimoni) plays no evil role on Mallorca but is a necessary figure in the festivities.

The Revetla: bonfires on the evening of January 16

The real highlight is the Revetla de Sant Antoni on the evening of January 16. Foguerons are lit all over town - large bonfires organised by neighbourhoods, clubs and families. Around the fires:

• Grilling butifarra (Mallorcan sausage) and bread
• Drinking local wine and hierbas (herbal liqueur)
• The dimonis dancing around the fires
• Music, singing and socialising late into the night

In Sa Pobla the Revetla is especially spectacular: more than 30 foguerons burn at the same time across the whole town. The festival in Sa Pobla has been recognised since 2015 as a festival of national tourist interest (Fiesta de Interes Turistico Nacional).

The dimonis: devils as festival figures

Dimonis are the visual heart of Sant Antoni. The groups dressed as devils - equipped with horns, red costumes and torches - dance around the foguerons and parade through the streets. Their symbolic task is to attract evil and then drive it out through the fire.

Mallorca has dozens of dimoni groups (colles de dimonis) that are active at Sant Antoni and at other festivals such as the Nit de Foc. The dimoni tradition runs deep: in some families the role of the dimoni is passed down from generation to generation.

Children react to dimonis very differently. If you have small children with you, keep a little distance from the fire dance itself. From a distance the atmosphere is impressive without being overwhelming.

The Beneides: animal blessing on January 17

On the morning of the feast day, January 17, almost every municipality on Mallorca holds the Beneides: the ceremonial blessing of pets and farm animals by the local priest. What used to be mainly cows, horses and sheep now also includes dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets.

The Beneides in Palma takes place on Placa Bisbe Berenguer de Palou in front of the church of Sant Antoni de Viana. In Sa Pobla and other villages the blessing moves through the town centre. The proceedings are festive and calm - a good opportunity to experience everyday Mallorcan life up close.

Sant Antoni 2026: where and when?

In 2026, January 17 fell on a Saturday, which made the Revetla on the evening of the 16th (Friday) an especially long night of celebration. The main venues:

• Sa Pobla: the island's biggest celebration, foguerons across the whole town, several dimoni groups
• Arta: known for an impressive torchlight procession through the medieval old town
• Muro: a celebration with a long history and strong traditions
• Palma: foguerons in various neighbourhoods, Beneides in front of Sant Antoni de Viana
• Manacor, Felanitx, Sineu: local foguerons and Beneides at the respective parish churches

The official programme of each municipality is published every January on the websites of the ajuntaments and on the website of the Govern Balear.

What residents should know about the festival

For residents on Mallorca, Sant Antoni is one of the best opportunities to experience real Mallorcan community life - without the tourist crowds, but with genuine atmosphere. A few practical notes:

• January 17 is not a public holiday at the national level, but in many municipalities (especially Sa Pobla) it is effectively a local holiday with shops closed
• Public transport often runs extra services on the night of the bonfires - check the TIB website (Transports de les Illes Balears) in advance
• Hotels in Sa Pobla and Arta book up fast for January 16 and 17; if you want to stay overnight, book early
• The festival is not made for tourists - which is exactly why it is worth going

You can read more about the island's traditional festivals in our overview of fiestas patronales on Mallorca. The full event calendar for all the year's major festivals is in the Mallorca events calendar 2026.

Can I take part in Sant Antoni as a tourist or non-Mallorcan? Yes, the festival is public and everyone is welcome. There is no entrance fee, no registration and no tourist zone. Just go, take in the atmosphere and join in respectfully.

Conclusion

Sant Antoni is the winter festival that sets Mallorca apart from every other Mediterranean island. Foguerons, dimonis, animal blessing - this is not a spectacle staged for tourists but a living part of Mallorcan identity. In 2026 the feast day fell on a Saturday, which made the Revetla on Friday evening an especially long night of celebration. If you live on Mallorca and have not experienced the festival yet: Sa Pobla on January 16, arrive early, and simply join the party.