Key points
- Weather: in late December, expect 15 to 16 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C at night. The sea is around 17 °C. Do not miss the traditional New Year’s Day swim
- The festive season runs from late November (the lights switch-on in Eivissa) to the Three Kings, who arrive at the port by boat in early January.
- Plenty of options on 31 December: the free party under the Vara de Rey marquee with the twelve chimes of midnight, or a paid New Year’s Eve in one of the clubs (Pacha, Lío, Akasha…)
- Many hotels and beach restaurants close in winter: book your accommodation and your table for the 31st as early as possible.
In December, Ibiza is far from its party reputation: the beaches are deserted, the lanes of the old town can be explored in peace and locals gather in the town centre in the evening. A few clubs do reopen for New Year. This guide takes you from early December to Epiphany in January, with all the practical information: what is open, what is closed and the bookings you cannot do without.
The 2026-2027 festive calendar
Eivissa council publishes its “Eivissa, ciutat del Nadal” programme in late November. In the meantime, here are the events that come back every year, with the dates and times of the 2025-2026 edition as a guide.
We update this table as soon as the official programme is out.
| Date | Event | Place | 2026-2027 status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late November | Lights switch-on and opening show | Reina Sofia park, Eivissa | Date to be confirmed (29 November in 2025) |
| December weekends | Las Dalias Christmas market | Sant Carles | To be confirmed (6 December to 4 January in 2025) |
| December to mid-January | Funfair and food market | Vara de Rey, Eivissa | To be confirmed (until 12 January in 2025) |
| 23 and 24 December | Father Christmas parades, 10.30am | From the port to Vara de Rey | To be confirmed |
| 26 December | Salsa de Nadal competition | Vara de Rey marquee | To be confirmed |
| 31 December | Pujada a la Catedral race, 4.30pm | Starts at es Martell (port) | To be confirmed |
| 31 December | End-of-year party and twelve chimes of midnight, 10pm-3am | Vara de Rey marquee | To be confirmed |
| 1 January | New Year’s swim and hot chocolate, 12pm | Figueretes beach | To be confirmed |
| 1 January | Circoloco New Year’s Day | DC10, Sant Jordi | Line-up not announced |
| 5 January | Arrival of the Three Kings by boat, 6pm | Eivissa port, then Vara de Rey | To be confirmed (brought forward to 4 January in 2026 due to the weather) |
| 17 January | Sant Antoni, patron saint’s day and blessing of the animals | Sant Antoni de Portmany | Fixed date |
Ibiza in December: what to expect
In December, the island is mild, calm and sunny by day: expect 15 to 16 °C in the afternoon, cool mornings and a jacket for the evenings.
Weather-wise, allow at most a few days of rain in a week.
It is the ideal time to walk along big beaches such as Ses Salines almost on your own, watch the sunset at Cala Comte and visit the old town of Dalt Vila whenever you like!
On the other hand, the island runs at its residents’ pace: the big restaurants and beach clubs in the south are closed, as are many hotels.
However, Eivissa, Santa Eulària, Santa Gertrudis and the inland villages stay lively, with their cosy bars! For a successful winter stay, choose accommodation in a town or village rather than in a sleepy resort.
Find all the details month by month in our guide to when to go to Ibiza and Formentera.
| In December | Average |
|---|---|
| Afternoon temperature | 15 à 16 °C |
| Night-time temperature | about 9 °C |
| Sea temperature | 17 à 18 °C |
| Sunshine | 5 to 8 hours a day depending on the source |
December: lights, markets and the funfair
Eivissa, ciutat del Nadal
It all kicks off in late November in Reina Sofia park: in 2025, a video-mapping show with dancers and acrobats preceded the lights switch-on.
After that, everything happens on Passeig de Vara de Rey. A big marquee, a food market with about ten stalls and a funfair stay in place until mid-January. About fifty concerts are also spread across the neighbourhoods.
Las Dalias Christmas market
In Sant Carles, Las Dalias swaps its hippie market for a Christmas market at weekends in December: in 2025, from 6 December to 4 January, Saturdays 10am to 5pm and Sundays 11am to 5pm. More than 40 craft stalls, children’s workshops, music and a visit from Father Christmas one Sunday before Christmas. Entry is free (Las Dalias).
The Christmas cliff jump at Sa Punta
Since the 2010s, locals in Santa hats have jumped from the rocks at Sa Punta, in Talamanca, in mid-December.
The event is informal and its date changes every year: check the Ibiza Cliff Diving group’s social media before going.
23 to 26 December: Christmas, Ibiza style
Father Christmas parades on the mornings of 23 and 24 December, from Eivissa port to Vara de Rey, where he meets children for photos.
On the evening of the 24th and on the 25th, the town empties: it is a family Christmas. Many restaurants close, so book if you want to eat out on the 24th.
Ibiza’s Christmas dessert is salsa de Nadal: a thick cream made with almonds, eggs, honey or sugar, saffron, pepper and cinnamon, often made with chicken stock and served with biscuits (every family has its own recipe).
The council even holds a competition on 26 December under the Vara de Rey marquee, in 2 categories: with or without stock.
For the rest of the meal, look for flaó and greixonera in the town’s bakeries.
31 December: where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Ibiza?
The free party in town
The day starts early in Eivissa.
In 2025, the programme included:
- 11am: pre-campanadas for families, at the Vara de Rey market;
- 1pm to 8pm: “tardeo” with a DJ on Plaza del Parque;
- 4.30pm: Pujada a la Catedral, a fun-run in fancy dress up to Dalt Vila, starting from es Martell;
- 10pm to 3am: the big end-of-year party under the Vara de Rey marquee, with the twelve chimes of midnight live, the grapes and party favours.
Spanish tradition has you swallow a grape on each chime of midnight, 12 in total, for twelve lucky months.
The twelve chimes at midday
Sant Josep and Sant Jordi celebrate New Year at midday on the 31st, with music in the square: handy with children who will not last until midnight.
In Santa Eulària, 2 free parties start after midnight, at Teatro España and in Puig d’en Valls.
New Year’s Eve at Pacha and other clubs
Several clubs reopen for the night of the 31st. In 2025-2026, they included:
- Pacha: Music On night with Marco Carola;
- Lío: dinner show facing the port, then a party after midnight;
- Akasha, at Las Dalias: house and techno from 12.30am, in a more intimate atmosphere.
Pacha is the island’s most sought-after New Year club night, and the easiest to reach: the club is in Eivissa, a few minutes by taxi from the port and Vara de Rey. Tickets are sold on the official Pacha website, with prices that climb as the 31st approaches: buy them as soon as the night is announced.
As for restaurants, El Náutico on the port and Zazú in Playa d’en Bossa are among the year-round addresses that often offer a New Year’s Eve menu. For 2026-2027, no club has announced its party yet: tickets usually go on sale in November.
Our summer favourites are in the clubs not to miss in Ibiza.
1 January: an icy swim and Circoloco
At midday, part of the town jumps into the sea at Figueretes beach, a 15-minute walk from the centre. The council serves hot chocolate to swimmers. With the sea at 17 °C, you go in fast and come out just as fast; bring a towel and dry clothes.
In the afternoon, DC10 opens for Circoloco New Year’s Day, from 4pm to 6am: in 2026, Carl Craig, Ellen Allien and Raresh were on the bill.
It is one of the few winter parties that draws clubbers from all over Europe.
5 and 6 January: the arrival of the Three Kings
In Spain, it is the Three Kings who bring the presents. In Eivissa, they arrive by boat on 5 January at around 6pm, then parade on floats through the town before the mayor hands them the keys to the city. The parade involves hundreds of participants and tonnes of sweets thrown to the crowd.
The other municipalities have their own parade, on the 5th or 6th depending on the year: Sant Antoni and Sant Miquel on the evening of the 5th, Santa Eulària on the 6th from the Club Náutico. 6 January is a public holiday: many shops close.
And on 17 January, Sant Antoni
If you stay on, the patron saint’s day of Sant Antoni de Portmany, on 17 January, closes the festive season: mass, procession, traditional dances and the blessing of the animals outside the town hall, where you will see dogs, horses and budgies go by.
What stays open over Christmas
| Mostly open | Mostly closed |
|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafés in Eivissa, Santa Eulària, Sant Antoni and Santa Gertrudis | Beach restaurants and beach clubs (Juan y Andrea, Casa Jondal, Amante, Jockey Club) |
| Town hotels and agroturismos open all year | Big resort hotels, especially in Playa d’en Bossa and Sant Antoni |
| Ferry to Formentera, daily with fewer sailings | Most boat trips |
| Las Dalias Christmas market, at weekends | Evening hippie markets and Punta Arabí |
| Clubs on 31 December and 1 January | Clubs for the rest of the winter |
Getting there and staying over the festive season
In winter, direct flights from the UK are limited and vary from year to year; many routes connect via Barcelona or Madrid with Vueling or Iberia. Flights on 30 and 31 December go quickly, so book in the autumn.
Our tips are in cheap flights to Ibiza. To get out of the airport, see airport transfers and shuttles.
To stay, Eivissa is the best choice for the festive season: Vara de Rey, the port, Dalt Vila and the New Year clubs are on foot or a few minutes by taxi. Santa Eulària suits families.
A few rural hotels inland stay open for a quiet Christmas.
All the areas are compared in where to stay in Ibiza.
Accommodation for the festive season
Check who is open on your dates
Some hotels close in winter. By filtering your dates on Booking, you only see the properties open between Christmas and New Year.
Who is Ibiza at Christmas for? It is the ideal destination for couples and families looking for winter sun, peaceful walks and Spanish traditions such as the Three Kings and local sweets. It is also a good choice for party-goers coming specifically for the big New Year’s events, such as New Year’s Eve at Pacha or Circoloco on 1 January.
On the other hand, Ibiza in December is not for you if you dream of swimming, lively beach clubs and lazy beach days. Do not go either if you expect summer nightlife every day: apart from 31 December and 1 January, the big clubs stay closed.
The week between Christmas and New Year is the liveliest, with the market, the funfair and concerts. Arriving on the 27th and leaving on 2 January lets you see it all, New Year’s Eve included.
FAQ: Christmas and New Year in Ibiza
What is the weather like in Ibiza at Christmas?
Mild by day and cool in the evening: 15 to 16 °C in the afternoon, about 9 °C at night, with a few days of rain in the month. The sea stays around 17 °C.
Can you swim in Ibiza in December?
The bravest do, especially on 1 January at midday on Figueretes beach, where the council offers hot chocolate to swimmers. With the water at 17 °C, the swim is short.
Are the clubs open for New Year in Ibiza?
Yes, several reopen for the occasion: in 2025-2026, Pacha, Lío and Akasha on 31 December, then DC10 with Circoloco on 1 January. The 2026-2027 nights are usually announced in November.
Where can you celebrate New Year’s Eve for free in Ibiza?
Under the marquee on Passeig de Vara de Rey, in Eivissa: the council holds a party there from 10pm to 3am, with the twelve chimes of midnight, the grapes and party favours. Sant Josep and Sant Jordi also celebrate the twelve chimes at midday.
When do the Three Kings arrive in Ibiza?
On the evening of 5 January, at around 6pm: they arrive at Eivissa port by boat from Formentera, then parade to Vara de Rey. The date can be brought forward in bad weather, as in 2026.
What do people eat at Christmas in Ibiza?
The star dessert is salsa de Nadal, a cream of almonds, eggs and spices served with biscuits. You also find flaó and greixonera in the bakeries during the festive season.
