Nativity scenes, markets and lights: the Christmas that already has a date in Seville and its province
Topics Alcalá del Río Fuentes de Andalucía Gines Plaza de España
The Feria del Belén opens on Saturday 7 next to the Cathedral, Alcalá del Río is already selling tickets for its living nativity scene and Gines, La Rinconada and Fuentes de Andalucía have dates for their markets. And what is expected, based on what there was last year, in the capital and the towns.
Redacción ·
Christmas starts in Seville on Saturday, November 7, when the stalls selling figures and moss return to avenida de la Constitución. It is the first date of a season that, between the city and the towns, fills December with living nativity scenes, markets, lights and children's parks.
At this point only a few events have an official date for 2026. We list those first. For the rest, which are usually announced at the end of November, we give what happened last year so you know what to expect.
| Fecha | Lugar | Cita |
|---|---|---|
| Del 6 al 8 de noviembre | Estepa | XI Polvorón Vespero |
| Del 7 de noviembre al 22 de diciembre | Sevilla, avenida de la Constitución | XXXIII Feria del Belén |
| Del 4 al 7 de diciembre | Fuentes de Andalucía, plaza de España | III Mercadillo de Navidad |
| Del 4 al 8 de diciembre | La Rinconada, El Palenque de El Abrazo | Mercadillo Navideño |
| Del 4 de diciembre al 4 de enero | La Rinconada, El Abrazo | Parque temático navideño |
| 5, 6 y 7 de diciembre | Alcalá del Río, centro histórico | Belén viviente «Sucedió en Belén» |
| Del 10 al 13 de diciembre | Gines, centro del pueblo | Mercado Medieval y Navideño |
| 5 de enero | Sevilla | Cabalgata de Reyes del Ateneo |
From November 7 to December 22: the Feria del Belén
The Feria del Belén celebrates its XXXIII edition from Saturday, November 7 to Tuesday, December 22, on avenida de la Constitución and calle Fray Ceferino González, between the Cathedral and the Archivo de Indias. It is organised by the Asociación de Comerciantes del Belén de Sevilla with the Delegación de Fiestas Mayores del Ayuntamiento, and entry is free. There are stalls selling figures, little houses, moss, cork and everything needed to set up the nativity scene at home.
Watch out for the dates circulating on social media: some posts still give last year's, from November 8 to December 23. This year's are from the 7th to the 22nd.
December 5, 6 and 7: the living nativity scene of Alcalá del Río
The earliest living nativity scene in the province is «Sucedió en Belén», in Alcalá del Río, which reaches its twentieth edition. It is organised by the Real Hermandad de la Soledad and is not in a single square: it is a route of about one kilometre through the historic centre, with eight scenes. The entrance and the ticket office are in plaza Mariana Pineda.
It will be on Saturday, December 5, Sunday, December 6 and Monday, December 7. Groups set off every ten or fifteen minutes, in the morning and in the afternoon, and the entry time is on the ticket. It costs 5 euros from age 13 and 2 euros up to age 12. Tickets are already on sale on the brotherhood's website, no refunds, and on those days there will be a ticket office while places remain.
Markets in the Aljarafe and the Vega
Gines holds its Mercado Medieval y Navideño from December 10 to 13, now in its XIX edition. It does not occupy a single square but the centre of the town, with the main stage in La Pará, and last year entry was free. The Ayuntamiento has not yet published the opening times; it will post them on the market's website. In addition, on December 23 the Trineo de la Alegría will set off with Papá Noel.
In La Rinconada the Mercadillo Navideño returns, from December 4 to 8 at El Palenque de El Abrazo. From the 4th, with the switching on of the lights, a chocolatada and a concert, and until January 4, El Abrazo becomes a theme park with Casa de Papá Noel, an ice rink, rides and parades. We covered it here.
Fuentes de Andalucía sets up its III Mercadillo Local, Artesanal y de Segunda Mano de Navidad from December 4 to 7, in plaza de España and the surrounding streets.
Estepa, the town that smells of mantecado
In Estepa Christmas starts earlier than anywhere else. From November 6 to 8 the XI Polvorón Vespero is held, a gathering of Vespas and Lambrettas with mantecados involved; the Ayuntamiento has not yet said where or when. Last year the town switched on its lights on November 7 in plaza del Carmen, and it claims to be the first in Spain to do so.
The mantecado factories open their doors to visitors from October to December. This year, EMoreno is unveiling at its own a recreation of the nativity scene made with artificial intelligence.
In the city, what comes back every year
The Ayuntamiento de Sevilla has not yet presented the 2026 Christmas programme. Last year it did so at the end of November. This is what there was in 2025, according to the official Visita Sevilla guide, and what can be expected this year:
Christmas 2025 in the city
- Lights: they were switched on on Saturday, November 29 on avenida de la Constitución and reached 304 streets, including Tetuán, Sierpes, Velázquez, la Campana and Alfonso XII. This year there are general elections on November 29, so the date remains to be seen.
- Setalandia, in plaza de la Encarnación, under Las Setas: from November 25 to January 5, from 11:00 to 22:00, with stalls, Casa de Papá Noel, Cartero Real, carousel and train. It closed on December 24 and 31.
- Mercado de Navidad de la Alameda de Hércules: about thirty stalls, children's rides, churros and chestnuts, and from December 22 Papá Noel and the Cartero Real.
- Feria de Artesanía Creativa de Navidad, in the Jardines de Cristina: from December 5 to January 5, from 11:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00.
- Mercado de Navidad de la plaza de la Magdalena: from December 1 to January 6, with about 25 stalls.
- Covered ice rink in the Prado de San Sebastián: from November 29 to January 6, with rides and a craft market.
- Mapping on the façade of the Ayuntamiento, in plaza de San Francisco: every half hour between 18:30 and 23:00, free.
- Navigalia, projection on the Guadalquivir at the Muelle de la Sal: from December 18 to January 4, with a 2-euro entry fee.
- Great illuminated nativity scene on avenida de Roma, opposite San Telmo, with figures almost ten metres tall.
- Christmas concerts at the Real Alcázar, free with invitation, and sale of convent sweets from December 5 to 8.
- Sabores de Navidad, the fair of products from the towns in the patio de la Diputación: December 13 and 14.
In the capital there is also a free-entry nativity scene route: the one at the Arquillo del Ayuntamiento, set up by the Asociación de Belenistas, the one of the Fundación Cajasol in the plaza de San Francisco, the one of the Círculo Mercantil in Sierpes, the Mudéjar one of the Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba and the one of the Parlamento de Andalucía, among others in convents and brotherhoods.
January 5: the Cabalgata returns to the Casino de la Exposición
The Ateneo's Cabalgata de Reyes will set out on Tuesday, January 5, 2027 from the Casino de la Exposición, after fifteen years leaving from the University, as the Ateneo has announced. Melchor will be José Luis Vera Carrillo; Gaspar, Miguel Ángel Jurado Cejas, and Baltasar, José Luis López Fernández, «El Turronero». The Heraldo Real is Celestino Vidal Saavedra and the Estrella de la Ilusión, Laura Pulido Sáez. The time and the route will be known later.
Living nativity scenes in the province
Alcalá del Río is the only one that has already set a date. The others are usually announced at the end of November or the beginning of December. These are last year's dates, to give an idea:
Living nativity scenes in 2025
- Sanlúcar la Mayor: Belén Viviente of the Hermandad del Santo Entierro, in the barrio de San Pedro, next to the church and the walls. On December 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14, from 16:30 to 20:30, with a donation of 3 euros.
- Santiponce: Belén Nazareno, on the hill next to the Teatro Romano de Itálica. On December 20 and 21, from 18:00 to 21:00, with a donation of 4 or 5 euros.
- Gelves: Belén Viviente Teatralizado of the Hermandad de Gracia, in the Parque del Pandero, with 17 scenes. On December 13 and 14, for 2.50 euros.
- Utrera: Belén Viviente «Jesús, nace en Utrera», in the Castillo. From December 12 to 14.
- Castilblanco de los Arroyos: «El Niño Dios nace en San Benito», in the area of the ermita. On December 13 and 14, with a donation of 3 euros.
- Cantillana: nativity scene of the Hermandad de la Divina Pastora, in the aldea de la Pastora. On December 27 and 28.
- El Castillo de las Guardas: living nativity scene in the Mirador del Castillo and the streets of the town, several weekends in December.
Lighting ceremonies and parks in the towns
The large town councils of the province are still preparing their programmes. Last year it was like this:
Christmas 2025 in the towns
- Dos Hermanas: lighting on November 29 in the plaza de la Constitución, mapping at the Ayuntamiento and Navidad Park from November 20 to January 6, with an ice rink, on the avenida de España and in Montequinto.
- Mairena del Aljarafe: lighting on December 5 in the plaza Casa Grande, with 150 drones, and Ciudad de Navidad in the Parque Central until January 6.
- Tomares: lighting on December 5 in Cuatro Esquinas, craft market in the plaza del Ayuntamiento until January 5 and Mercado de Navidad on December 13 and 14.
- Utrera: lighting on December 5, Casita de Papá Noel, mapping on the wall and Papá Noel parade on December 21.
- Lebrija: Mercado de Navidad in the plaza de Abastos, from December 19 to 21.
- Bormujos: lighting on December 4 and the «Polar Express» train with Papá Noel in the plaza del Ayuntamiento, free.
- Espartinas: lighting with snowfall on December 4 and Christmas village in the plaza del Avión.
- Valencina de la Concepción: the Belén Monumental de Silvio Torilo, which returns this year and whose inauguration does not yet have a date.
In What's On: Mercadillo Navideño de La Rinconada · from 4 de December to 8 de December
In What's On: Parque temático navideño El Abrazo · from 4 de December to 4 de January
Shall we let you know what matters?