For four days, Zaragoza will showcase its brotherhood tradition through processions, drums, religious events, exhibitions, talks and social activities. One of the central moments will come on Saturday 24 with an extraordinary procession through central Zaragoza, although the instruments will begin to be heard on Thursday with the transfer of Saint John the Evangelist to the Basilica of El Pilar.
The event will also allow participants to discover the distinctive character of Zaragoza’s Holy Week, which has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest since 2014. The city currently has 25 brotherhoods, confraternities and congregations, more than 16,000 members and 53 processions, as well as one of its most characteristic features: more than 4,000 instruments, including drums, bass drums, timpani, bugles, rattles, clappers and bells, which bring the Passion to life every spring.
FOUR DAYS OF DRUMS AND A GRAND PROCESSION: JOHC 2026 ZARAGOZA PROGRAM
Although most of the activities will take place over the weekend, JOHC Zaragoza 2026 will begin on Thursday 22 and continue until Sunday 25 October. The program combines the event’s religious and educational aspects with activities designed to showcase Zaragoza’s identity and its Holy Week to visitors arriving from other parts of the country.
The activities will be held at some of the city’s most emblematic venues, including the Basilica of El Pilar, Plaza del Pilar, the Church of Santa Isabel of Portugal (San Cayetano), La Seo and the Patio de la Infanta. These are the main events scheduled for each day.
Thursday, October 22
The spirit of Holy Week will begin to be felt on Thursday. Although the official opening will not take place until the following day, San Cayetano, one of the major centers of Zaragoza’s Holy Week, will host a prayer vigil at 7:45 p.m. under the motto 'Faith, an immortal pillar'. The event will focus on Saint John the Evangelist, patron saint of young members of religious brotherhoods.
Once it ends, the activity will move onto the streets. At 9:00 p.m., the procession of Saint John the Evangelist will begin at San Cayetano and head to the Basilica of El Pilar, carrying the image belonging to the Brotherhood of the Seven Words. The procession will travel along Plaza del Justicia, Manifestación and Alfonso I, accompanied by young people from different brotherhoods and confraternities who will play the instruments characteristic of Zaragoza’s Holy Week in the middle of October.
7:45 p.m.: JOHC prayer vigil at the Church of Santa Isabel of Portugal (San Cayetano). 9:00 p.m.: procession of Saint John the Evangelist from San Cayetano to the Basilica of El Pilar. 10:00 p.m.: volunteers’ dinner at Bar La Ría.
Friday, October 23
Friday will mark the official start of the 13th National Meeting of Young Members of Brotherhoods and Confraternities. From 12:00 p.m., participants will be able to collect their accreditation at Casa de la Iglesia and, that afternoon, the different delegations will gather at one of Zaragoza’s best-known landmarks.
At 8:40 p.m., an offering of flowers to Our Lady of the Pillar will take place, with representatives of the participating delegations bringing flowers from their respective brotherhoods and confraternities. Just 20 minutes later, at 9:00 p.m., the grand opening ceremony will begin in Plaza del Pilar, designed as a presentation of Zaragoza and its traditions. It will include a showcase of Zaragoza’s Holy Week, as well as jotas, historical reenactments and a performance of the Crystal Rosary.
12:00 to 8:30 p.m.: accreditation collection at Casa de la Iglesia. 8:40 p.m.: offering to Our Lady of the Pillar at the Basilica. 9:00 p.m.: opening ceremony in Plaza del Pilar. After the ceremony: party for delegates at Tres Mares restaurant.
Saturday, October 24
Saturday will feature a large part of the meeting’s activities. The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Fundación Ibercaja Patio de la Infanta with an opening prayer, followed by talks and the presentation of bids from cities seeking to host the next edition of JOHC. Activities will then move to Colegio Compañía de María, where there will be stands, a workshop-conference and a meal for members of different brotherhoods.
But the main event will come in the afternoon. The 'Ad Salvatorem' exhibition at La Seo can be visited until 4:00 p.m., featuring the images that will later take part in one of the meeting’s most eagerly awaited events. Between 6:30 and 9:00 p.m., the extraordinary procession of the 13th JOHC Meeting will take place, bringing Holy Week and its brotherhood atmosphere back to Zaragoza’s streets outside their usual dates.
9:30 a.m.: opening prayer at Fundación Ibercaja Patio de la Infanta. 9:45 a.m.: first talk at the Patio de la Infanta. 10:30 a.m.: presentation of bids to host the next JOHC. 11:30 a.m.: break and transfer to Colegio Compañía de María. 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.: stands open. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: workshop-conference. 2:00 p.m.: meal for members of different brotherhoods. Until 4:00 p.m.: visit to the 'Ad Salvatorem' exhibition at La Seo. 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.: extraordinary procession of the 13th JOHC Meeting from La Seo. 10:00 p.m.: gala dinner at Aura restaurant.
Sunday, October 25
After four days of activities, JOHC Zaragoza 2026 will come to an end on Sunday, October 25. The closing day will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a thanksgiving Mass at the Basilica of El Pilar, conceived as the religious conclusion of the meeting and as an opportunity to bring the young members of the brotherhoods together for the last time before they return to their cities.
At 12:00 p.m., Saint John the Evangelist will once again take part in a procession, returning from El Pilar to San Cayetano. The procession will travel along Alfonso I, Manifestación and Plaza del Justicia, accompanied once again by the JOHC instrumental group. Once there, one of the secrets left unanswered throughout the weekend will also be revealed: which city will be chosen to host the next edition of the National Meeting of Young Members of Brotherhoods and Confraternities.
11:00 a.m.: thanksgiving Mass at the Basilica of El Pilar. 12:00 p.m.: transfer of Saint John the Evangelist from the Basilica of El Pilar to San Cayetano. 12:30 p.m.: vote count, announcement of the new host city and presentation of the conclusions of the 13th JOHC Meeting at San Cayetano.
