Cádiz Carnival

When: Contest at the Gran Teatro Falla from 8 January to 5 February 2027, with the Grand Final on Friday 5th. Street carnival: dates to be confirmed (to be confirmed)

Chirigotas and comparsas at the Gran Teatro Falla and in the streets. From El Puerto you reach Cádiz by train or catamaran, no car needed.

The Cádiz Carnival has two parts. The first is the official contest of carnival groups (COAC) at the Gran Teatro Falla, from 8 January to 5 February 2027, with the Grand Final on Friday 5th. Two kinds of group compete: chirigotas, who sing humorous songs about current events, and comparsas, whose lyrics are more serious and critical.

The second is the street carnival, which fills the old town of Cádiz: La Viña, the Plaza de San Juan de Dios and around the market. The 2027 programme is not out yet (to be confirmed). If it follows the 2026 pattern, the opening speech (pregón) would be on the Saturday after the final and the parade on the Sunday; Ash Wednesday falls on 10 February, and after it comes the Carnaval Chiquito, a final, more local weekend.

During carnival it is not worth driving into Cádiz. From El Puerto there is the local train (cercanías) and the catamaran, which takes about 30 minutes from the town centre. From Mirador Puerto Sherry the centre of El Puerto is about 10 minutes by car, and from Mirador Fuentebravía the easy option is to drive to the catamaran. You can also get there by train from Jerez: Cádiz is 20 to 40 minutes away.

Our tips

For the first weekend of the street carnival, book three or four months ahead.
Tickets for the Falla are very hard to get: what you can enjoy without a ticket is the street carnival.
The catamaran runs fewer sailings at weekends and on public holidays than on weekdays: check the timetable before you go.
From Fuentebravía and Puerto Sherry you can also use the Consorcio buses linking Rota, El Puerto and Cádiz (M-060, M-061 and M-062).