Día de la Cruz in Granada 2026: Traditions and May Crosses Celebrations

One of the most popular festivals in Andalusia, the Día de la Cruz, takes place in Granada on 3 May. This tradition has been celebrated here since the 17th century.


In English, this festival is typically referred to as "Day of the Cross", "Crosses of May" or "May Crosses Festivities".

Every year, thousands of visitors come from all over Spain to enjoy the celebrations that take place during this festival in Granada. Also, Córdoba celebrates this.

This year the festival of the May Crosses will take place in Granada over the weekend, on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 of May 2026.

The Origins of This Tradition

The festival originated in Granada in the 17th century, when neighbours in the San Lázaro district wanted to celebrate the construction of an alabaster cross in 1625 by singing and dancing around it.

The tradition extended to the most popular districts of Granada, such as the Albaicín and Realejo.

Children began to build small altars with a cross and decorated them with flowers, pottery and copper objects all over the city. They collected coins from people who came to see their crosses, as a contribution towards their efforts.

Fortunately, many of these traditions are still observed today. One of the most popular an unusual practices is to display an apple with open scissors stuck in it among the decorations on the crosses.

This is done to avoid criticism, since in Spanish, the word for that type of apple (pero) is the same as the word for 'but'. So, it's a way of saying, 'We accept no buts.'

The Day of the Cross Today

On the Day of the Cross in Granada, you simply have to have a good time. Take a stroll through the city centre and soak up the cheerful, festive atmosphere.

Throughout the day, you’ll have the chance to enjoy Andalusian folklore, thanks to the cultural activities organised by the City Council on the various stages set up in some of the streets and squares.

It is traditional to visit the prize-winning crosses to admire their decorations, enjoy the music and join in the dancing. The most highly awarded ones usually have long queues of people waiting to get in.

Tradition dictates that the May crosses in Granada should be decorated with: Grenadian handcrafts, such as inlay and Grenadian ceramics; traditional Andalusian courtyards plants, such as geraniums and pilistras; and embroidered Manila shawls and copper utensils.

Official May Crosses Competition

On this festive day, it is common to see women and children all over Granada wearing the typical Andalusian outfits.

Additionally, beautiful Andalusian horses might parade in the streets.

The City Council organises a May Crosses competition every year to promote this tradition.

There are five categories in which they compete: patios (courtyards), streets and squares, shop windows, schools, and, for the first time this year, religious brotherhoods.

The prizes are quite generous, amounting to as much as €2,500. Thousands of carnations will decorate the many crosses installed all over the city.

The aroma of so many flowers perfumes Granada and invites people to enjoy such a special day.

The atmosphere is unmatched. The Granadines, adults and children alike, walk around the city visiting various crosses, dancing and celebrating this day in Granada.

Where to go on Día de la Cruz in Granada

You should visit the Albaicín, where the May crosses erected in beautiful squares usually win the top prizes.

You shourld also go to the Realejo, where religious brotherhoods usually win the ' patios' section of the competition.

And, enjoy the amazing atmosphere at the Plaza del Carmen, where a stage has been built for the flamenco performances taking place here during the festivities.

Location of the May Crosses in Granada in 2026

Only a few days before the Day of the Cross, the list of the May crosses that will be competing is released. The map below shows the May crosses from last year, which could be a useful reference since many of them repeat every year.

We'll update it soon; please check back in the next few days.

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What to do during the May Crosses celebrations in Granada?

The 2026 Day of the Cross festival in Granada will take place over the whole weekend, starting on Saturday 2 May at 12 noon, when the official opening speech will be delivered in the courtyard of the Town Hall. This is another tradition of the festival.

It is also a widely celebrated festival in the villages of the province; so much so that it is a public holiday in many of them.

There are usually free musical performances featuring flamenco dances. Some of these are typical of Granada, such as 'La Reja', which is not as well known as the sevillanas.

Visit the crosses to admire their decorations, enjoy the music and, if you dare, join in with the dancing!

Only those located in private patios will be permitted to serve food and drink to the public.

This year 2026, 50 May crosses will participate in the official competition in Granada, distributed as follows among the different categories: 5 in streets and squares; 9 in patios; 8 in shop windows; 11 in schools; and 17 in relegious brotherhoods.

The prizes for the 2026 official May Crosses competition will be announced after the traditional proclamation ceremony (pregón oficial) in the Town Hall courtyard on 2 May at midday.

Then, the musical performances in the Plaza del Carmen will begin, marking the start of the party.

The festival will continue on Sunday 3 May 2026, with more musical performances taking place in different locations. At around midnight, the decorations will be collected and dismantled, officially closing the May crosses in Granada.

The Ups and Downs of the Festival

Throughout its history, the festival has experienced various ups and downs, including nearly disappearing following the prohibition of soliciting money for crosses in 1883.

Thanks to neighbours and families who kept the tradition alive privately for many years, the festival began to revive in the early 19th century, when the first official altar competition was held.

Starting in 1964, the 3rd of May, or 'Day of the Cross', was officially reinstated as a major event in the city of Granada's calendar.

History often repeats itself, and the festival declined a few years ago when it became an excuse for large-scale drinking parties. Consequently, the Granada City Council prohibited the installation of bars and music at all May crosses.

Nowadays, the Day of the Cross has made a resurgence and recovered its former glory. We can once again experience this celebration just as it began nearly 400 years ago, with singing and dancing around the cross.

Page Updated: May 01, 2026

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