Velá of Santiago and Santa Ana (Triana)

The Velá of Triana was born in the 13th century. According to Visit Seville, its origin lies in 1266, when Alfonso X ordered the parish church of Santa Ana to be built after being cured of an eye ailment. The local people's night vigil (velá) beside the church on 25 and 26 July grew over the years into the city's oldest open-air festival.

From a religious vigil it soon became a popular festival, with stalls, improvised taverns and dancing by the river. Today it is one of Seville's Fiestas Mayores, along with Holy Week and the Fair, and the City Council publishes its programme through the Triana district.

In Triana: Calle Betis, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, where the stalls and the greasy pole are set up; Plaza del Altozano, stage for the concerts and the opening speech; Calle San Jacinto and the Triana bridge. The parish church of Santa Ana remains the devotional centre.

During the Velá Calle Betis and Plaza del Altozano are closed to traffic, as is the Isabel II (Triana) bridge. In 2026 Tussam kept its usual lines to Triana (cross-town lines 5 and 6, circular lines C1 to C4 and radial lines 40 and 43), and two temporary taxi ranks were set up on Pagés del Corro, from 10 pm to 6 am. Scooters and bicycles are not allowed in the pedestrian area.

The greasy pole (cucaña) is the star challenge: a greased pole sticks out over the Guadalquivir from Calle Betis and young people compete to grab the flag at the end; it has been documented since 1910 and takes place every afternoon of the Velá. The Triana bridge is covered with paper lanterns and there are concerts every night in the Altozano.

At the stalls people eat grilled sardines, and there are popular contests, a night regatta and other sports events. The festival closes on the 26th, Saint Anne's Day, with the Gala de los Trianeros, at which the City Council presents the Honorary Trianero and Trianero of the Year awards, followed by fireworks over the river.