The municipality will mark the day with religious services, the traditional civic procession, a floral offering and the procession of the Virgin of Candelaria through the town
Candelaria will celebrate one of the most important religious dates in Tenerife on Saturday, 15 August, with a full programme of events honouring the Virgin of Candelaria, Patroness of the Canary Islands.
The day will combine religious ceremonies, traditional music, civic events and processions, with activities taking place around the Basilica of Candelaria and the town centre.
📅 Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
📍 Area: Candelaria, Tenerife
⛪ Main venue: Basilica of Candelaria
🎉 Occasion: Feast of the Virgin of Candelaria
Masses begin early
The day begins at the Basilica of Candelaria with Eucharistic celebrations at:
- 5.00am
- 6.00am
- 7.00am
- 8.00am
- 12.00pm
- 6.00pm
The Holy Rosary will be prayed at 5.15pm.
At 9.00am, the Basilica will receive drums and a floral offering from the Asociación Cultural La Guanchería de Los Realejos.
Hundreds of runners take part in the floral offering
At 10.00am, the Basilica will host the 35th Athletic Floral Offering to the Virgin of Candelaria.
Hundreds of runners will arrive in Candelaria from Santa Cruz de Tenerife as part of the traditional event, organised by MED Salud Sport Canarias.
It is one of those slightly unusual Tenerife traditions where sport, devotion and a very early start all come together.
Military ceremony and civic procession
At 10.45am, a military parade and reception will take place in the area beside the Candelaria Town Hall.
The event will include the reception of Astrid María Pérez Batista, President of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, representing His Majesty the King of Spain.
The ceremony will be broadcast live by La 2 de TVE in the Canary Islands, TV Canaria, COPE Canarias and Candelaria Radio.
At 11.30am, the civic procession will leave from the Town Hall and make its way towards the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias.
The procession will be accompanied by the Las Candelas Music Band.
Solemn Mass at midday
At 12.00pm, the Basilica will host the Solemn Concelebration of the Eucharist.
The service will be presided over by Monsignor Eloy Alberto Santiago Santiago, Bishop of the Diocese of Nivariense.
Music will be provided by the Voces para la Esperanza Villa de Candelaria Choir and the Las Candelas Chamber Orchestra.
The ceremony will again be broadcast live on La 2 de TVE in the Canary Islands, TV Canaria, COPE Canarias and Candelaria Radio.
The Virgin takes to the streets
Following the Mass, the Virgin of Candelaria will be carried in procession through Calle Obispo Pérez Cáceres and Calle Los Príncipes.
The procession will be accompanied by the Las Candelas Music Band and the Nueva Banda de Igueste, with a traditional display of fireworks.
The final major event of the day will take place at 8.45pm, when the Virgin will be transferred from the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias to the area beside the Town Hall for the traditional offering to the Patroness of the Canary Islands.
For Candelaria, it is a day when the town’s religious traditions, local community and Canary Islands identity all come together.