This year, the Burial of the Sardine in Los Sauces will take place on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.
The day will begin
- at 10:00 am with the presentation of the sardine in Plaza Montserrat, followed by the opening parade, which will depart from the roundabout at the Los Tilos Bridge and make its way through the town until returning to Plaza Montserrat.
Throughout the day, a festive atmosphere will fill the streets with open air dances and live music, leading up to the most anticipated moment of the night.
- At 9:30 pm, the Burial procession will begin, parading through the streets of the town centre and culminating in the traditional burning of the sardine.
The celebration will continue with a large night time street party, bringing to a close one of the most emblematic and eagerly awaited carnival events on La Palma.
Note:
The official poster for the Burial of the Sardine of San Andrés 2026 was created by Rubén Alessandro Lucas García.
The artwork, entitled “Mi tierra”, won the San Andrés 2026 Sardine Poster Competition, becoming the official image of this year’s celebration.
What is the Burial of the Sardine?
The Burial of the Sardine is one of the most symbolic and satirical traditions used to bring Carnival to an end in many parts of Spain.
The celebration takes the form of a parade that parodies a funeral procession and ends with the burning of a figure, usually a sardine.
This act represents the end of Carnival excesses and marks the beginning of a period of reflection, change and renewal.
Its symbolic meaning lies in saying goodbye to the old in order to make way for the new.
On La Palma, this tradition is celebrated in several municipalities, including Santa Cruz de La Palma, Tazacorte, Los Llanos, Puntallana and Barlovento.
However, it is in Los Sauces, in the northeast of the island, where it reaches a particularly significant dimension.
There, the Burial of the Sardine has been declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Canary Islands, a recognition that highlights its importance within the island’s festive calendar.
Every year, thousands of people from across the island gather to take part in and enjoy this unique celebration.