Lorraine Williamson
For many families, the Cabalgata is the moment Christmas really ends — the sweets, the music, the slow-moving floats, and the crush of children at the front. But in Spain, the Three Kings parades are looking different this year, with councils redrawing plans at short notice as stormy weather threatens the run-up to 5 January.
The trigger is the worsening forecast tied to borrasca Francis, with Spain’s state weather agency issuing special warnings for the 4–6 January period and many local authorities prioritising crowd safety over tradition.
Murcia region: parades brought forward, rerouted, or replaced
The biggest shake-up is in the Region of Murcia, where a long list of towns have shifted their parades to Saturday 3 January to dodge the worst of the weather window around Monday. Public broadcasters and local media have flagged changes across the Noroeste, Guadalentín and Vega Media areas, including places such as Caravaca de la Cruz, Cehegín, Mula, Bullas, Totana, Jumilla and others.
Cartagena is the standout example of how far councils are willing to go to keep the magic while reducing risk. The city cancelled its traditional Monday cabalgata and replaced it with an adapted Saturday “pasacalles” event, keeping a shorter, more controllable format for families.
Almería province: a cluster of towns move to Saturday too
Over in Andalucia, the pattern repeats in parts of Almería province, where multiple municipalities have advanced their celebrations. Regional broadcaster Canal Sur reports “around a dozen” towns bringing forward their cabalgatas — with Vera
Big-city parades mostly hold the line — for now
In Madrid, the main cabalgata remains scheduled for Monday, 5 January, with the city publishing its route and mobility plan as usual.
Barcelona and Valencia are also still advertising 5 January as the headline date on official city pages, even as smaller towns elsewhere pull forward.
Why the Cabalgata matters — and why councils won’t take chances
The Three Kings parade isn’t just another winter event. It’s Spain’s most anticipated children’s celebration: the public arrival of Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar, the final letter-posting moments, and the shared countdown to presents on Epiphany morning.
That emotional weight is exactly why councils are trying to avoid outright cancellations. Many are choosing earlier dates, shorter routes, or indoor receptions — a quiet reminder that, in 2026, the tradition is flexible enough to survive a few changes to the timetable.
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If you’re heading out: a quick checklist for families
Check your ayuntamiento’s social media before leaving — updates can happen on the day. In towns switching to Saturday, expect heavier crowds than usual and plan arrival times accordingly.
If conditions are wet or windy, keep children back from kerbs, watch for slippery streets, and consider skipping the sweet-scramble zones if the parade is throwing caramelos in gusty conditions.
And if your local parade is moved or modified, the core of the night doesn’t really change: the excitement is still there — it just turns up early.