Fly home on January 5 and you miss the night Spanish children wait for all year. In Bilbao the Three Kings parade runs on the evening of the 5th, free, along the Gran Vía to City Hall. Stay one night more and you also meet a public holiday when two of the three big museums shut.
What is the Three Kings parade in Bilbao? A free evening street parade on 5 January, from the Gran Vía to City Hall, on the eve of Spain’s main gift day. In 2026 it started at 18:00 and the Kings waved from the balcony at 19:45. It suits families and anyone staying past New Year.
The Three Kings parade in Bilbao is a free street procession on the evening of 5 January, running from the Gran Vía to City Hall. Times below are from January 2026, and the 2027 edition will publish its own in late December.
What it is, and is it worth planning around?
Worth a walk if you are in town; not worth moving a flight for unless you travel with children. January 6, not December 25, has long been the big present day in Spain, so the parade is the local children’s main event. It is a very Spanish evening, which gives it an interest for visitors that a Christmas market lacks.
The floats change each year. The 2026 edition mixed Toy Story, Mario Bros., Bluey and giant LED puppets, 10 floats and 5 street acts in all, with the Kings near the end. A Sweet Factory closes the parade, and the 3 tonnes of sweets handed out in 2026 were gluten-free, so a child with coeliac disease can join in.
Where to stand
Moyua is the easiest choice for a visitor: metro at the door and a central spot on the route. Further west on the Gran Vía the floats come earlier. City Hall, on the far bank of the river, gets the balcony greeting.
| Spot | First float in 2026 | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Vía at María Díaz de Haro | 18:00 | Small children, as it finishes first |
| Plaza Moyua | 18:30 | Most visitors |
| Plaza Circular | 19:00 | Anyone heading on by train |
| City Hall | 19:30 | The balcony greeting |
People with reduced mobility had a reserved 40 m stretch in front of the Diputación at Gran Vía 25, with one companion allowed, or two if one of them is under 14. Plan on standing, as no seating is announced.
Getting back
Use the metro: the tram and some buses stop well before the parade. On January 5, 2026, Euskotren cut the tram between Arriaga and Pío Baroja from about 17:00 to 21:00. Bizkaibus line A3414, the Getxo service via Artxanda, skipped its Gran Vía stops from 17:00 to 19:45. Check the 2027 notice, or call Euskotren on 944 333 333.
Moyua and Abando are both right on the route, City Hall is 406 m from Uribarri on line 3, and the Bilbao metro and tram guide shows how the network fits together. The ticket to buy is a Barik card if you make more than a couple of trips. If you are out late, Gautxori night buses start from Plaza Circular on the nights they run.
Where the route goes
The Three Kings route runs about 1.8 km along the Gran Vía, through Plaza Moyua and Plaza Circular, then over the river to City Hall. The first float took 90 minutes over it in 2026. Dinner in Spain runs late, so you can watch from Moyua and still eat at a normal local hour.
What is shut on the 6th
On January 6, 2027, a Wednesday, the Guggenheim is the one big museum open. The Guggenheim keeps its normal hours, 10:00 to 19:00. The Basque Museum shuts on that day, so its free Wednesday does not apply, and the Fine Arts Museum shuts too. The Artxanda funicular keeps its holiday hours, 8:15 to 22:00, for the view.
Book lunch before you travel and ask what the restaurant serves on the holiday. If you fly on the 6th, check the airport connections for holiday timetables. The rest of the season, from Santo Tomás onwards, is on the Christmas in Bilbao calendar. Those arriving earlier can catch Olentzero, the Basque gift-bringer, two weeks before.
The morning reception, and who should skip it
Most visitors can skip the morning reception in the Arab Hall of City Hall. It ran 10:00 to 14:00 on January 5, 2026, with 2,000 free passes in slots every 10 minutes, opening on Tuesday December 30 at 10:00 on kulturabilbao.vivetix.com, three passes per booking. It exists for children handing letters to the Kings.
The evening parade is not for everyone either. Small children may flag if you stand near City Hall, where the Kings arrive after 19:30, and travellers without children may want only half an hour of it from Moyua before dinner. The Christmas markets had their last day on January 5 in the 2025 edition, so a market stop can come first.
Frequently asked questions about the Three Kings parade in Bilbao
What is the Three Kings parade in Bilbao?
It is the free street parade on the evening of 5 January, when Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar ride through central Bilbao on the eve of Spain’s main gift day. In January 2026 it had 10 floats and 5 street acts, and ended with a greeting from the City Hall balcony.
What time does the Bilbao Three Kings parade start?
The January 2026 parade started at 18:00 on the Gran Vía and its first float reached City Hall at 19:30. January 5, 2027 falls on a Tuesday, and the time for that edition arrives with the city programme in late December.
Is everything closed in Bilbao on January 6?
Much is. January 6 is a public holiday. The Basque Museum and the Fine Arts Museum shut, while the Guggenheim runs its usual 10:00 to 19:00 hours and the Artxanda funicular runs 8:15 to 22:00. Book a table in advance if you plan to eat out.
Do you need tickets for the Three Kings parade in Bilbao?
Not for the street parade, which is free. Only the morning reception in the Arab Hall of City Hall needed one: 2,000 free passes in 2026, which opened on 30 December. That reception is built around children, so most visitors can skip it.
For a trip that runs past New Year, stay the night of the 5th and leave the Guggenheim for the 6th.