Festivals & events
Christmas on Mallorca
Last checked: October 2026
A mild 16 degrees, lights above the old-town lanes and a medieval chant in the cathedral – Christmas on the island is different from at home.
In Palma, the switching-on of the lights in late November is an event in its own right, with crowds.
Quick answers
How is Christmas celebrated on Mallorca?
The focus is on 24 December with the family meal and the Cant de la Sibil·la in the churches, on 25 December as a quiet public holiday – and on 6 January, when the Three Kings bring the presents. In Palma, the Christmas lights will be switched on in the Parc de la Mar on 21 November 2026; the Parc de Nadal Christmas market also runs there until 6 January. Daytime temperatures of around 16 degrees are typical.
Weather in December: what to expect realistically
December on Mallorca is mild, but it is not summer. At Palma airport the average daily maximum temperature in December is around 16 degrees and the minimum around 5 degrees; in the city it usually stays a little milder at night (AEMET, averages 1981–2010). On average there are just over six days with significant rain and around 150 hours of sunshine in the month. The sea is about 16 degrees – too cold for most people to swim. In practice this means: dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a jacket for the evenings and a rain jacket. It is good weather for city visits, hiking and cycling.
Christmas markets and lights in Palma
Palma switches on its Christmas lights on Saturday 21 November 2026 – for the first time in the Parc de la Mar in front of the cathedral, with a stage show. The Parc de Nadal opens in the same place: until 6 January 2027, with 60 wooden huts selling crafts and products from Mallorca, an ice rink, food stalls and a programme for families. The traditional markets at the Plaça Major, on the Ramblas and at Ses Estacions continue. They are smaller than German Christmas markets: crafts, nativity figures, turrón, almonds and hot chocolate instead of mulled wine stalls. Mulled wine is available here and there, but it is not a local tradition. Inca, Sóller and Pollença also have markets and nativity scenes – smaller and quieter.
Cant de la Sibil·la: the highlight of Christmas Eve
On the night of 24 to 25 December, the Cant de la Sibil·la is performed in the island's churches: a monophonic medieval chant about the Last Judgement, usually sung by a child in an embroidered robe holding a sword. UNESCO declared it Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010.
La Seu Cathedral is very crowded – if you want to be there, arrive well before Mass begins. The chant is more pleasant in a village church: same tradition, fewer people. Entry is free everywhere; it is a church service, not an event.
Customs that are different from at home
- Presents on 6 January: They are brought not by the Christ Child but by the Three Kings. On the evening of 5 January the Kings make their entrance in almost every town – in Palma they arrive on the evening of 5 January at the Moll Vell in the old harbour.
- Nativity scenes instead of a Christmas tree: Elaborate belén nativity scenes in churches, town halls and shop windows matter more than the tree.
- Christmas dinner: On 25 December, the family meal on Mallorca traditionally begins with sopa de Nadal, a broth with large meat-filled pasta shells (galets). Turrón, almond pastries and ensaïmada are also part of it.
- New Year's Eve with twelve grapes: At midnight you eat one grape for each chime – on the Plaça de Cort in Palma together with other revellers. The schedule, restaurants and night buses are on the page New Year's Eve on Mallorca.
Christmas season at a glance
- Weather by day
- around 16 °C (average maximum)
- Weather at night
- around 5 °C at the airport, milder in the city
- Water temperature
- approx. 16 °C – too cool for swimming
- Lights
- 21 November 2026, Parc de la Mar
- Parc de Nadal
- 21 November 2026–6 January 2027, Parc de la Mar
- Cant de la Sibil·la (Song of the Sibyl)
- Night of 24 to 25 December
- Three Kings parades
- Evening of 5 January
- Admission
- Markets, chant and parades free of charge
What is open on the public holidays?
- 24 Dec and 31 Dec: shops usually open only until early afternoon.
- 25 Dec: public holiday, almost everything closed, a few restaurants with reservations.
- 26 Dec: also a public holiday in the Balearics (Segona Festa de Nadal) – many shops closed.
- 1 Jan and 6 Jan: public holidays, shops closed.
- 8 Dec (Immaculate Conception): public holiday.
In the coastal resorts, many hotels, bars and restaurants close for the winter – Palma and the centre of the island carry on as normal.
Planning
Continue to events and traditions
On Mallorca the Christmas season runs from the switching-on of the lights on 21 November to Three Kings' Day on 6 January.
Frequently asked questions
How warm is it on Mallorca at Christmas?
The average daily maximum temperature in December is around 16 degrees; at night it cools to around 5 degrees at the airport, less in the city. It is too cool for swimming but pleasant for city visits and hikes.
What is the Cant de la Sibil·la?
A medieval chant performed on the night of 24 December in Mallorcan churches – usually by a child in a robe holding a sword. UNESCO has listed it as Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010. It is free to attend, but Palma Cathedral fills up very early.
Are shops and restaurants open at Christmas?
25 and 26 December are public holidays on Mallorca, as are 1 and 6 January – almost everything is closed on these days. On 24 and 31 December many shops close in the early afternoon. Book restaurants on these days.
When do children on Mallorca get their presents?
Traditionally not on 24 December but on 6 January, from the Three Kings. On the evening of 5 January, Three Kings parades (Cavalcada dels Reis) pass through the streets of almost every town.
Are there Christmas markets on Mallorca?
Yes. In 2026 Palma has the Parc de Nadal in the Parc de la Mar (21 November to 6 January), plus the traditional markets at the Plaça Major, on the Ramblas and at Ses Estacions, as well as markets in several towns around the island.
Is Mallorca worth visiting in December?
For city breaks, hiking and cycling, yes: mild temperatures and few crowds. If you are looking for a beach holiday, December is the wrong time – many hotels, bars and restaurants in the coastal resorts close for the winter.
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