The Balearics' great festivals: Sant Joan and Menorca's horse festivals

In the Balearics, summer is a long run of patron saint festivals, and the most spectacular are Menorca's, built around the horse. The most famous, Sant Joan in Ciutadella, takes place on 23 and 24 June each year. Here are the major dates not to miss, island by island.

Sant Joan in Ciutadella: the queen of Menorca's festivals

This is the archipelago's most iconic festival. In Ciutadella, on 23 and 24 June (and the preceding Sunday), more than a hundred riders in traditional dress parade to the sound of jaleos, and the horses rear up on their hind legs in the middle of the crowd, a moment known as the Caragol des Born. The tradition dates back to the 14th century and to pilgrimages to the chapel of Sant Joan de Missa. The atmosphere is dense and popular: arrive early and choose your spot carefully.

Menorca's other horse festivals

Sant Joan kicks off a season that runs all summer, from village to village, through to the Mare de Deu de Gracia in Mahon in September. Among the highlights, Sant Antoni de Fornells, celebrated on the fourth weekend of July each year, with its colcada parade and jaleos by the seafront.

Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera also have their own summer patron saint festivals and their Sant Joan nights. To move between islands during the season, see our guide to ferries between the islands.

Frequently asked questions about Balearic festivals

What is the best-known festival in the Balearics?
Sant Joan in Ciutadella, Menorca, on 23 and 24 June, with its horses and the Caragol des Born.

When do Menorca's festivals take place?
From Sant Joan in late June through to September, with each village celebrating its own patron saint festival over the summer.

Can you get close to the horses during the jaleos?
The crowd is very dense and the horses rear up: stay alert, take your spot early, and follow the organisers' instructions.

Dates, times and conditions can change year to year; check with official sources before you travel. Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Baleares is an AI-assisted publication with human review.