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Festivals & Events in Sevilla
Festivals & Events

Cabalgata de Reyes Magos de Sevilla

Float in the Three Kings parade (Cabalgata de Reyes Magos) in Seville, January 5, 2011
Photo: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Every January 5th, Seville's Cabalgata de Reyes Magos winds through the city centre with 33 floats and around 100,000 kg of sweets tossed from them. Organised by the Ateneo since 1918, it is one of the oldest in Spain. Entry is free and open to all; the parade lasts about six hours.

From 1918 to the Guadalquivir

The Ateneo de Sevilla has organised this parade without interruption since 5 January 1918, making it one of the oldest in Spain and the longest-running in Andalusia. Worth clearing up a common myth: it is not the oldest in the country — that title belongs to Alcoy, which has run continuously since 1885. That first edition set off from the Teatro San Fernando, then on Calle Lombardos (now Muñoz Olivé), with ox-drawn carts loaded with toys and sweets donated by Sevillians: more than 470 boxes of confectionery and 1,811 bags of sweets. The three original Kings were members of the Ateneo itself. Another point worth noting: Seville's river is the Guadalquivir, not the Nervión (that one flows through Bilbao), and the Kings do not officially arrive by boat as part of the parade, even if some tourist cruises market it that way.

Route and timings

The date never changes: January 5th, with the procession departing around 16:00–16:15 from the old Fábrica de Tabacos (University of Seville, Calle Palos de la Frontera). The cortège takes about six hours to complete the route, so the last King does not pass until close to 22:00. The parade cuts through the historic centre (Avenida del Cid, Ronda de Capuchinos, Feria, Plaza del Duque, La Campana), crosses the Puente de Isabel II into Triana (Altozano, San Jacinto), and finishes in Los Remedios and Paseo de las Delicias before looping back to the start. Important note: the route changes slightly each year and can be moved to January 4th in bad weather (as happened in 2025). Always confirm the date and route at cabalgatasevilla.es, which also offers live GPS tracking on the day.

Where to stand

Plaza de la Campana is the most central and lively spot, but also the most packed — get there at least 90 minutes early if that is your choice. To see the floats without the crush, stick to the wider stretches: Avenida del Cid near the start, the Feria/Macarena area (where the parade arrives earlier and with thinner crowds), the Puente de Isabel II to catch the crossing into Triana, or the quieter final stretch along Paseo de las Delicias and Avenida de Roma. With young children, the broad pavements of Avenida del Cid and Los Remedios are the safest bet. If you want a local feel with none of the mayhem, the neighbourhood parades in Triana, Nervión and Macarena run on the 4th and 5th with their own schedules. From 2026, a quiet section for children with ASD and a dedicated accessible space were introduced.

Practical tips

Arrive early at your chosen spot: allow an hour to 90 minutes in the central sections, less on the open stretches. Leave the car at home — traffic restrictions cover the entire centre and parking is a nightmare. Tussam runs free urban buses (except the EA airport line) from 15:00 onwards with extra services; the metro drops you at Nervión, San Bernardo or Blas Infante to sidestep the busiest sections. Bring large bags for collecting sweets: some 100,000 kg are handed out, thrown from the floats by the Kings (the Ateneo uses soft and fruit sweets to avoid injuries). Six hours is a long time — pack water, a snack and warm layers, because January nights in Seville get cold. One basic safety rule: keep children away from moving floats and do not dive into the crowd to grab sweets off the ground.

Frequently asked questions

When is Seville's Cabalgata de Reyes and how long does it last?
It always takes place on 5 January, setting off around 16:00–16:15 from the old Fábrica de Tabacos (University of Seville). It lasts about six hours, so the parade does not finish until close to 22:00. It can be moved to the 4th in bad weather; confirm the date at cabalgatasevilla.es.
Is there an admission charge?
None at all. The parade is a free, open-air public event — no ticket, no reservation, no fee. You simply need to arrive early at the section you have chosen, especially in the busier central spots such as Plaza de la Campana.
What is the best place to watch it?
Plaza de la Campana is the liveliest but gets very crowded. For a more relaxed view of the floats, head to the wider sections: Avenida del Cid, the Feria/Macarena area (the parade arrives there earlier with fewer people), or the final stretch along Paseo de las Delicias. With children, the wide pavements of Avenida del Cid or Los Remedios work best.
How do I get there without a car?
That is the recommended approach: traffic restrictions apply throughout the centre. Tussam runs free urban buses (except the EA line) from 15:00, with extra services in operation. The metro is another good option — alight at Nervión, San Bernardo or Blas Infante to avoid the most congested sections of the route.

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