Tenerife in winter has real main-character energy – a mix of sunshine, celebration and pure good vibes. Pick your perfect week and drop into one of the island’s unforgettable fiestas, each guaranteed to lift your spirits (and warm your toes).
At the end of November, the cobbled lanes of Icod de los Vinos echo with cheers as locals race downhill on polished wooden boards and chestnut smoke drifts through the air. In early January, Santa Cruz bursts into colour for the Three Kings Parade, a night of music, floats and a flurry of sweets raining over the crowd. Mid-month, La Caleta’s San Sebastián festival sees riders lead their horses into the Atlantic for a centuries-old blessing. And from mid-January to late February, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026 turns the capital into one glittering, musical stage.
Add warm days, incredible food and direct flights from London Southend Airport, and your winter-sun plans just wrote themselves. Here’s what you can expect.
Icod street-sledging wine festival
From 29–30 November 2025, Icod de los Vinos becomes a living history lesson – with an added thrill factor. Locals perch on polished wooden boards and sled down steep streets, echoing an old tradition tied to moving timber for wine barrels!
The heart of the action is around Calle El Plano, where barriers keep things safe and the soundtrack is cheers, laughter and the hiss of roasting chestnuts. Grab a paper cone of castañas, try a glass of the year’s first tinto and enjoy a festival that feels made for everyone.
Three Kings parade, Santa Cruz
On 5 January 2026, Santa Cruz welcomes the three kings from the nativity – Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar – with a theatrical arrival at Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium before the parade threads through the centre.
Brass bands play, dancers swirl, children collect sweets and the whole city glows with Epiphany-eve excitement. It’s open-air, free and easy to join – pick a spot along the route, bring a light layer for the evening and let the procession come to you.
San Sebastián festival in La Caleta
On 20 January 2026, the quiet coastal village of La Caleta bursts into life for the annual San Sebastián festival, where faith meets fiesta in unforgettable style. After morning mass, local riders guide their horses into the Atlantic at Playa de La Enramada to receive a blessing – a centuries-old tradition honouring the patron saint of farmers and animals.
The scene is pure magic: sunlight glinting off the waves, horses wading through the surf, and crowds clapping from the shore. Once the blessing ends, the celebration spills onto the promenade with music, food stalls and a warm, communal buzz. Arrive mid-morning for the best views and give yourself time to linger – it’s one of Tenerife’s most heartfelt and photogenic winter moments.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026
From 16 January to 22 February 2026, Santa Cruz throws one of the biggest street parties in the world. This year’s theme – Ritmos Latinos, or Latin Rhythms – celebrates the sounds and spirit of Latin America, from salsa and samba to merengue and bachata. Expect a kaleidoscope of colour, drumming, feathers and nonstop dancing.
The main galas and competitions showcase dazzling costumes and sharp satire, while much of the fun happens outdoors: the free Carnaval de Día concerts turn plazas into dance floors from lunchtime to sundown. Don’t miss the Cabalgata Anunciadora opening parade, the colourful Coso procession or the cheeky Entierro de la Sardina that ends it all in laughter and song.
Fly from London Southend
Whether you’re chasing Carnival confetti, beachside blessings or chestnuts in the hills, Tenerife brings the sunshine and the stories to match. Start your escape the easy way from London Southend Airport.
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