Tenerife in January: Carnival Launch, Three Kings and Animal Blessings

The year starts with Reyes

The festive season reaches its emotional peak on 6 January, when the Three Kings (Reyes Magos) arrive by boat and parade through every town with sweets for the children — the biggest parade of the whole festive season in Santa Cruz. It's the grand finale of the Christmas season, and the last big family celebration before the carnival begins.

Carnival opens late January

The headline event of the month is the Santa Cruz Carnival, which opens on 22 January 2027 and runs to the end of February — one of the largest carnivals on earth after Rio, filling the streets of the capital with costumes, live music and the election of the Carnival Queen. The carnival guide has the full plan, from the opening gala to the famous burial of the sardine.

Animal blessings and village fiestas

Mid-January brings the island's most charming traditions. On 17 January the blessing of the animals fills the UNESCO old town of La Laguna with dogs, goats, horses and parrots. Around the same days, Arona holds its own San Antonio Abad fiesta (15–18 January) with processions and folk dancing, and Adeje celebrates its patron San Sebastián on 19–20 January — the South's traditional opening of the year.

Still winter sun

The south still holds a comfortable 20–23°C, the winter-sun season is in full swing and the best time to visit guide explains why January is one of the year's best-value months. Book somewhere to stay early if you want carnival dates, fill the rest of the trip with the things to do guide, and the how many days plan still fits neatly.