Tamborrada 2027
24 hours of drumming through the streets of San Sebastián on the feast day of the city’s patron saint.
What happens
On 20 January, San Sebastián celebrates its patron saint, Saint Sebastian. At midnight, the city flag is raised on Plaza de la Constitución and the Tamborrada begins: companies of drummers dressed as cooks and soldiers march through the city for 24 hours, playing Raimundo Sarriegi’s march. The children’s Tamborrada parades during the day on 20 January. The festival is closely linked to the city’s gastronomic societies, the txokos.
The Tamborrada fits well with a food tour of the Basque Country: pintxos in San Sebastián’s old town, cider houses during the txotx season from mid-January, and Rioja wineries.
Where
throughout San Sebastián, in Spain’s Basque Country; the opening and closing take place on Plaza de la Constitución in the old town.
Open map ↗Schedule
| from the evening of 19 January until midnight on 20 January 2027. | At midnight as 20 January begins, the city flag is raised on Plaza de la Constitución and the drummers start their march. Companies of drummers parade through the streets throughout 20 January, with the children’s Tamborrada in the evening. At midnight at the end of 20 January, the flag is lowered. The 2027 programme has not yet been published. |
Getting there
- from Paris, take a TGV to Hendaye, about 4 hours 30 minutes, then an Euskotren train to San Sebastián, 35 minutes.
- The nearest airports are San Sebastián, Biarritz, about 45 minutes away by bus, and Bilbao, about 1 hour 15 minutes away.
Tickets and admission
free.
Tips
- For the flag-raising, arrive by 23:00; the square fills up early.
- Book San Sebastián hotels several months in advance for these dates.
- During the day, enjoy pintxos in the old town.