Candelaria Festival 2027: 2 February in Tenerife

On 2 February, Candelaria, about 20 minutes from Santa Cruz along the southern motorway, celebrates the feast of the Virgin of Candelaria, patroness of the Canary Islands. It is the feast of Candlemas: on the eve, the faithful carry lit candles in procession around the basilica, and on the 2nd there is a civic procession, a solemn Mass presided over by the bishop and a procession of the statue with voladores (rockets). In 2027, 2 February falls on a Tuesday, so the candle procession would be on the evening of Monday 1. As of October 2026 the 2027 programme has not been published: what follows is based on the 2026 edition and on what repeats every year.

What is celebrated on 2 February

Candlemas, or the feast of the Purification, is the Virgin's liturgical date throughout the Catholic world, and in Tenerife it has an added meaning: according to tradition, the statue appeared on the coast of Güímar to the Guanches, the island's original inhabitants, before the Castilian conquest, and the aborigines venerated it in a cave by the sea. That is why Candelaria is the most important Marian shrine in the archipelago.

There are two major festivals a year. The February one is the religious and more intimate one, with many of the island's faithful arriving on parish trips. The August one draws huge crowds, with pilgrims walking all night from every corner of Tenerife. If you are looking for a massive popular atmosphere, go in August; if you would rather see the procession and the basilica without extreme crowds, go in February.

2027 programme: what is confirmed and what is usual

Confirmed as of October 2026:

• Tuesday 2 February 2027: feast of the Virgin of Candelaria.
• Public holiday: in 2026, 2 February was an island-wide holiday in Tenerife. For 2027 it is not listed as a local holiday in Candelaria (its local holidays will be 23 February and 26 July) and the island holiday has not been published yet. Check it if you want to know what will be open that day.

What was done in 2026, according to the programme and RTVC's report, and can reasonably be expected again:

• Previous days: from late January, Masses, rosaries and a triduum by the Dominicans, who look after the shrine. In 2026 the programme began on 24 January.
• Eve, 1 February: Mass at 19:30, blessing of the candles and procession of the Virgin with thousands of lit candles.
• 2 February, morning: Masses at 8:00 and 10:00. At 11:30, civic procession from the Town Hall to the basilica, with the town council and the town's banner.
• 2 February, midday: solemn Mass at 12:00, presided over by the bishop of the Diocese of Nivariense (Tenerife), with a band. Afterwards, procession of the statue and a shower of voladores.
• 2 February, afternoon: rosary at 17:15 and Mass at 18:00 with the presentation of children to the Virgin.

In 2026 the procession changed route because of works on the plaza de la Patrona de Canarias and went up calle Obispo Pérez Cáceres, known as La Arena, and calle Los Príncipes. Check the Candelaria Town Council website to see whether the works are still under way and where the procession will go in 2027. The programme is usually published in January.

The basilica and the square of the menceyes

The Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria was built between 1949 and 1959 to a design by the architect José Enrique Marrero Regalado; it has been a Bien de Interés Cultural (protected heritage site) since 2005 and a minor basilica since 2011. Inside, the murals by José Aguiar stand out, and in the camarín (shrine chamber) is the statue of the Virgin, dark-skinned and dressed in a mantle. The original statue was lost in a storm in 1826; the one venerated today is the work of the sculptor Fernando Estévez. Entry is free and you can visit outside service times, suitably dressed and in silence.

In front of it opens the plaza de la Patrona de Canarias, by the sea, with the nine bronze statues of the menceyes, the Guanche kings of the nine territories into which the island was divided. It is the classic Candelaria photo, best early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light comes from the side.

What else to see in Candelaria

• Cueva de Achbinico or de San Blas: a few steps from the basilica, the cave where, according to tradition, the statue was venerated after it appeared, considered the first Marian shrine in the Canary Islands.
• Calle Obispo Pérez Cáceres (La Arena): the pedestrian street of the old town, with the church of Santa Ana and the pottery centre of the Casa de las Miquelas, where traditional pottery is made without a wheel.
• The town beach and the seafront promenade, with dark sand and pebbles.

You can see the old town in an hour. To combine it with Güímar, its pyramids and the Malpaís, see the Candelaria and Güímar section in what to see in the south of Tenerife, and the Candelaria entry in the prettiest villages in Tenerife.

Where to eat: fish and local wine

Candelaria has a fishermen's guild next to the basilica, and the restaurants in the old town and on the nearby coast, such as Las Caletillas, serve fish of the day, limpets outside the closed season and papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) with mojo. The guide to where to eat fresh fish explains which species to order and how they are charged. The vineyards on the slopes between Candelaria, Arafo and Güímar make up the Valle de Güímar denomination of origin; the guide to Tenerife wine tells you what to look for on the wine list. On the day of the festival the restaurants in the old town fill up at lunchtime: book or eat before one o'clock.

How to get to Candelaria

On festival days the guagua (bus) is the most convenient option: the old town is small, it is closed to traffic during the processions and parking near the square is difficult.

• From Santa Cruz: TITSA line 122 (Santa Cruz bus station, Las Caletillas and Candelaria), which goes into the town, and line 120 (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Puertito de Güímar and Güímar), around 45 minutes to Güímar.
• From the south: the 111, which links Costa Adeje and Santa Cruz along the TF-1 motorway, stops in Candelaria; check on TITSA which stop leaves you closest to the old town.
• From La Laguna: take the tram down to Santa Cruz bus station and catch the 122 or the 120 there.
• By car: Candelaria exit on the TF-1. The town has pay-and-display parking and car parks along the seafront; on the 2nd, arrive before 10:00 or park on the outskirts and walk.

For the August festival, TITSA reinforces the 122 and the 120 and adds shuttle buses; in February the reinforcements are usually smaller. Check TITSA's notices in the days before. Travel cards and fares are in getting around Tenerife.

The August festival, for context

The Patroness's main festivities take up the first half of August, with the 14th and 15th as the central days. On the night of the 14th thousands of pilgrims arrive on foot from all over the island, and at dusk the square hosts the Guanche ceremony, a re-enactment of the aborigines finding the statue. On the 15th there is a solemn Mass and procession. If your trip is in summer, it is one of the busiest events of the year; see the events calendar.

The weather in early February

February is a mild winter on the east coast: AEMET's climate normals give Santa Cruz a maximum of 21.2 °C and a minimum of 15.3 °C, with about 4 days of rain in the month. The procession on the eve takes place at night, by the sea, and it gets cool: bring a jacket. More data in Tenerife weather by month. If you are travelling in those weeks, the Santa Cruz Carnival starts shortly afterwards: Santa Cruz Carnival 2027 has the dates.

Tips for going to the festival

• Choose your moment: the candle procession, on the night of the eve, is the most striking; midday on the 2nd is the official event with the largest crowds.
• Respect the worship: it is a religious festival. Inside the basilica, keep silent and take no photos during Mass.
• Bring your own candle if you want to join the candle procession, with something to protect it from the wind.
• Watch out for the voladores: rockets are fired when the statue comes out; with small children or dogs, stand well away from the square.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Candelaria festival in 2027?

On Tuesday 2 February 2027, with the candle procession expected on the evening of Monday 1. The programme with times is published in January; check the Candelaria Town Council website.

Is 2 February a public holiday in Tenerife?

In 2026 it was an island-wide holiday in Tenerife. For 2027 the island holiday has not been published yet, and Candelaria does not have it among its local holidays, so check before assuming that shops and offices will be closed.

How does it differ from the August festival?

The February one is the liturgical feast, with processions and Masses and a mainly local crowd. The August one, on the 14th and 15th, is the great pilgrimage on foot from all over the island, with the re-enactment of the Virgin's appearance to the Guanches.

Which guagua goes from Santa Cruz to Candelaria?

TITSA's 122, from Santa Cruz bus station, goes into the town. The 120 also stops in Candelaria on its way to Güímar.

Can you visit the basilica that day?

Yes, but with a lot of people and Masses almost back to back in the morning. To see it in peace, go on another day or in the early afternoon.

Keep planning

• What to see in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• The best excursions in Tenerife
• The best time to visit Tenerife