What major festivals happen in the Canary Islands?

The Canary Islands host numerous festivals year-round including Carnival (February–March) — the second largest in the world after Rio — music festivals, food festivals, and cultural celebrations. Each island has its own unique festival calendar.

When is the best time to visit for festivals?

Carnival season (February–March) is the biggest festival period. Summer months (June–August) have numerous music festivals and outdoor events. Each island also celebrates its patron saint festival with unique traditions.

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Festivals in Modica

Modica, Sicily

⏱ 3 hours

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About this experience

Festivals in Modica is a year-round programme of religious and cultural celebrations held across the Baroque town of Modica, Sicily. The calendar centres on Easter Week processions, the Feast of San Giorgio in April, and the Chocolate Festival in October, each rooted in local confraternities and culinary traditions. These events draw residents and visitors into the town's historic centre, where churches, piazzas, and narrow streets serve as open-air stages.

What to expect

Easter Week features the 'Via Crucis' procession on Good Friday, with hooded penitents carrying a wooden Christ through the upper and lower towns from 6pm to midnight.
The Feast of San Giorgio (23 April) includes a silver reliquary carried through the streets, followed by a brass band and fireworks over the Cathedral of San Giorgio.
The Chocolate Festival (mid-October) offers free tastings of Modica's cold-processed chocolate, plus demonstrations of the ancient stone-grinding technique in Piazza Piemontese.
Each festival includes a full Catholic Mass at the relevant church, open to all, with local families dressed in traditional black or white attire.
Street food stalls sell 'mpanatigghi' (almond and chocolate pastries) and 'cuddureddi' (aniseed biscuits) during the autumn and spring events.
The events suit visitors comfortable with dense crowds and standing for 2-3 hours, as seating is limited and processions move slowly through cobbled lanes.