Cádiz Carnival 2027: dates and how to plan your accommodation

Updated: 10 November 2026

In 2027 Ash Wednesday falls on 10 February, so Cádiz Carnival comes early, in the first half of February. These are the busiest winter days for accommodation in the city and around the bay. This guide sets out what we could check on 10 November 2026 in the Andalusian official gazette (BOJA) and in news reports citing Cádiz City Council, the Bay of Cádiz Transport Consortium and Renfe, and says clearly what is not yet confirmed. We could not open the City Council and tourism websites directly: check dates and timetables there before you travel.

The dates at a glance

As of 10 November 2026:

Ash Wednesday: 10 February 2027. So Carnival Saturday is 6 February, Sunday 7, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February.
City carnival marquee (carpa): according to the City Council (report of 6 November 2026), it opens on Friday 5 February, runs on 6, 7 and 8, closes on 9 and 10 and reopens on 11, 12 and 13, its last day. It will be smaller and located on avenida de Astilleros.
Second Saturday, 13 February: no concert in plaza de San Antonio; the COAC finalist groups will perform there instead.
COAC Grand Final at the Gran Teatro Falla: Friday 5 February 2027: Cádiz City Council announced it in June 2026 and the contest's Participation Council agreed it on 15 October 2026 (Cadiznoticias, 15-10-2026). Cádiz city's 2027 local holidays are Carnival Monday, 8 February, and 7 October (BOJA no. 210 of 29-10-2026, according to the press citing it).
We could not open the BOJA annex to read Cádiz's local holidays directly: the dates above come from the press citing it. Andalusia Day (28 February, a Sunday) moves to Monday 1 March across Andalusia (Decreto 84/2026).

What the COAC is

The Official Carnival Groups Contest (Concurso Oficial de Agrupaciones Carnavalescas, COAC) is held at the Gran Teatro Falla before the street carnival:

Choirs (coros), comparsas, chirigotas and quartets (cuartetos) compete, plus children's, youth and romancero categories.
The schedule is set by the City Council's Festivities and Carnival department: in 2025 the contest began in January and the Grand Final was on 28 February.
There are preliminary rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. In 2027 the adult contest starts on 8 January: preliminaries from 8 to 21 January, quarter-finals from 24 to 29 January, semi-finals from 1 to 3 February and the Grand Final on 5 February.
If you cannot get a ticket, the contest is broadcast on local radio and TV, and many groups later sing in the streets.

How tickets are sold

Based on 2025 information citing the City Council:

Official online sales were through Bacantix, the City Council's channel; half the seats were sold online and half at the Gran Teatro Falla box offices.
Tickets were in the holder's name: an ID document was required to buy and to enter, with a maximum of two per person per show.
2025 adult prices: preliminaries from 15 to 30 euros; Grand Final from 45 to 95 euros. 2027 prices are not published.
In earlier years (for example 2019) final tickets were allocated by a draw before a notary among tens of thousands of applicants. We do not know which system will apply in 2027.
Be wary of resale and packages claiming to include Falla tickets: sales are run by the City Council.

Carnival in the streets

The essentials for planning:

The street carnival is free: official and unofficial (ilegales) groups sing around the old town, on stages run by local clubs (peñas) and on City Council stages.
The first Saturday and Sunday are usually the busiest. The City Council has announced measures against street drinking (botellón) for 2027 and wants to put the songs first.
If your accommodation is in the old town, ask before booking how to get there with luggage on those days, whether there are closures and where to park.
The official 2027 programme (opening speech, parade and other events) is not published yet.

Where to stay: Cádiz and the Costa de la Luz

If Cádiz city is full or prices climb:

Look at El Puerto de Santa María, San Fernando, Puerto Real, Chiclana or Rota: they are linked to Cádiz by Cercanías commuter train, catamaran, intercity bus or the Trambahía tram.
Further away, Conil, Vejer or Barbate work if you travel by car or bus and do not mind heading back early; check return times.
Book early: many properties require a minimum stay on the first weekend.
Check the registration number. In Andalusia hotels, apartments and holiday homes are listed in the Andalusian Tourism Register (Registro de Turismo de Andalucía), and holiday homes must show that code in every listing. Spain's Supreme Court annulled the national single register in 2026; regional registers still apply. More at /spain-holiday-rental-registration-number-2026.
Look at the total price, with taxes and cleaning. Andalusia has no tourist tax, so none should appear. More at /andalusia-tourist-tax-2026 and /total-price-accommodation-cleaning-fees-taxes-2026.
Read the cancellation policy before paying and, if you can, book directly with the property: you know exactly what you pay and who you deal with.

Getting there and around

Public transport (2025 Carnival figures; the 2027 plan is not published):

Cercanías commuter train (line C1): in 2025 Renfe ran 257 trains during the special plan, every 20 minutes after midnight on Saturday and from 4:25 on Sunday morning.
Bay of Cádiz Transport Consortium catamaran from El Puerto and Rota: in 2025 there were at least 95 extra sailings; on Saturday the last departure from El Puerto was at 23:00 and from Rota at 21:40, and bikes and animals were not allowed.
Consortium intercity buses: in 2025 they ran until 2:10 on Carnival Saturday depending on the route, and from 5:00 on Sunday.
Trambahía tram (Chiclana-San Fernando): in 2025 shuttles ran until 1:21 on Sunday morning.
The usual advice is not to drive: parking in Cádiz is limited on those days.
Check Renfe and the Consortium a few weeks before for the 2027 special timetables.

If you run a property in Cádiz or on the Costa de la Luz

What travellers typically ask AI assistants about these dates:

Exact Carnival and COAC final dates, and how far you are from central Cádiz.
Minimum stay, total price and cancellation policy for those nights.
How to get to Cádiz and back late at night from your property (train, catamaran, bus), registration number and parking.
Keeping this clear and up to date on your website and listings avoids wrong answers.
Related guide: Seville Holy Week and April Fair 2027 at /seville-holy-week-april-fair-2027-dates-accommodation.

How iQuota helps

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Frequently asked questions

When is Cádiz Carnival in 2027?

Ash Wednesday is 10 February 2027, so Carnival Saturday is 6 February, Sunday 7, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February. According to the City Council, the marquee opens from Friday 5 to Saturday 13 February, closed on 9 and 10.

When is the 2027 COAC final?

Friday 5 February 2027, the day before Carnival Saturday, according to the planned dates Cádiz City Council announced in June 2026. The semi-finals run from 1 to 3 February.

How do I buy Gran Teatro Falla tickets?

In 2025 half were sold online through Bacantix, the City Council's official channel, and half at the theatre box offices; in the holder's name with ID, maximum two per person per show. The 2027 system is not published.

Is there a tourist tax in Cádiz?

No. Andalusia has no tourist tax, so none should appear in the price.

Where to stay if Cádiz is full?

Around the bay: El Puerto de Santa María, San Fernando, Puerto Real or Chiclana, linked by commuter train, catamaran, bus or tram. Check late-night return times before booking.

Sources

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