Traditions that repeat every day
| Time | Activity | Approximate area |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Txistulari morning parades | Various routes through the centre |
| 11:00 | Giants and Big Heads | Starting point and route vary by day |
| 12:00 | Municipal Band or bilbainadas | Arenal or the bandstand, depending on the programme |
| 13:00 | Bertsolaris | Santiago Plaza. On the 26th there is a lunch at 14:00 |
| 19:00 | Euskal dantzak | Plaza del Gas |
Routes and exact locations can change from day to day. Always check the daily listings.
Before the festival, the Municipal Music Band gives a concert on Saturday 15 August at 11:30 in Plaza Juan XXIII, per the municipal note of 3 August.
Txikigune and family theatre
Txiki-Botxo runs from the 23rd to the 30th in Doña Casilda, morning and afternoon, with over 30 activities. The bandstand rounds off the family programme with theatre at 19:30. Check times, ages and accessibility in the full Txikigune guide.
Basque sport and pelota
Herri kirolak (Basque rural sports) are scheduled from the 26th to the 29th at midday. Pelota runs from the 23rd to the 29th, while the trainera regattas are part of Sunday the 23rd. Each discipline may have its own venue, access and timetable.
Giants, Big Heads and exhibition
The Giants and Big Heads parades are one of the defining sights of the mornings. The 2026 programme adds a dedicated exhibition alongside the daily routes. The parades can alter pedestrian flows, so check the detail for each date.
Street arts and theatre
The municipal programme has 23 free performances: Plaza de la Convivencia at 12:30 and 21:15, and the Doña Casilda bandstand at 19:30. It spans circus, clowning, acrobatics and family theatre. Marked sessions include a sign-language interpreter.
Older people's day: Thursday 27
Thursday 27 August is the day devoted to older people, with around 300 users of the city's social services. There is a circus session in the morning and then a communal lunch at the Bilbao Arena, with bilbainadas, dancing and a visit from Marijaia. Tickets for cultural and sporting events during the festival are handed out as well.
Txosnas, food trucks and stalls
The city council has authorised 37 txosnas from 22 to 30 August inclusive; assembly can start on the 11th from 09:00. Alongside them there are 6 food trucks — at Puente del Ayuntamiento, Parque Europa, Txikigune and Paseo Uribitarte — and 10 balloon stands spread across Doña Casilda, Parque Etxebarria, the Ayuntamiento and Arenal bridges, Plaza Circular and Plaza de San Nicolás.
Txosna guide: what they are, where they stand and how to get there →
Fairground, circus, craft market and exhibitions
- Craft market: 19 stalls from 15 to 30 August, 11:00 to 24:00; Fridays and Saturdays until 01:00, at Campo Volantín opposite Hotel Nervión.
- Fairground rides: 14 August–6 September from 17:00 in Parque Etxebarria. Quiet hours from 17:00 to 20:00 on 23, 26 and 28 August.
- Circus: 14 August–6 September in Parque Etxebarria.
- Giants exhibition: Until 6 September: the first generation at the Plaza Corazón de María archaeological site and the current collection in the Euskal Museoa cloister.
See the 2026 fairground dates, hours and accessibility →
Accessibility across the main programme
- Reserved spaces for people with reduced mobility at the Whale Parade and at Abandoibarra, Muelle Evaristo Churruca, Parque Europa, the Church of La Encarnación, the bandstand and Plaza de la Convivencia.
- Braille programmes available at the council, tourism, ONCE, Txikigune and civic-centre points listed by the City Council.
- Accessible toilets and quiet periods at Txikigune and the fairground according to the published times.
- The official app provides accessibility resources and easy-read versions.
Traditional and popular music
- Bilbainadas at 12:00 at the Doña Casilda bandstand.
- Classical music concerts at 20:30 in the Church of La Encarnación.
- Open-air dances at 20:00 and 23:00 in Plaza Circular.
- Dance sessions at 23:30 at the bandstand.
- Roots music at 23:30 at Muelle Evaristo Churruca.
- Txistulari parade on Sunday the 30th at 13:00.
Fireworks
There are eight displays at 22:30, from the 22nd to the 29th. The first seven are part of the competition and the last is an exhibition. The fireworks page lists the company for each night and where to watch from.