The Feria de Abril 2026 kicks off in Seville — the city’s biggest festival, which this year will again follow a shortened schedule. The short week format, established after the 2024 referendum, is in place for the second year in a row: the official opening will take place on the night of April 21, with the event ending precisely at midnight on April 26. As El Pais notes, city authorities have focused on safety, accessibility, and logistics, which has influenced the event site regulations and traffic arrangements.
Changes in schedule and accessibility
The main venue of the Feria — the Los Remedios district — will be open to visitors from 12:00 to 06:00. All casetas, hosting the main evening and night events, will operate during the same hours. For families with children and amusement ride enthusiasts, Calle del Infierno will open from 11:00 and close an hour later than usual. An important innovation is the introduction of special quiet hours for people with autism spectrum disorders: on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 16:00 to 19:00, noise levels at the Feria will be reduced.
This year, authorities have restricted the access of horses and carriages: they will only be allowed on the Feria grounds from 12:00 to 20:00. This decision aims to increase safety and facilitate evacuation in case of emergencies. Additionally, one of the main streets — Pepe Luis Vázquez — will be extended and partially reorganized to allow access for service vehicles and animals. Full reconstruction work on the street is planned for next year.
Key events and new features
The traditional alumbrao — the lighting of the illuminations and the ceremonial opening of the Feria gates — will take place at midnight from April 20 to 21. Several hours earlier, on the evening of April 20, city residents will gather for the ‘lunes del pescaíto’ dinner in casetas to mark the start of the festivities. Special attention has been given to inclusivity: for the first time in recent years, city services will organize separate hours for people with reduced mobility and those with special needs.
Wednesday, April 22, has been declared a public holiday in Seville — this will allow more residents to visit the Feria during the day; horse rides and family gatherings in the casetas are especially popular on this day. The festivities will traditionally conclude with fireworks on the night of April 27.
Rides and musical accompaniment
Calle del Infierno — the largest entertainment area of the Feria — this year covers 87,000 square meters and brings together around 400 rides. To enhance the atmosphere, the organizers have launched their own music channel, ‘Canal Feria,’ which will play throughout the park and be controlled directly by ride operators.
Safety and logistics have also become key issues for other major events in Spain. For example, in Valencia, the authorities recently tightened rules for tourist apartments and transport to reduce the strain on the city center — you can read more about this in the article on new restrictions for tourists and residents of Valencia.
Commerce, television and bullfights
As part of the Feria de Abril, large-scale bullfights are traditionally held at the Real Maestranza arena. In 2026, performances by Spain’s leading toreros are scheduled: Morante de la Puebla, Roca Rey, Manzanares, Talavante, and others. The program runs from April 16 to 26, with a new series of fights each day featuring different matadors and breeders. Some of the bullfights will be broadcast free of charge on Canal Sur Televisión, while the rest will be shown on the paid platform OneToro TV.
According to El Pais, the Feria de Abril remains one of the most attended and anticipated spring events in Andalusia. This year, the organizers are focusing on combining tradition with modern safety standards, as well as expanding inclusive services for various groups of the population.
