Aste Nagusia Festival in Bilbao | Bilbao
Celebration
The Semana Grande is a nine-day Basque festival held annually in Bilbao in August. It's not a traditional festival, but a grand celebration that immerses the entire city in joy: street parties, themed parades, free concerts, and one of Europe's largest fireworks displays. The 2026 Semana Grande runs from Saturday, August 22nd to Sunday, August 30th. The festival always begins on the Saturday following August 15th (the Feast of the Assumption of Mary). The opening ceremony is celebrated on Saturday noon with fireworks launched from the balcony of the Ariaga Theatre. The closing ceremony is on Sunday evening, accompanied by a final fireworks display and the burning of the statue "Maria," a symbol of the festival.