The Abetxuko festivities are set to open the neighborhood festival season in Vitoria-Gasteiz, with a program running from April 29 to May 4, 2026. This event marks the first festive occasion on the local calendar, featuring activities for all ages, including music, a traditional pilgrimage (romería), parades, games, Basque rural sports (herri kirolak), an artisan market, and various tastings spread over six days.
Thus, Abetxuko will be the first neighborhood to kick off the festive season in Gasteiz. The program begins on Wednesday, April 29, with pre-festivities and children's day at the fair, continuing until Monday, May 4, concluding with a hot chocolate event at Bizan.
The main part of the program will commence on Thursday, April 30, with one of the most recognizable moments: the descent of the bird along the river to the Zadorra fields. That same afternoon will feature parades, a tribute to blusas and neskas at the monolith, traineras, a 'yogurines' race, inter-blusa tug-of-war, tasting of blood sausages and zurrakapote, and music until dawn.
Friday, May 1, will be highlighted by the romería. The day's events will include reveilles, parades with txistus, a mass in honor of the patron saint, a floral offering, a tribute to the ikurriña, euskal dantzak (Basque dances), a kalejira, a solidarity pintxo pote, an inter-blusa bowling championship, a frog game, a fire bull, and a dance with an orchestra.
Saturday, May 2, is expected to be one of the most vibrant days of the program. It will coincide with Veteran's Day and the 60th anniversary of Los Decididos, featuring a tortilla contest, a large commemorative parade, children's games, a children's play back show, a biker gathering, a children's kickboxing exhibition, a veteran's meal, acrobatic egg throwing, a dance with Joselu Anaiak, and a late-night hot chocolate.
Sunday, May 3, will focus on the day of the blusas and neskas. The neighborhood will host the opening of the artisan market, herri kirolak, children's activities, a graffiti workshop for children, Extremaduran dances, a sevillanas exhibition, an Alavese bowling championship, a dantza plaza, musical entertainment, and the final firecracker display.
Finally, on Monday, May 4, as the closing day, the program reserves children's day at the fair and a hot chocolate event at Bizan.
