The Bib-Rambla nativity market opens on November 14 and brings Christmas forward in Granada
Topics Ayuntamiento de Granada Huéscar
The nativity stalls return to Bib-Rambla on Saturday 14 and the artisans arrive at the Fuente de las Batallas on December 4. There is still no programme for the rest of Christmas in Granada and its villages, so we report what there was last year.
Redacción ·
Christmas begins in Granada on Saturday, November 14, when the stalls selling figures, moss and little houses return to the plaza de Bib-Rambla. It is the first date of a season that, between the city and the villages, fills December with nativity scenes, lights, zambombas and parades.
At this point, very few events have an official date for 2026: the two markets in the city centre, which the Ayuntamiento set in spring. We cover those first. For the rest, which is usually announced at the end of November, we give what was held last year so you know what to expect.
| Fecha | Lugar | Cita |
|---|---|---|
| Del 14 de noviembre al 6 de enero | Granada, plaza de Bib-Rambla | Mercado del Belén Tradicional |
| Del 4 de diciembre al 6 de enero | Granada, Fuente de las Batallas | Mercado de Artesanía de Navidad |
| 2 de enero | Granada | Día de la Toma |
Bib-Rambla and the Fuente de las Batallas, the two markets in the city centre
The Mercado del Belén Tradicional opens on Saturday, November 14 in the plaza de Bib-Rambla and stays until Wednesday, January 6. It will have up to thirteen stalls, and only nativity figures and items, ornaments and Christmas decoration can be sold there. This is set out in the rules approved by the Ayuntamiento de Granada in May.
A few steps away, around the Fuente de las Batallas, the Mercado de Artesanía opens on Friday, December 4, or on the day the lights are switched on if the date changes, and it also lasts until January 6. There are up to 28 stalls and everything sold there has been made by the artisan themselves.
Both markets open at least from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00. On the afternoons of December 24 and 31, and on December 25 and January 1, the stalls may be closed.
Watch out for the dates circulating online: some guides give December dates for the nativity market. This year, as last year, it opens in mid-November.
In the city, what was held last year
The Ayuntamiento de Granada has not yet presented the 2026 Christmas programme. Last year the lights were switched on on Saturday, November 29 in the plaza del Carmen, after a music and dance show by the bailaor Agustín Barajas. This year there are general elections on November 29, so the date remains to be seen.
This is what was held in 2025, according to the municipal programme, and what can be expected this year:
Christmas 2025 in the city
- Municipal nativity scene, set up by the Asociación de Amigos del Belén de Granada in the courtyard of the Ayuntamiento: from December 3 to January 4, from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 21:00.
- Cartero Real, also in the courtyard of the Ayuntamiento: from December 17 to January 4, with the same hours.
- Traditional nativity scene on the paseo del Violón: from November 29 to January 6, from 11:00 to 22:00.
- Convent sweets market in Bib-Rambla: from November 29 to December 30, from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00.
- Christmas tree with a ride in Bib-Rambla and ice rink, zip line, carousel and Christmas train on the paseo del Salón: from November 29 to January 6, from 10:00 to 15:00 and from 16:00 to 22:00.
- Observation wheel on the esplanade of the Palacio de Congresos: from December 1 to February 2.
- Videomapping on the edificio Zaida, at the Fuente de las Batallas: from November 29 to January 6, at 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00.
- «Sabor Granada» product fair on the paseo del Violón: from December 5 to 12, from 11:00 to 21:00.
- Flamenco zambombas at La Chumbera, in the Sacromonte: on December 13, 19 and 20, at 20:30.
From January 2 to 5: the Toma and the Reyes
On Saturday, January 2, Granada celebrates, as every year, the Día de la Toma with the institutional events presided over by the mayor's office at the Ayuntamiento.
Three days later, on Tuesday, January 5, comes the Cabalgata de Reyes. The Ayuntamiento has not yet given the time or the route. Last year, the mayor received the Reyes Magos and the Estrella de la Navidad in the morning on the esplanade of the Puerta de la Justicia de la Alhambra, before the parade.
In Monachil, associations that want to enter a float in its parade have until November 12 to apply for municipal funding. We cover it here.
Motril, Christmas on the Costa
Last year Motril presented almost a hundred activities. These were the main ones, according to the Ayuntamiento's programme:
Christmas 2025 in Motril
- Switching on of the lights, with the show «Navidad enciende su luz»: on Friday, December 5, at 18:30, in the plaza de España.
- Zambombá «Buena Nueva», with Davinia Jaén and Iván Zarzuela, among others: on December 11, at 21:30, in the plaza de España. Free.
- Neighbourhood zambombas: the one in San José on December 17, and the one in La Nacla and the one in la Vera Cruz on December 20.
- Motríteres festival, puppet shows for families: from December 11 to 13, at the Teatro Calderón and the parque de los Pueblos de América.
- Campanadas in the plaza de España, with grapes, party favours and a concert: on December 31.
- Arrival of the Emisario Real: on January 4, at 17:00, in the plaza de España.
- Cabalgata de Reyes: on January 5, at 18:30, starting at the instituto Giner de los Ríos.
Baza and Huéscar, from the Purísima to San Antón
In Baza, Christmas begins with the lighting of the Plaza Mayor and its great star of light, which falls from the tower of the iglesia Mayor. Last year it was on December 3, the same day the great Belén Municipal was inaugurated, set up by the belenista association La Encarnación in the courtyard of the Museo Arqueológico. It could be visited for free until January 5.
Before that, the Ayuntamiento de Baza puts a thousand BastiBonos on sale from November 5 to 15 to encourage pre-Christmas shopping: they cost 15 euros and are worth 20 at participating shops, and they are bought online.
In Huéscar, Christmas has its own motto: «De la Purísima a San Antón, Pascuas son». It runs from December 7 to January 17 and preserves traditions that are now rarely seen elsewhere. This is what there was last year, according to el programa municipal:
Christmas 2025 in Huéscar
- Los Despertadores: they came out on the night of December 7, at 23:00, from the ermita de la Soledad.
- Aguilandos de la cuadrilla Cuesta las Chinas, who go around the houses singing: on December 20.
- Christmas market in the Plaza Mayor: on December 22, from 12:00.
- Zambomba de Solera Flamenca in the plaza Santa Adela: on December 26, at 19:00.
- Baile de Ánimas in the Plaza Mayor, after the misa de Inocentes: on December 28.
- Arrival of the Cartero Real: on January 3, at 18:00.
- Cabalgata de Reyes: on January 5, at 18:30, from the Casa de la Juventud.
- Procesión de San Antón, which closes the festivities: on January 17.
Lanjarón, Huétor Tájar and Armilla
Lanjarón switched on its lights on Friday, December 5 last year. Papá Noel opened his workshop in the plaza Juanito Valderrama, the band accompanied the residents to the belén municipal, the work of Antonio Funes, and the lights were switched on in the plaza de la Constitución. The streets were decorated by themes, with a nacimiento in the barrio Hondillo and a «Polar Express» station in San Roque.
Huétor Tájar boasts one of the largest belenes in Spain. The Belén Monumental covers more than one hundred square metres, has some 500 figures, many of them moving, and recreates corners and monuments from all over Spain. It is prepared every year, from the summer, by a team from the Ayuntamiento, and is usually inaugurated on the puente de la Inmaculada.
In the metropolitan area, Armilla switched on its Christmas on Sunday, November 30 in the plaza del Ayuntamiento, with chocolatada and entertainment for children.
And the snow
The Sierra Nevada station has not yet announced when the ski season opens. The date will be published on la web de la estación.
In What's On: Cabalgata de Reyes Magos 2027 · 5 de January
In What's On: Mercado del Belén Tradicional de Bib-Rambla · from 14 de November to 6 de January
Shall we let you know what matters?