Feria de Abril: Seville's Other Big Week

The Feria de Abril is Seville's week-long spring fair: more than a thousand striped marquees, horses and carriages by day, and sevillanas until dawn. Visitors are welcome, but most of the marquees are private, so you cannot simply wander in. Base yourself in the free public casetas, arrive after midday for the horses and stay until the lights come on. In 2027 the fair is expected to open at midnight on Monday 12 April and finish on Sunday 18 April, although I could not find the city council's own confirmation of those dates.

Feria de Abril 2027: dates and how the week runs

The fair usually starts two weeks after Semana Santa. Easter Sunday is 28 March in 2027, which is why this edition falls earlier than 2026's, which ran from 21 to 26 April. Local guides and booking sites agree on 12 to 18 April, but they describe the start differently. That is only because the lights go on at midnight, so some call it Monday and others Tuesday. Check the Ayuntamiento de Sevilla's announcement before paying for anything non-refundable.

One thing to watch for 2027: the mayor said in April 2026 that the fairground expansion could not be finished until 2028, so next year's fair will take place with some of the works under way. Treat any street map or caseta address as provisional until the 2027 plan is published.

Public vs private casetas

This is what catches most first-time visitors. A caseta is a marquee with a railing across the front, a table area and, behind that, a kitchen and bar. Most belong to families, groups of friends, companies or associations, and they work like private parties. If you are not with a member, do not walk in, however inviting the music sounds. You will probably be turned away, and you would be gatecrashing someone's party anyway.

The casetas anyone can enter

The public casetas are free to enter and you pay only for what you eat and drink. They tend to fill up first, and a local report says their prices are usually regulated by the council. These addresses come from the 2026 fair:

Others on the 2026 lists include La Pecera (Pascual Márquez 9), La Marimorena (Manolo Vázquez 31) and those run by the UGT, CCOO and USO unions. District casetas play only sevillanas and rumbas. The city's guide says public casetas close at 3am, though one local report says 3.30am, so plan on the earlier time.

The tourist caseta and guided visits

The Caseta de Sevilla (Pascual Márquez 225-229) is the city's tourist caseta, with a terrace, an indoor area and live music sessions from 4pm to 3am in 2026. Tables are by advance reservation only, which makes it the most reliable place to plan a sit-down meal.

The tourist office also runs one-hour guided walks of the fairground in English and Spanish, leaving from the information kiosk at the main gateway. The 2026 guide still listed 2025's price of €16 and said it was yet to be confirmed. For a first visit I think this is money well spent, because the fair is hard to read on your own.

What to wear (and what not to buy)

There is no compulsory dress code. The city's guide says only that men commonly wear a jacket and tie and women a traje de flamenca, and it suggests that anyone without these should wear something smart and comfortable. Some English-language guides call dressing up essential. It isn't, but you will be surrounded by people who have made a real effort, so shorts and a football shirt will look out of place.

• Women: a summer dress or smart trousers is fine. Wear a flamenca dress if you would enjoy it, but I would not buy one just for a single afternoon, as locals take these seriously and you will not be judged for going without.
• Men: a shirt and jacket is enough. A tie is what many locals wear, not something you need.
• Everyone: the streets are surfaced with albero, a golden, dusty earth, and there are horses everywhere. Leave good suede at the hotel and choose shoes you can stand in for hours.

Day or night: when to be there

The fair changes completely at around 8pm, and I would see both halves rather than choose one.

The paseo is the part no visitor should miss, and it costs nothing. The city's own tip is to find some shade on any street on the route and watch. Stay on the pavement, because the road belongs to the horses.

A sensible first visit is to arrive at about 2pm, watch the horses, eat in a public caseta, walk the streets as the light fades and leave when you have had enough. Since locals do not reach the fair for lunch until late, have something small first in the city. Our guide to ordering tapas explains how pay-per-plate works in Seville.

What to eat and drink, and what it costs

The fair's drink is rebujito, manzanilla sherry mixed with a lemon-lime fizzy drink and plenty of ice, usually served by the jug. If you would rather drink the sherry neat, our guide to Spanish wine regions beyond Rioja explains where fino and manzanilla come from and how to serve them.

The prices below were reported by Sevilla Secreta for 2026. It does not separate public and private casetas, so treat them as a guide.

Bring some cash as well as a card. The city's guide warns that some casetas use drinks vouchers bought with cash. On the way home, stop for buñuelos or churros from the stalls around the fairground, which are a Feria tradition in their own right.

Getting to the fairground

The fairground, or Real, is in Los Remedios, across the river from the old town. The city's advice is not to drive, and I agree. Streets are closed around the site, and the official car park at Charco de la Pava is a shuttle ride from the gate. If you are still choosing how to reach Seville, our guide to booking Spanish high-speed trains covers the options.

• On foot: the simplest choice from Triana or the Arenal.
• Metro line 1: use Plaza de Cuba, Parque de los Príncipes or Blas Infante. Metro service ran without interruption during the 2026 fair, and the 2025 map put Parque de los Príncipes at roughly 800m from the site.
• Special Feria bus: Tussam's shuttle runs from the Prado de San Sebastián, and the 2026 guide gives a €1.60 fare. Lines 5, 6, 41, C1 and C2 also serve the fair. Times vary by day, so check Tussam's 2027 notice.
• Taxis: they have special access and different fares during the fair, and one local report warns they are hard to find late at night. I would not rely on one at 2am.

Horse-drawn carriages charged a special fair rate of €95 an hour in 2026, from the rank next to the gateway. Split between friends it is a memorable hour. For two people, I would rather spend the money on lunch.

How it differs from Semana Santa

People often lump the two together because they fall so close, but they are very different trips.

If you can see only one and have no local contacts, go for Semana Santa, because you will not be on the outside looking in. If you know someone with a caseta, it becomes a much harder choice, and the Feria may win.

What to skip, and how to fit it into a trip

• Skip the opening night unless you love crowds. The pescaíto is for members, and the lights are on every evening anyway.
• Skip the Calle del Infierno unless you have children. It is a very large, loud funfair like many others, with rides at about €3.50 to €7 in 2026.
• Do not give it more than two visits. Without a caseta invitation, the novelty thins out after that.

Bullfights also run at the Maestranza during the fair, with 2026 tickets from €31 in the sunny upper seats. That is a personal decision, and you do not need it to enjoy the week.

Book your hotel early and on refundable terms until the dates are confirmed. Our weekend in Seville guide covers the Alcázar and the old town for the mornings, and warns that the centre gets gridlocked and prices jump around the Feria. To escape the crowds for a day, Córdoba is around 45 minutes away by high-speed train.