Nightlife businesses expect Halloween to generate 29.1% more revenue than an ordinary Saturday. Vicente Pizcueta of España de Noche says the date, which falls on a Saturday this year, makes it one of the sector’s biggest nights.
More than six million people are expected to go out across Spain, according to the Halloween Outlook Study by the National Federation of Leisure and Entertainment Businesses (España de Noche), within the Observatory of Leisure and Tourism. The study forecasts a 1.7% rise in turnover compared with last year. More than one million people are expected to attend in costume at nearly 16,000 themed parties.
Halloween has become the most important annual celebration for 71.7% of businesses surveyed, ahead of New Year’s Eve. The forecast comes as the sector awaits final attendance figures following the rail accident in Urda, Toledo. España de Noche says it has found no significant disruption to planned events so far, although advance ticket sales may be behind previous years. Pizcueta says around 70% of Halloween tickets are usually sold at the door.
There have been local cancellations. On 29 October, the council in l’Alfàs del Pi suspended two youth events: a “Blood on the Clocktower” role-playing session scheduled for that day and a family party planned for 30 October, featuring a parade and children’s workshops, followed by a mini-disco. The municipality said the decision followed the official mourning declared by the Spanish Government. The cancellations are described in a report on the local cancellations. Other municipal events were cancelled or postponed in northern Madrid. They included events in Alcobendas, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Algete, Colmenar Viejo, Tres Cantos, Paracuellos de Jarama and El Molar. Córdoba postponed events planned for 30 and 31 October; most were moved to Sunday, one to Monday, and others had no replacement date at the time of the announcement. The Balambam Boo Fest, scheduled for 31 October in Toledo, also postponed its 2026 edition.
The employment forecast has risen to 29,000 temporary jobs from 21,000 last year, an increase of 40%, according to España de Noche’s estimate. Pizcueta says the recruitment was already largely arranged. Meanwhile, 39.3% of venues expect to connect afternoon activities with their night-time sessions over the weekend.
Average admission is €12.60. Entry is free at 28% of venues, where businesses rely on customers’ purchases inside. Among venues charging admission, the average is highest in Catalonia at €17.50 and lowest in Galicia at €8.50.
The event also draws a younger audience than nightlife does during the rest of the year: the average age is 27.7, compared with 32. Local residents make up the audience at 74.1% of venues, while visitors from elsewhere in the same province are reported at 39.8%.
Operators remain focused on safety as attendance rises. Pizcueta says venues continue to review protections for customers, including measures addressing mobile-phone and bag thefts around tourist areas.
