Events

Festival Internacional de Jazz
Some of the world's greatest jazz musicians turn up in November to play Granada's theatres, concert halls and clubs to enthusiastic audiences. Past performers include Herbie Hancock, Keith Barron and the Afro-Cuban All Stars, among other stars. There is a sister festival every June on the Costa Tropical. Pick up a programme and head for Auditorio Manuel de Falla concert hall, Teatro Isabel la Catlica or Teatro Alhambra.

Festival Internacional de Música y Danza
Thousands of spectators come out to see and hear music, dance, flamenco and opera performed by some of the world's most talented artists in the most romantic and atmospheric venues imaginable. The highlights included the BBC Symphony Orchestra directed by Andrew Davis playing Strauss and Ravel in the Palacio de Carlos V (Charles V's Palace); the Ballet Kirov dancing The Enchanted Garden in the Generalife gardens and Carmen Linares performing flamenco in the patio of a 16th-century palace. This is a unique and magical festival that shouldn't be missed.

Corpus Christi
Granada's official festival lasts for eight days in June. It starts with the Eucharist Procession when a beautiful plateresque monstrance is carried from the cathedral through the city streets on the back of a carriage filled with flowers. The crowds throw herbs and flowers onto the ground as the procession arrives. Then follows the funfair in Almanjyar on the outskirts of town. Locals put on their traditional Andalusian suits and dresses, many take their carefully groomed horses and carriages and set out to enjoy the stalls, rides, games and competitions. The wine flows freely and there's singing and dancing from late afternoon to early morning.

Semana Santa
Holy Week is a time of intense religious passion here, as elsewhere in Spain. The religious brotherhoods attached to each church organize processions through the city streets carrying images of Christ, saints and virgins. Each float is followed by lines of nazarenos (the faithful who wear long gowns and cover their heads and faces with conical hats), holding candles and banners. The most atmospheric procession of the week transports the Cristo de los Gitanos (Gypsy Christ) through Sacromonte to the sound of saetas (religious flamenco song). It normally takes around 14 hours to run its course and goes throughout the night.

Día de la Cruz
The Day of the Cross, on May 3rd, is undoubtedly the city's most popular, colourful and good-humoured festival. Every neighbourhood decks out its streets and squares with crosses made out of fresh flowers, fans, shells and farm tools. All of the crosses contain a symbolic pair of open scissors ready to cut out any possible aesthetic defect. The locals put on their gypsy dresses and everyone goes out for a few drinks and some dancing in the streets. The party lasts for three days and the atmosphere is joyous and hedonistic. It has its roots in a pagan ritual to celebrate the end of winter and it coincides with the summer solstice.

Festival Internacional de Tango
During the first two weeks of March, Granada's theatre spaces, concert halls and clubs become venues for displays of smouldering Latin American passions. Pick up a programme at the tourist office and visit the Teatro Isabel la Catlica, the Auditorio Manuel de Falla concert hall or any of the city's jazz clubs to see the world's finest exponents of tango music and dance. This festival is considered one of the best in Europe and it's so important that Argentinean government representatives and the Argentinean Tango Academy's president turn up for the opening ceremony.
 
Carnavales
February is Carnival time, when people dress up in silly outfits and head onto the streets and squares to have a laugh. Music and dancing is organised and you'll come across groups of comedians, musicians and singers who entertain the public with satirical songs poking fun at local and national public figures. No one is safe from ridicule at this time of year.