THE VIRGIN OF THE PILLAR WILL PRESIDE OVER THE SQUARE THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVITIES
The Fiestas del Pilar 2026 will begin on Saturday, October 10, with the traditional opening speech in Plaza del Pilar, which attracts around 45,000 people every year and is expected to be one of the largest ever, as it marks the start of the long weekend. The main day will be Monday, October 12, when the feast day of the Virgin of the Pillar will be celebrated with the traditional Flower Offering, which is being considered for the first time in its history as a 24-hour event.
As it falls on a Monday, coinciding with the third day of the festivities, the Virgin of the Pillar will preside over Plaza del Pilar from its structure, which is more than 15 meters high, and with its mantle made up of more than 7 million flowers throughout the celebrations. In this way, the square will be filled with color all week, something that could not happen this year because the offering took place one day before the end of the festivities.
2025 Crystal Rosary. Photo: Pilar Álvarez
If everything goes as planned, the Flower Offering and the Crystal Rosary will take place on Tuesday, October 13, when Zaragoza will be filled with solidarity and devotion. Therefore, the festivities' closing fireworks will take place on Sunday, October 18.
LA OREJA DE VAN GOGH AND SERGIO DALMA RETURN TO ZARAGOZA
The city will prepare for the festivities with concerts by La Oreja de Van Gogh, who are returning to Zaragoza with Amaia Montero at the helm as part of their “Tantas cosas que contar” tour. The concerts will take place on October 9 and 10 at the Príncipe Felipe Pavilion. However, only those who were quickest will be able to enjoy this new era for the group, as tickets for both concerts have sold out.
The tour will begin in May in Bilbao and visit cities including Madrid, Fuengirola, Santander, Valencia, A Coruña and Valladolid, among others. In Zaragoza, the band will revisit some of its best-known hits, such as “Rosas,” “Cuídate,” “20 de enero” and “La playa.”
One day later, Sergio Dalma will take the stage, arriving in the Aragonese capital to present his album "Ritorno a Via Dalma", the 23rd album of his extensive career. Tickets will go on sale next November 5 at 12:00 p.m.
NON-SCHOOL DAYS
As for public holidays, Monday 12, Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 will be non-school days, while Thursday 15 and Friday 16 will be school days. As a result, students will enjoy a five-day long weekend and workers a three-day break, with only Monday, October 12, being a public holiday in the Aragonese capital.
The Fiestas del Pilar 2026 will conclude on Sunday, October 18, as is usually the case. This did not happen in 2025, when the day of the Pilar fell on a Sunday and the final events were moved to Monday. The next edition will feature nine days of celebrations, one fewer than in 2025, but it will end on a Sunday rather than a Monday.
