If you're wondering how to spend the weekend, there's no shortage of entertainment across the Canary Islands. Whether you're looking for live music by the sea, traditional Canarian celebrations, sporting events or family activities, every island has something to offer between Friday and Sunday.

Tenerife

Across Tenerife, many coastal towns are celebrating the Fiestas del Carmen, one of the island's best-loved summer traditions. The festivities honour the patron saint of fishermen and typically feature live music, food stalls, dancing, religious ceremonies and maritime processions that bring entire communities together.

In Varadero, festivities continue with the Virgen del Carmen procession at 8:00pm on Saturday, followed by a traditional verbena, an open-air street party with live music and dancing, from 11:00pm. On Sunday afternoon, another community celebration begins from around 5:00pm.

In Ravelo (El Sauzal), Friday night features a Drag Show at 9:00pm, followed by dancing. Saturday includes children's activities from 11:00am, Canarian wrestling at 7:00pm (the islands' traditional national sport) and another large verbena from 10.30pm. Sunday's programme includes a motor show in the morning and live entertainment from 5.30pm.

Sports fans can also watch the International Under-18 Women's Basketball Tournament in Santa Cruz throughout the weekend, while concerts, family activities and village fiestas continue in several municipalities across the island.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria has one of its busiest weekends of the summer, with festivals and local celebrations taking place from the north of the island to the south.

One of the biggest attractions is the 10th Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival on San Agustín Beach. The free festival begins at 6:00pm on Friday, continues from 4:00pm until midnight on Saturday, and wraps up on Sunday from 4:00pm, with international soul artists, food stalls and family entertainment by the sea.

In Gáldar, celebrations for the Fiestas de Santiago continue throughout the weekend. These annual festivities honour St James (Santiago), the town's patron saint, and combine religious traditions with music, food and community celebrations. Friday evening features the traditional Noche de Folías, where local musicians perform Canarian folk music, while Saturday's Romería Ofrenda sees locals dressed in traditional costume parade through the streets with offerings of local produce before the celebrations continue with the lively Baile de Taifa, a traditional Canarian dance, and live DJs late into the night.

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Burger Fest Canarias runs throughout the weekend in Santa Catalina Park with more than 25 burger vendors, live music and family activities. Free outdoor cinema screenings also continue on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Meanwhile, the neighbourhood of La Isleta celebrates the Fiestas del Carmen, one of the Canary Islands' most cherished summer festivals. Held in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of fishermen and seafarers, the celebrations include live music, street entertainment, religious ceremonies and colourful maritime processions. This weekend's programme includes Friday night's gala, Saturday's romería and Sunday's traditional procession, when the statue of the Virgin is carried through the streets before being taken out to sea aboard a decorated fishing boat.

Other highlights include Teror's famous Verbena del Agua on Saturday night, where thousands gather for a huge open-air street party complete with water fights, live music and fireworks, Arguineguín's Carmen celebrations throughout the weekend, and a seafood gastronomy fair in Playa de Mogán.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is also celebrating the Fiestas del Carmen, with several coastal towns hosting live music, food stalls and religious celebrations throughout the weekend.

One of the weekend's biggest attractions is the traditional maritime procession in La Graciosa, where decorated fishing boats accompany the image of the Virgen del Carmen through the harbour. It's one of the most picturesque traditions in the Canary Islands and reflects the islands' long-standing connection with the sea and the fishing industry.

Elsewhere, visitors can enjoy evening concerts, family activities, local food and traditional entertainment as communities across the island continue their summer fiestas.

 

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura's coastal towns are also marking the Fiestas del Carmen, with events taking place throughout the weekend in locations including Corralejo, Puerto del Rosario and Giniginámar.

Visitors can expect live music, children's entertainment, food stalls, evening dances, traditional religious processions and plenty of opportunities to experience authentic Canarian culture. Many of the celebrations continue well into Saturday and Sunday night.

Plan ahead

Most events are free to attend, although some of the larger festivals and romerías are expected to attract large crowds.

If you're travelling by car, it's worth arriving early, as parking around popular venues can fill up quickly and many town centres will have temporary road closures during processions and celebrations.

Whether you're after live music on the beach, traditional Canarian culture, fantastic food or family entertainment, this weekend promises to be one of the busiest and most colourful of the summer across the Canary Islands.