Carnival comes to Spain
The party never stops in Spain. After Christmas in December and Three Kings’ Day in January, we head straight into carnival in February. In the week leading up to Lent, cities and towns all over Spain will be carnaval (in Spanish), which this year is held from February 12th-18th.
The best part of carnival here is that each town or city celebrates this festival differently, from drag queens in Gran Canaria and Sitges to jokes and singing in Cádiz and slightly frightening masks in Galicia, Spaniards all over the country will be dressing up and organising big parades.
READ ALSO: The ultimate guide to Spain's craziest carnivals
Tax deadlines for the self-employed
There are several dates that the self-employed or autónomos have to make sure they put in their calendars in February. These include:
Until February 20th:
Modelo 349 which is a declaration of intra-community operations.
Until February 28th:
Model 347 which is annual declaration of operations with third parties for 2025
Modelo 036, which is Corporate Tax
Modelo 303 for VAT self-assessment
Modelo 322 and 353 for groups of entities
Modelo 369 for importations
Modelo 380 for operations assimilated to imports
First tax declaration for tourist accommodation owners
This month owners of tourist accommodation in Spain will have to submit their first declaration. This will correspond with your business activity in 2025. This is due to the fact that on December 22nd, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda approved Order VAU/1560/2025, which regulates the collection and exchange of data relating to short-term accommodation rental services.
This all means that every February all landlords who provide short-term accommodation rental services through online platforms must submit an information form for each rented place, no matter whether it's a whole apartment, villa, single room or even a boat.
Congress to vote on seasonal rental regulations
The legislation aimed at regulating seasonal and room rentals will be put forward in Congress for a vote in February, according to a statement from the Madrid tenants' union.
The proposal involves a reform of the Urban Leases Law. Pedro Sánchez's government want to incorporate specific regulations for seasonal and room rentals, which were excluded from the Housing Law, as well as introduce a set of measures designed to protect tenants from unfair price increases.
Doctors in Spain call another strike in February
Spanish doctors have called an ‘"indefinite national strike" from 16 February to protest against the draft of the new law proposed by the Ministry of Health and verbally agreed with major sector unions.
The strikes are planned from February to June for one working week per month. Unions have called a new demonstration for Saturday 14 February in Madrid to which doctors from all over Spain will attend.
The strikes are scheduled for the weeks of 16th to 20th February, 16th to 20th March, 27th to 30th April, 18th to 22nd May and 15th to 19th June.
Train drivers to stage walkouts in February
It's not only medical staff who will be striking this month, train drivers have also called for walkouts due to the recent rail tragedies and fears for safety on the lines. The Spanish Union of Railway Drivers (SEMAF) said that the constant deterioration of the railway system is "unacceptable" and called for a general strike to "guarantee the safety and reliability of the network".
The three day strike will take place across Spain’s entire railway network involving all railway workers on February 9th, 10th and 11th.
The union is also demanding “criminal accountability for those responsible for ensuring safety on the railway infrastructure” for the two incidents that resulted in fatalities and dozens of injuries.
Deadline for applying for affordable rents
The new Casa 47 public housing project created by the Spanish government aims to offer affordable rents starting at €400 per month. The deadline for the first application period for those wanting to apply for this project is due to end on February 20th. The primary requirement for those wanting to access the public housing will be income based. Applicants must have an income between 2 and 7.5 times the IPREM, which is currently €600 per month. This means the income range will be between €16,800 and €63,000 per year.
It's worth noting that the government expects that this process will be repeated every three months, so if you miss out in February, there may be a chance to do apply again later in the year.
READ ALSO - Casa 47: What to know about Spain's new public housing department
La Línea to start handing out low-emission zone fines
The border town of La Línea de la Concepción, next to the British enclave of Gibraltar, is to begin issuing sanctions to owners of those vehicles that don't meet the low-emission requirements and have the correct environmental stickers. From February 1st, all drivers in the town or wishing to cross though the town to Gibraltar must have an environmental label of B, C, ECO, or Zero Emissions or face fines.
LISTED: The cities in Spain with new low-emission zones in 2026
Key travel changes in the UK begin
From February 25th, the UK government has put new entry rules in place, meaning visitors will not able to travel there without advance permission. This means that travellers from 85 countries who normally do not need a visa for the UK will have to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance. This includes visitors from countries such as Spain, France, the United States and Canada for example.
Teachers strike in Catalonia
Unions and representatives of Catalan teachers have called for a walkout across the region on February 11th. There will also be demonstration on Saturday January 24th at 11:30am at Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf.
They are calling for "a new cycle of strikes”, after more than a year of negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the regional government. Ultimately they are demanding an improvement in their working conditions, as well as increased resources for addressing diversity and special educational needs.
February to see extreme cold and more snow in Spain
Meteorological experts Luis Jacinto Ortega and Jorge Rey have given their predictions for the month ahead.
According to Luis Jacinto, this year we are experiencing a cycle governed by Jupiter, which traditionally translates into harsher weather and much more distinct seasons. He believes that Spain is facing the coldest winter in the last 50 years. Specifically from February 14th to 28th, he predicts snow and rain to fall in much of the country.
Earlier, Rey also predicted snow at lower elevations during the month of February.
Flights to Venezuela resume
From February 1st, Iberia, Air Europa and Plus Ultra will start flying from Spain to Venezuela once more.
Flights between the two countries, suspended on December 1st following the US government's recommendation against flying through Venezuelan airspace.
Three-day weekend in Tenerife
The Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria, patron saint of the Canary Islands, this year falls on Monday, February 2nd.
This has been designated a public holiday on the island of Tenerife meaning residents there can enjoy a three-day weekend from Saturday January 31st, to Monday, February 2nd. Festivities include processions with a state of the Virgin Mary, live bands and fireworks.
First Parador hotel to open in the Balearic Islands
The new luxury Parador de Ibiza is finally due to be inaugurated on February 23rd after an investment of €47 million. While it won't officially open to the public until March 10th, bookings are already available, Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez announced.
"The Parador de Ibiza will not be just another Parador; it will be the first to open in the Balearic Islands, and its opening will also make it one of the great jewels of the Paradores network in Spain," Sánchez said. "This establishment will be a new tourist and heritage landmark for the island, and aims to foster interest in Ibiza and attract cultural tourism that respects the environment and historical legacy," she added.
The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has said that this project involved one of the largest archaeological excavations in recent years in Spain.
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