Three Kings' Day in Spain 2027: The Reyes Magos, Explained

What Three Kings' Day Is

In Spain, the biggest day of the Christmas season is not 25 December. It is the morning of 6 January, Dia de Reyes (Three Kings' Day, or Epiphany), when the Reyes Magos, the Three Wise Men, traditionally bring children their main presents. For newcomers used to Santa Claus and Christmas morning, this is the single most important thing to understand about a Spanish Christmas: the gifts, the excitement and the real climax of the whole season land almost two weeks after the 25th.

The tradition comes from the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star to Bethlehem bearing gifts. In Spain, they have kept the role that Santa plays in many other countries. Papa Noel (Father Christmas) has grown popular too, and plenty of families now do both, but the Reyes remain the heart of it. This guide walks through how the whole thing works, so you are not the one on your street who missed the parade or found every shop shut on the 6th.

The 2027 Dates

The dates never move. The Cabalgata (parade) is always the evening of 5 January, and Dia de Reyes is always 6 January. What changes each year is only the day of the week and your city's exact parade route and start time.

Who the Three Kings Are

The three are Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, each with a look Spanish children know by heart: Melchor, the eldest, with a long white beard; Gaspar, with a brown beard; and Baltasar, traditionally depicted as a black king and often the children's favourite. In the parades they are played by actors, and sometimes by local dignitaries, arriving with pages, camels and a full entourage. Their pajes reales (royal pages) appear at events in the run-up to collect children's letters.

The Cabalgata: The Parade

On the evening of 5 January, almost every town and city in Spain holds a Cabalgata de Reyes: a parade in which the Three Kings ride elaborate floats through the streets, throwing huge quantities of sweets (caramelos) into the crowd. Children come armed with bags to catch them, and whole families line the route. It is free, and it is the emotional high point of the season for kids.

The big-city cabalgatas (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Malaga) are large, choreographed spectacles with dozens of floats, music and performers, some of them nationally televised. Neighbourhood and small-town parades are more intimate and often far easier with small children. Both end the same way: the Kings pass, the sweets rain down, and everyone heads home to get ready for the night ahead.

The Night of 5 January

After the parade, the real magic happens at home. Before bed, children:

• Leave their shoes out, often by the door, the tree or the balcony, one pair per child, marking where the Kings should leave each child's presents.
• Leave out food and drink for the Kings and, importantly, for the camels: traditionally something sweet, plus water or milk, and often a little grass or a bucket of water for the animals.
• Deliver their letter to the Reyes if they have not already. Children write to the Kings (not to Santa) asking for presents, and hand their letters to the royal pages at town halls, shopping centres and events in the days before.

On the morning of the 6th, the presents are there beside the shoes, and, for children who have supposedly misbehaved, a lump of carbon, sweet coal made of hard black sugar. In practice most kids get a little carbon mixed in with the real presents, as a joke.

Dia de Reyes: 6 January

6 January, Dia de Reyes (the Epifania), is a national public holiday across all of Spain. Families gather, children open the presents the Kings have left, and the day centres on a long, relaxed meal. Most shops, supermarkets and businesses are closed, and public transport runs a holiday timetable. After the 6th the Christmas season officially ends: the decorations come down and normal life resumes, and the winter rebajas (sales) traditionally begin the next day.

The Roscon de Reyes

No Dia de Reyes is complete without the Roscon de Reyes, the ring-shaped sweet bread eaten on the 6th (and often already on the afternoon of the 5th). It is decorated with candied fruit and sugar, sometimes split and filled with cream, and it hides two things baked inside: a small figurine and a dried bean (haba). Custom says whoever finds the figurine is crowned king or queen for the day (the roscon comes with a paper crown), and whoever gets the bean pays for the roscon. You can buy one at any bakery or supermarket in the days around Reyes, and the queues at the good pastelerias on the 5th and 6th are part of the ritual.

City by City

The pattern is the same everywhere in Spain, parade on the evening of the 5th, presents and roscon on the 6th, but each big city gives it its own flavour.

Madrid

The central Cabalgata is a huge, nationally televised parade through the city, with big themed floats and a route published by the city council each December. Individual districts also run their own smaller, calmer cabalgatas that are easier with young children. See our Christmas in Madrid guide.

Barcelona: the Kings arrive by sea

Barcelona's is one of the most distinctive in Spain: on the evening of 5 January the Three Kings arrive by sea, landing at the Port (the Cavalcada dels Reis), where the city welcomes them before they parade through the streets. See our Christmas in Barcelona guide.

Valencia

Valencia stages a large central cabalgata, and the Kings' arrival is a much-loved local event. The city's programme, along with everything else on over the holidays, is the kind of thing our daily Valencia newsletter keeps you across.

Malaga

Malaga holds a big Costa del Sol cabalgata through the centre, and nearly every town along the coast runs its own parade the same evening, so wherever you are on the Costa you will find one nearby.

Practical Info for Newcomers

Plan around the closures

6 January is a full public holiday: supermarkets, most shops and many restaurants close, and transport runs reduced. Buy groceries and anything you need on the 4th or the morning of the 5th. Many shops also close early on the afternoon of the 5th, before the cabalgata. The one upside for shoppers: the winter rebajas (sales) traditionally start on 7 January, once the gift-giving is done.

Letters to the Kings

In the run-up, the Kings' royal pages (and the Cartero Real, the royal postman) receive children's letters at town halls, shopping centres and special events. Your city council publishes where and when. Helping a child write and deliver a letter is a lovely, easy way for a newcomer family to take part.

If you have children, lean in

Take them to the cabalgata, help them write their letter, leave the shoes out on the night of the 5th. It is one of the warmest and simplest ways for a new family to feel part of Spanish life, and your kids will remember it.

Insider Tips

• Get to the cabalgata route early and dress warmly; the best spots go an hour or more ahead, and January evenings are cold.
• Reserve or buy your roscon early. The good bakeries sell out on the 5th and 6th, and the queues are long.
• Stock the fridge before the 6th. Almost everything is shut on Reyes, so shop on the 4th or 5th.
• A little carbon in a shoe is affectionate, not a real punishment, most children get a piece of sweet coal alongside their presents as a joke.
• Even without kids, see the cabalgata once. It is Spain at its most joyful, and it costs nothing.

Three Kings' Day: FAQ

When is Three Kings' Day in Spain?

Always 6 January (Dia de Reyes, or Epiphany), with the Cabalgata parade on the evening of 5 January. Both dates are fixed every year, and 6 January is a national public holiday.

Do Spanish children get presents from Santa or the Three Kings?

Traditionally from the Three Kings (Reyes Magos), on the morning of 6 January. Papa Noel (Santa) has become popular too, so many families now do both, but the Reyes remain the main event.

What is the Cabalgata de Reyes?

A parade on the evening of 5 January in which the Three Kings ride floats through the streets throwing sweets to the crowds. Nearly every town and city holds one, and it is free to attend.

What is the Roscon de Reyes?

A ring-shaped sweet bread eaten around Three Kings' Day, hiding a small figurine (whoever finds it is crowned for the day) and a dried bean (whoever gets it pays for the roscon).

Are shops open on 6 January in Spain?

No. 6 January is a national public holiday, so most shops, supermarkets and businesses close and transport runs a holiday timetable. Stock up beforehand, and note many shops close early on the afternoon of the 5th too.

Why do children leave their shoes out?

So the Three Kings know where to leave each child's presents. On the night of 5 January children also leave out water or food for the Kings and their camels.

What is carbon?

Sweet "coal", a hard black sugar candy, left for children who have supposedly misbehaved. In practice most children get a little as a playful extra alongside their real gifts.

How do I keep up with what is on in my city over the holidays?

Our free daily newsletter sends a short English summary of your city's news and events every day, including the local Cabalgata route and holiday closures. Pick your city above and it is summarised below.