While a good part of the urban festive calendar focuses on large events and increasingly homogeneous programming, the Santa Eulalia neighborhood of Murcia proves again in 2026 that there is another way to celebrate. Slower, more neighborly and more resistant. The festivities in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria and San Blas, considered the oldest in Murcia, return from January 25 to February 8 with a program that mixes religious tradition, cultural activities and neighborhood life.
Santa Eulalia is not just a parish, it is one of the founding nuclei of the city. Their parties work like a thermometer: when they arrive, the neighborhood is reactivated, public space is occupied and neighborhood connections are reinforced.
The program starts on Sunday, January 25, with the inauguration of the Festival Commission booth, located next to the church, a space that acts as a meeting point for two weeks. At noon the proclamation arrives, which this year is given by Joaquín Bernal Ganga, art historian, in a gesture that underlines the importance of the neighborhood’s cultural heritage.
After the solemn mass, accompanied by the Peña Huertana El Zarangollo, the day moves to the Plaza de la Candelaria with a popular paella prepared by the El Tirol restaurant.
Thinking about the neighborhood from culture
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Far from being limited to a liturgical program, the festivities of Santa Eulalia have incorporated a stable cultural dimension for years. He XVI Cycle of History, Art and Archeology ‘La Trinidad’which is held on January 26 and 27 at the Museum of Fine Arts of Murcia (MUBAM), is one of the clearest examples.
On Monday, the director of MUBAM, Juan García Sandoval, analyzes the symbolic and artistic dimension of the church of Santa Eulalia. On Tuesday, Dr. Lorenzo Tomás Gabarrón addresses the figure of the architect José Antonio Rodríguez Martínez. Two conferences that connect the neighborhood’s present with its material history and help contextualize the heritage.
Wednesday, January 28, focuses on education and outreach. In the afternoon, the church hosts a children’s workshop dedicated to explaining to the little ones the meaning of the Candelaria and San Blas festivals. That same day, the MUBAM is the scene of the screening of the documentary The sea of them and a subsequent discussion with university researchers, in an activity organized by the neighborhood Merchants Association.
The involvement of local businesses in the program is not anecdotal. In Santa Eulalia, the festivals also function as a tool for economic revitalization and vindication of local commerce as an essential part of the urban fabric.
Recognitions and care
Thursday, January 29, is dedicated to the elders of the neighborhood. At the Santa Eulalia Senior Center, the Candelaria 2026 and Tío Blas 2026 awards are presented, followed by an afternoon of music and snacks.
On Friday the 30th, this intergenerational logic continues. In the afternoon a children’s party is held in the Plaza de la Candelaria, while in the evening a guided tour of the neighborhood is organized and the Eulalio 2026 distinction is awarded to the Very Illustrious Tuna of Economy and Business of Murcia, in an event also promoted by the Association of Merchants.
History, music and street
On Saturday, January 31, one of the most unique moments of the program recovers: the commemorative parade of the Taking of Murcia by Jaime I, which runs through the historic center and returns to Santa Eulalia. It is a symbolic recreation that connects the neighborhood with the history of the city.
At noon, Plaza de la Candelaria becomes the scene of a musical aperitif with live performances.
Sunday, February 1, combines religious celebration and solidarity action. After the mass solemnized by the Rondalla La Parranda of the Casa de Canarias, the square of the painter José Falgas hosts a solidarity stew in favor of the ELA Region of Murcia Association.
La Candelaria and San Blas, the central axis
The symbolic core of the festivities is concentrated on February 2 and 3. The blessing of the candles, the presentation of the children and the solemn procession with the images of the Virgin of Candelaria, San Blas and San José travel through the streets of the neighborhood in one of the oldest rituals in the city.
Saint Blaise, patron saint of throat diseases, once again brings together health associations, faithful and institutional representatives in the renewal of the vote of the Murcia City Council.
The organization remembers that during all the festivities, in the booth located next to the main door of the church, the traditional blessed scrolls of San Blas can be purchased, as well as sanblases, medals and other souvenirs linked to the celebration.
Far from closing with the big days, the program extends during the first week of February with charity theater at the Romea Theater and coexistence and community activities. On Sunday, February 8, the Santa Eulalia procession-pilgrimage brings it to a close.
The complete program of the festivities, with detailed schedules and location of each activity, can be consulted through the parish of Santa Eulalia and the Neighborhood Merchants Association.
Most of the events are open and free of charge, and take place in common spaces in the neighborhood such as the church, the Museum of Fine Arts, Plaza de la Candelaria or the Teatro Romea, which facilitates the participation of both neighbors and people who come from other parts of the city.
