Feria de San Juan
Badajoz's biggest celebration brings a week of colourful casetas, flamenco, bullfighting and fireworks to the Extremaduran capital every June around St John's Day.
Highlights
- Colourful casetas with flamenco and sevillanas dancing
- Prestigious bullfighting programme
- Horse parades through the city
- Spectacular opening fireworks
- Extremaduran gastronomy: migas, caldereta, Iberian ham
The Feria de San Juan is Badajoz's most important annual celebration, declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest. Held around 24 June (St John's Day), it transforms the city with a vast fairground, colourful casetas (marquee tents), and non-stop entertainment for ten days.
The fair features traditional flamenco performances, prestigious bullfights at the Plaza de Toros, horse parades, and a spectacular fireworks display at the official opening. The casetas host everything from family celebrations to all-night dancing, with major touring concerts alongside local gastronomy including migas, caldereta and Iberian ham. Sitting on the border with Portugal, Badajoz treats the Feria as its civic showcase, and the fairground grows most years, with new rides and attractions added on top of an already large permanent site.
Gallery
History & Origins
The Feria de San Juan traces its origins back to 1255, when King Alfonso X granted Badajoz the royal privilege of holding an annual fair, timed to coincide with the feast of St John the Baptist, the city's patron saint. What began as a livestock and merchant fair, drawing traders from across the region to buy and sell animals and goods, gradually evolved over the centuries into the broader popular celebration held today. For much of the early twentieth century the fair was actually held in mid-August rather than in June; it was only in the 1920s that it was moved back to coincide with the feast of St John, restoring the seasonal link the fair had held since medieval times. Today, with nearly eight centuries of history behind it, the Feria de San Juan remains one of Extremadura's most enduring traditions and has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
What to Expect
A warm, welcoming Extremaduran fair with a more relaxed pace than Seville's Feria. Casetas are mostly open to the public. Expect hot weather — temperatures regularly exceed 35°C in late June in Badajoz.
How to Get There
Badajoz has a small airport with limited flights. Better connections via Seville (220km) or Madrid (400km). Renfe trains connect from Madrid (4.5h) and Seville (3h). By car, take the A-5 from Madrid.
Tips & Advice
- Most casetas are public — feel free to walk in and enjoy
- Dress in light, breathable clothes (June heat can be extreme)
- Try local specialities: migas extremeñas and torta del Casar cheese
- Visit the Alcazaba fortress while in Badajoz
Plan Your Trip
Book accommodation and transport for this festival. Get the best deals on hotels and train tickets.
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January
Jarramplas (Piornal)
Jarramplas is a traditional winter festival in Piornal (Extremadura), typically around 19–20 January, where a masked character is pelted with turnips in a ritual tied to local identity and devotion to San Sebastián.
February
Carnaval de Badajoz
The Carnaval de Badajoz is mainland Spain's largest carnival celebration, with over 100,000 people parading through the streets in spectacular comparsas and murgas. Declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest, it rivals the Canary Islands carnivals in scale and creativity.
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