The New Year’s Eve events taking place in Spain’s main cities

From the Basque Country to Andalusia, Spain's cities will each see in the New Year in a unique way. 

We have scoured the internet for advertised events taking place across España for Nochevieja, but even if your city or town isn't included on this list, you can usually expect firework displays and people gathering in the town centre to party and have their 12 grapes, as the Spanish tradition goes.

Madrid
The main event in Madrid is of course at Puerta del Sol, which will be returning once again this year. This will be the first celebration there, however, since it's been renovated which brings some advantages such as an increased capacity to accommodate more people. This year police will evacuate everyone from the square at 9pm to prepare and allow everyone back in later for the celebrations through only four of the nine entrances. Celebrations here typically include music, dancing, fireworks, confetti cannons and the countdown on the famous clock of the Real Casa de Correos.

Barcelona
Celebrations will once again be held Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina and the Fuente Mágica de Montjuïc near Plaza d’Espanya. This year of course the famous Magic Fountain won't play a part, however, due to the ongoing drought. Instead, there will be a big ball of light, along with pyrotechnics and 470 drones lighting up the sky. Music will begin at 9pm, while the ball of light will be activated from 11pm. 

Valencia
The big New Year’s celebration takes place in Valencia at the La Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town hall). In the daytime, there will be special events for kids and a celebration in the middle of the day from 11am-2:30pm, while the main party for the adults will begin at 10:30pm. This year's Vulcano Pyrotechnics show, which will use two tons of gunpowder, will put the city on par with displays in cities such as Dubai, Sydney and London.

Málaga
See in the New Year at Plaza de la Constitución, where the Málaga town hall will be giving out 5,000 free party bags and grapes between 9pm and 11:45pm. The party bags will include hats, streamers, masks and Hawaiian necklaces among other surprises. There will also be a live orchestra starting at 11pm, leading up to the famous midnight chimes.

Seville
The main event in Seville will take place in Plaza Nueva at midnight with the classic chiming of the bells and eating of 12 grapes. If you’re after something a little different, however, then one of the best alternatives is a midnight river cruise to see 2024 in on a boat floating down the river Guadalquivir. Many of the boats have live performances, including dancing, music and of course food.  

Córdoba
The Córdoba City Council is planning a big celebration in Plaza de las Tendillas. During the day on the 31st there will be a wide variety of children’s activities including a performance of 'Chimpón y las uvas perdidas' ('Chimpón and the lost grapes') at noon. This will be followed by the grand New Year’s Eve party from 10pm onwards. 2024 will be welcomed in with live musical performances by the group Rockopop, as well as the traditional chimes.  

Palma de Mallorca
As well as the regular parties and fireworks, Palma de Mallorca will be celebrating La Fiesta del Estandarte. It is held every year on December 31st and commemorates when the city was captured Jaime I of Aragón’s troops during the conquest of the island of Mallorca that began in 1229. Events include reading official proclamations and floral offerings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBPliNDbuJA

Alicante
There will be two main places to see in 2024 in Alicante this year - the traditional Plaza del Ayuntamiento, as well as the area between the Rambla de Méndez Núñez and the Portal de Elche. From 10:30am until 1pm there will be a Children's Cotillion with entertainment and games, plus 1,800 party bags filled with sweets and other goodies. The real party will begin at 10pm and go on through the night until 4am. 2,200 bags of lucky grapes given out for free in time for the midnight chimes and there will also be music performances.  

Jerez de la Frontera
This year Canal Sur Radio and TV station has chosen Jerez as the place it will broadcast the chiming of the bells from, to commemorate the 100th anniversary year of the birth of the actress Lola Flores. The new year will be welcomed in style - bars and squares typically fill up from noon and main event will be held in the Plaza del Arenal starting at 11pm. 

Benidorm
Playa de Levante and Avenida de Bilbao will be the centre of the fiestas in Benidorm. The event will attract more than 5,000 people and will begin at noon for a whole day music and performances, until the big countdown at midnight. There will also be a second celebration at 1am, when the bells will be broadcast live from Big Ben in London, so that Brits can see in the UK New Year too.

Vitoria i Gasteiz
In the Basque capital, New Year’s celebrations will be hosted by EITB media company in Plaza Nueva, from where the party will be broadcast live too. There will be an official firework display, as well as music and celebrity presenters.

San Silvestre Vallecana, Madrid
And finally, if partying and music are not your cup of tea and you’d prefer to see in the New Year with a healthy start, you can take part in (or watch) one of the most important races in Spain - La San Silvestre Vallecana. It’s a 10km route taking place along some of the main streets in Madrid. There are two different parts to the race, one that anyone over 10 years old can take part in and the other for 1,000 professional international runners who can run the route in under a set time. La San Silvestre is replicated across many parts of Spain on December 31st and January 1st, so make sure to google it if you want to get 2024 off to a flying start.

Kick up a sweat before you eat the grapes this NYE in Spain. Photo: PromoMadrid / Max Alexander/Wikipedia