Saint Roch (16 August), plague patron, centres summer pilgrimages and festivals; the «día hábil del ciclo» places the labour holiday on a working day of that week.
Verified data
In 2026, the dataset records Saint Roch festivals — working day of the festive cycle as a local holiday in 9 municipalities, accounting for 36,063 residents in the 2025 register. The most common date is 17 August 2026. 2 municipalities set it on another date.
This comparison uses only the official working calendars incorporated into the dataset for each year.
Demographic profile
Age, citizenship, birthplace and average-age structure from the 2025 Annual Population Census.
50.2% / 49.8%
11.4%
63.2%
25.4%
9%
12.2%
47.4 years
Comparison with Spain and with the aggregate of the 3 regions where it is observed. All five comparisons are population-weighted and use only the 2025 Annual Census. A positive sign means the covered population has a higher value than the benchmark.
| Demographic profile | Covered population | Compared with Spain | Compared with its 3 regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 0–14 | 11.4% | -1.6 pp | -1.6 pp |
| Aged 65+ | 25.4% | +4.7 pp | +4.3 pp |
| Foreign citizenship | 9% | -5.1 pp | -1 pp |
| Born outside Spain | 12.2% | -7.1 pp | -1.4 pp |
| Weighted mean age | 47.4 years | +2.9 years | +2.6 years |
The largest difference from Spain is in “Born outside Spain”: -7.1 pp.
Sex comes from the 2025 municipal register; all other metrics come from the 2025 Annual Census. Each percentage uses the total from its own statistical operation. INE municipal tables 68535 and 68541.
Saint Roch of Montpellier, a medieval pilgrim venerated as a protector against plague and other epidemics, is celebrated on 16 August. Tradition shows him with a pilgrim’s staff, a sore on his leg and a dog—or an angel—that aids him; he is also patron of nurses, surgeons and, in popular devotion, of dogs.
In Spain his cult took root after historical epidemics: many towns adopted him as patron and hold Mass, processions or romerías around mid-August, often overlapping the summer fiestas mayores. The 16th sits next to the Assumption (15th), so the festive cycle can run for several consecutive days.
The label «día hábil del ciclo» means the town hall chooses, as the countable local public holiday, a working day inside that patronal week—not necessarily the 16th. In 2026, municipalities in the dataset cluster this wording in mid-August.
This entry sketches the shared frame (sanctoral feast, plague patronage, summer pilgrimages and labour-calendar transfer) without inventing one town’s romería. For the exact date and source, see the municipal page.
Saint Roch
When
In 2026 it falls on Monday 17 August in most municipalities. 2 move it to another date (when it lands on a weekend or by local agreement).
| Year | Main date | Municipalities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, 17 August | 9 |
Where it's a holiday
Its local holiday in 2026, by region. Each municipality links to its annual record and the available official source.
Together, they account for 36,063 residents in the INE municipal register at 1 January 2025.
Galicia2
Aragón1
FAQ
In 2026, Saint Roch festivals — working day of the festive cycle is mainly celebrated on 17 August 2026 (Monday). Some municipalities move it to another date on the working calendar.
It's a local holiday in 9 municipalities in 2026, accounting for 36,063 residents in the 2025 register; mostly in Andalucía (6 municipalities).
No. Saint Roch festivals — working day of the festive cycle is a local-level holiday: it's only a non-working day in the municipalities that set it as their local festival; each keeps its official source.
Other holidays
Per-municipality data with its official source (regional gazette). Every date is verifiable on the municipality page. Data from festivos.io — CC BY 4.0.