Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià - Traditions that welcome the new year in Mallorca

Ene 09, 2026

January is a special month in Mallorca.

The island returns to its most authentic rhythm, the streets are lived at a gentler pace, and winter reveals a different Mallorca, one deeply connected to its traditions. It is during these weeks that two celebrations mark the beginning of the year and form an essential part of the island’s cultural calendar: Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià.

Beyond the festivities themselves, both celebrations are an invitation to understand Mallorca from the inside. To share squares, music and customs with local people, and to discover a way of life that has been passed down from generation to generation and remains very much alive.

Photo Credit: Última Hora

Sant Antoni

Fire, symbols and popular tradition

The Festes de Sant Antoni, celebrated mainly on the 16th and 17th of January, are one of the most deeply rooted cultural expressions in Mallorca, especially in the villages of the interior.

Fire takes centre stage. On the night of the 16th of January, village squares fill with foguerons around which residents and visitors gather to share food, wine and conversation. Traditional torradas, popular music and the presence of the dimonis create an intense atmosphere, rich in symbolism and collective memory.

On the 17th of January, the blessing of the animals takes place, one of the most iconic moments of Sant Antoni. This ritual recalls the island’s agricultural and rural origins and reinforces the bond between tradition, community and land.

Sant Antoni is not a celebration designed for visitors, but a festival lived from within. Precisely for that reason, it feels especially authentic to those experiencing it for the first time.

Photo Credit: Diario de Mallorca

Sant Sebastià

Music and urban life in the heart of Palma

A few days later, around the 20th of January, Palma celebrates its patron saint, Sant Sebastià, with a programme that extends over several days and turns the city into a large open-air stage.

The Festes de Sant Sebastià combine tradition and contemporary life. Foguerons and correfocs coexist with free concerts, live music, daytime gatherings and cultural activities spread across different parts of the historic centre.

Iconic squares such as Plaça Major, Plaça de Cort and Parc de la Mar become meeting points where the city is experienced in an open, participatory way, even in the heart of winter.

January in Mallorca

A different way to experience the island

Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià are much more than two dates on the calendar. They reflect a Mallorca that expresses itself without filters, celebrates its identity and invites others to become part of it, even if only for a few days.

January is also one of the best times to discover the island at a slower pace: strolling through villages and historic neighbourhoods, enjoying local cuisine without haste, exploring the coastline or the Serra de Tramuntana with mild temperatures and especially clear light.

For many, these festivities become their first real connection with Mallorca. A point of contact that goes beyond summer, helping to explain why so many people choose to stay, return or begin a new chapter on the island.

Photo Credit: Última Hora

Guía rápida

Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià festivities programme 2026

Sant Antoni | 16th and 17th of January

Where to experience it

Sa Pobla, known for one of the most intense and popular celebrations.

Artà, with deeply rooted traditions and a very authentic atmosphere.

Manacor, combining traditional events with a more urban scale.

Pollença, where foguerons light up a particularly evocative historic setting.

What happens

On the afternoon and night of the 16th of January, foguerons fill squares and streets, accompanied by popular music, dimonis and traditional torradas.

On the morning of the 17th of January, the blessing of the animals and other traditional ceremonies take place.

Photo Credit: Garden Hotel Group

Sant Sebastià | around the 20th of January

Where to experience it

The historic centre of Palma.

Sa Feixina and Parc de la Mar for open-air concerts.

Squares and neighbourhoods hosting live music throughout the city.

What happens

Free concerts by local and national artists.

Urban foguerons and gastronomic gatherings.

Correfocs and popular performances.

Cultural and family-friendly activities over several days.

Practical tips

For Sant Antoni, arrive early in the villages and allow yourself to be carried by the street atmosphere.

Wear warm, comfortable clothing, as the celebrations take place outdoors.

In Palma, check the official programme in advance to choose concerts and routes according to your interests

Mallorca in January is experienced in a different way.

Through its festivities, music and traditions, the island reveals one of its most authentic faces: close, welcoming and deeply Mediterranean.