School Blog

Every spring, Granada celebrates one of its most important and beloved festivals: the Corpus Christi Fair. In 2026, the celebrations will take place from May 30th to June 6th, filling the city with music, colour, tradition and joy.

Corpus Christi is originally a religious celebration with centuries of history, but in Granada it is also one of the city’s biggest popular festivals. During this special week, the atmosphere changes completely: the streets are decorated, the famous “carocas” — humorous drawings and poems — appear in the city centre, and the fairground comes alive with music, attractions, concerts and traditional food.

One of the most famous events of the week is “La Tarasca”, a traditional parade held on the Wednesday before Corpus Christi. The parade includes giant figures, musicians and “big heads” (cabezudos), but the star of the event is a woman riding a dragon-like creature. Every year, many locals also comment on the clothes worn by La Tarasca, as they often become a topic of fashion discussion in Granada.

The most important day of the festival is Thursday, June 4th, which is a local holiday in Granada. On this day, the solemn Corpus Christi procession takes place in the historic city centre. The streets fill with people watching the religious parade, accompanied by music, local authorities and many residents dressed elegantly or in traditional Andalusian style.

At night, the celebration continues at the fairground in Almanjáyar. There, visitors can enjoy “casetas” — festive tents where people dance sevillanas, eat tapas, listen to flamenco music and celebrate until late at night. Unlike some other Andalusian fairs, many of Granada’s casetas are public and open to everyone, making it easy for international students and visitors to join the experience.

The Corpus Fair is a perfect opportunity to discover Andalusian culture and experience Granada in a unique way. Religion, humour, flamenco, gastronomy and celebration all come together during one of the city’s most exciting weeks of the year.

If you are in Granada during Corpus week… get ready for an unforgettable experience!

On May 3rd, Granada comes alive with one of its most vibrant and beloved traditions: Día de la Cruz (Day of the Cross). On this special day, the city’s streets, squares, and courtyards are beautifully decorated with floral crosses, colorful shawls, and traditional ornaments, creating a unique and festive atmosphere.

For our school, this celebration is a wonderful opportunity for international students to experience Spanish culture firsthand. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in local traditions, enjoy music and typical food, and connect with the lively spirit of Granada.

We encourage all our students to explore the city, discover the most creative crosses, and interact with locals. It’s also the perfect moment to practice your Spanish in a real-life setting while enjoying an unforgettable cultural experience.

Don’t miss this special day—join the celebration and discover Granada at its most festive!

Granada is getting ready for one of its most magical nights: La Noche en Blanco, this Friday, April 24th. An evening when the city transforms into a vibrant stage filled with culture, art, music, and unique experiences that invite you to discover Granada from a whole new perspective.

At our Spanish school, we are excited to be part of this special celebration by opening our doors to students, travelers, and anyone passionate about language and culture. Because learning Spanish is not just about attending classes — it’s about living the city, feeling its energy, and connecting with its people.

During La Noche en Blanco, we invite you to join us for a different kind of experience: cultural workshops, language exchanges, and engaging activities designed to help you practice Spanish naturally while enjoying the lively atmosphere that fills the streets of Granada.

If you’re in the city, this is the perfect opportunity to meet us, discover our teaching approach, and become part of an international community learning Spanish in a dynamic and personal way.

And if you’re not in Granada yet… this night might just be the inspiration you need to come.

Live the language. Live Granada. Experience La Noche en Blanco with us.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Every spring, Granada fills with light, color, and joy to welcome one of its most anticipated celebrations: the “Abril para vivir” festival. This event transforms the city into a vibrant stage where music, culture, and community come together to create an unforgettable experience.

For several days, the streets, squares, and iconic corners of Granada host open-air concerts, cultural activities, and gatherings that invite both locals and international students to immerse themselves in the Andalusian spirit. From traditional sounds to contemporary performances, the festival offers a diverse program that reflects the city’s rich cultural heritage.

For our Spanish students, “Abril para vivir” is much more than a festival—it’s a unique opportunity to practice the language in a real-life setting, meet new people, and discover local traditions in an authentic and exciting way. Taking part in this event means experiencing Granada from within, feeling its energy, and becoming part of its cultural life.

At our school, we encourage all our students to enjoy this experience, explore the city, and embrace the festive atmosphere that makes April one of the most special times of the year. Because learning Spanish is also about living it—and there’s no better moment than this.

For further information visit the festival website

Holy Week in Granada is one of the most moving and spectacular celebrations of the year. During this special week from 29.03 to 05.04.2026, the city becomes a living stage where history, tradition, and emotion come together in a truly unforgettable way.

Processions wind through Granada’s historic center, the Albaicín, and areas surrounding the Alhambra, creating breathtaking scenes against the backdrop of centuries-old monuments. The sound of drums and solemn marching music fills the streets, while candlelight, incense, and moments of profound silence create a powerful and emotional atmosphere. Each brotherhood carefully prepares every detail, from the religious statues and flower arrangements to the traditional robes worn by the participants.

Experiencing Holy Week in Granada is not only a religious event but also a unique cultural experience, even for non-religious visitors. It offers the perfect opportunity to discover Andalusian traditions, enjoy local seasonal cuisine, and feel the deep cultural identity of the city. For visitors and students alike, Holy Week is a remarkable way to connect with Granada’s history and soul.

Experience the 12th World Tango Summit while learning Spanish

In March 2026, Granada becomes the world capital of tango with the 12th World Tango Summit (March 12–22, 2026). At Escuela Montalbán, we invite you to live an unforgettable experience: learn Spanish and dance tango in one of Spain’s most beautiful cities, right in the heart of this international festival.

Our Spanish and Tango combined course offers Spanish language classes adapted to your level, together with tango lessons taught by professional dancers. And the experience goes far beyond the classroom: you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in the World Tango Summit, enjoying shows, milongas, concerts, and meeting tango lovers from all over the world.

Why come to Granada in March?

• Learn Spanish at a well-established school with an international atmosphere
• Dance tango and improve your skills while practicing Spanish
• Enjoy the World Tango Summit 2026 in a unique cultural setting
• Meet people from around the world who share your passion
• Discover Granada: its history, culture, cuisine, and vibrant life

March is the perfect time to combine language, music, and culture!

Granada, a city full of history and charm, is the perfect setting for the acclaimed Candlelight Concerts. These events, combining high-quality music with a unique atmosphere, are becoming a must-see experience for both locals and tourists.

These concerts are a series of performances where music is played in an environment lit only by candles. This setup creates a magical atmosphere, perfect for enjoying live music in an intimate and special way. In Granada, these concerts are held at various historical and iconic places, such as churches, palaces, or gardens.

Granada is known for its stunning cultural heritage, and attending a Candlelight Concert is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the city’s history while enjoying live music. The concerts typically feature a wide range of music genres, from classical compositions by great masters like Beethoven or Mozart, to modern renditions of movie soundtracks or contemporary hits.

The soft candlelight transforms the venue, creating a cozy and enchanting ambiance that allows you to enjoy the music in a completely different way. Whether you enjoy classical music, jazz, or even tributes to artists like Queen or Coldplay, the concerts offer a wide variety of performances to suit all tastes.

In Granada, the concerts are held in historic locations that complement the magic of the music. Some of the most popular venues include:

The Alhambra offers one of the most impressive experiences, with concerts held in its gardens or within its magnificent rooms.

The Royal Chape lis perfect for classical music lovers and those who enjoy more solemn settings.

Palacio de los Patos is an elegant venue that blends modern and traditional, ideal for enjoying contemporary music performances.

Candlelight Concerts in Granada are more than just music: they are a sensory experience that combines musical art with the magic of candlelight and the city’s historical heritage. If you haven’t had the chance to attend one yet, don’t miss out! It will undoubtedly be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your stay in Granada.

The Granada Flamenco Biennial is an ambitious artistic project organised by Granada City Council, which arose from the city's aspiration to become European Capital of Culture in 2031. It was also the right time for the city to reconnect with an art form that has contributed so much to the city, just as the city itself has contributed to flamenco. With this major initiative, which will be held in odd-numbered years to alternate with the Seville Biennial (held in even-numbered years), the Granada City Council aims to promote the flamenco art industry in the city of Granada and thus enhance its unique culture and idiosyncrasies in the flamenco styles typical of the city.

The Granada Flamenco Biennial, in parallel with the Seville Biennial, will be held in odd-numbered years, but in the same period, during the second week of September, and in different venues around the city, thus restoring flamenco's splendour to one of the most important cities in the genre and placing it on the international circuits of flamenco music.

Check the whole programme on the official FESTIVAL WEBSITE

The Corpus Christi Fair is the city's main festival. Every year, it begins on a Saturday at midnight with the alumbrao, the lighting of the thousands of light bulbs on the façade, and ends the following Saturday with a fireworks display.

More than five hundred years old, these Corpus celebrations were first held under royal mandate. They form part of the most joyful traditions preserved by the city and throughout its history they have served as a break in the daily life of the people of Granada, providing days of healthy conviviality and fun.

Granada smells of Corpus Christi and dresses up as Corpus Christi during these days when a whole range of cultural events, among which the bullfighting festivities stand out, share time with the ornate stalls and the thrilling swings of the fair.

The fair usually takes place in the month of June but does not have a specific date, as it depends on Easter Week. The way to know the beginning of Corpus Christi is to count 60 days from Easter Monday, the first Monday after Easter Sunday, and this will give us the Thursday of Corpus Christi, the big day of the week.

The fair atmosphere can be enjoyed both day and night. The elegant horse-drawn carriages full of people dressed in the typical regional costumes, the flamenco atmosphere, the ‘casetas’ (stalls) and all their ornaments, all of which are decorated to the smallest detail.

In the Granada fair, unlike other fairs, the public casetas are interspersed with the private ones so that the visitor can freely access each of them.

During the week of the fair there are two processions that go through the main streets of the city:

Every Wednesday of the fair, at mid-morning, the Tarasca, a mannequin wearing the clothes that will be in fashion for the following season, rides through the city on the back of a fierce dragon that seems to be surrendered at her feet. So the best kept secret, until her departure, is the outfit she will be wearing that day. La Tarasca, it could be said, is the pagan counterpoint to the religious festival.

Granada's big festival is organised around Thursday, the day of Corpus Christi, when the whole city fills the streets to watch the procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the altar.

On the Sunday of the week following Corpus Christi, a small procession takes place around the Cathedral, the so-called Octava del Corpus.