Festivals & Events
Nit de Sant Joan: Mallorca’s night of fires on the beach
Jumping over the fire, into the sea at midnight – in Mallorca the shortest night of the year is celebrated on the beach.
On the night before 24 June, the beach promenades stay open until the early hours.
Quick answer
What can visitors expect on the Nit de Sant Joan?
The Nit de Sant Joan is Midsummer Night (St John’s Eve), from 23 to 24 June, and in Mallorca it is celebrated on the beaches: with bonfires, music and the traditional swim at midnight. The focus is in Palma around the Parc de la Mar, but it is celebrated all over the island. The date is fixed.
Fixed date June
Quick facts
- When
- 23–24 June (fixed date)
- Where
- island-wide, focus on Palma (Parc de la Mar, city beaches)
- Duration
- one night, from sunset to sunrise
- Admission
- free
- Audience
- young adults, couples, night owls
- Special feature
- Midnight swim in the sea after jumping over the fire
Note on the date
St John’s Eve always falls on 23 June; it does not move.
Location: island-wide, focus on Palma (Parc de la Mar, city beaches).
What is the Nit de Sant Joan?
The Nit de Sant Joan is the midsummer festival of the western Mediterranean. In Mallorca it combines two customs: jumping over the fire, which symbolically closes the old year, and a swim in the sea at midnight.
Unlike the village festivals, there is no central programme. The night is made up of many small celebrations on beaches and promenades – plus an official programme from the City of Palma.
Where it is celebrated
The largest organised part is in Palma: correfoc (fire run) in the old town, concerts and fire pits around the Parc de la Mar and the city beaches Can Pere Antoni and Ciutat Jardí. There are smaller celebrations on almost every larger beach on the island, for example at Playa de Palma, in Port de Sóller and in Cala Millor.
Whether and where open fires are allowed is decided anew each year by the municipalities – restrictions apply when there is a risk of forest fires. Official fire pits are always the safe option.
Celebrating safely
Swimming at night is part of the tradition, but without lifeguards and often after drinking alcohol. If you go into the water, do not swim alone and stay in the shallows.
Getting back is the second point: night buses run in Palma; elsewhere a taxi or accommodation within walking distance is the realistic solution.
Tips for your visit
- Use official fire pits instead of making your own fire.
- Bring a towel and a change of clothes – the swim is part of it.
- Sort out your way back in advance; the night only ends at dawn.
- Glass bottles are banned on many beaches.
Who is it worth it for?
A good fit for:
- Young travellers and couples
- Anyone who wants to experience Mallorca away from organised events
- Photographers with night equipment
Less suitable for:
- Families with small children
- Anyone who wants a quiet night’s sleep that night – it is noisy near the beach
Similar dates
More festivals & events
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Sant Antoni
Showers of sparks in narrow lanes, devils with torches, sausages over open fires – Sant Antoni is one of the most traditional festivals of the Mallorcan winter.
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Sant Sebastià
Several stages, one old town, one night: Palma celebrates its patron saint with free live music on almost every larger square.
-
Es Firó
Gunpowder smoke over the beach, pirates storming out of the sea – once a year Sóller re-enacts the pirate attack of 1561.
-
Moros i Cristians
Four towns, one story: the defence against Moorish corsairs as street theatre with hundreds of performers.
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Fira del Ram
From the end of February into April, a large funfair sets up on the edge of Palma.
-
New Year’s Eve in Mallorca
Twelve chimes, twelve grapes – and then a night that Palma spends out on the streets.
Frequently asked questions
Is it allowed to light your own fire on the beach?
The municipalities regulate this differently every year, and restrictively in dry summers. Official, designated fire pits are always permitted; your own fires often are not.
Where is the biggest celebration?
In Palma around the Parc de la Mar and the city beaches, with a correfoc in the old town.
Does the date change?
No. The Nit de Sant Joan is always the night from 23 to 24 June.
Next steps
This page belongs to the topic area Festivals & Events and can be found at /en-gb/feste-veranstaltungen/nit-de-sant-joan.
Image credits: Flags on the Plaça in Sóller during the Firó: Photo Joan Gené, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons