La Seu's calendar
Palma Cathedral events: the Festival of Light and concerts in the nave
On two early mornings a year, the sun turns La Seu into a Gothic projector: the Festival of Light, the cathedral's most extraordinary event — and one of the few free ones. The rest of the calendar belongs to organ concerts, Christmas and Holy Week. Here is what happens, when, and how to build your visit around each date.
ⓘ Independent guide. Not the cathedral’s official website.The Festival of Light at a glance
| Next dates | 11 November 2026 and 2 February 2027 |
|---|---|
| Time | Sunrise — you need to be inside before the sun is up |
| Price | Free (on those two mornings only) |
| Where to look | At the west wall, beneath its rose window |
| Duration | A few minutes — the alignment is brief |
| Winter entrance | Casa de l'Almoina, per the cathedral's own signage |
The Festival of Light: a figure of eight that exists two days a year
Every 2 February and 11 November, the sun rises exactly on the extended axis of the cathedral. Its first rays pass through the great rose window — the "eye of the Gothic", roughly 12 metres across with more than 1,100 pieces of glass — and project its coloured replica onto the inside of the west facade. For a few minutes the projected rose settles directly beneath that facade's own rose window: two roses stacked vertically, the celebrated figure of eight.
There is no projector and no trick — just the raw geometry of Levantine Gothic, which is why it only works when the sun rises at one precise point on the horizon. Both dates carry their own names on the calendar, too: Candlemas, the feast of light, on 2 February, and Saint Martin's Day on 11 November.
The physics: two rose windows in perfect alignment
La Seu has two rose windows facing each other along its axis: the great one above the presbytery in the east wall, and a second in the west facade above the main portal. The 2nd of February and the 11th of November sit almost symmetrically around the winter solstice, so on both days the sun rises at the same spot on the horizon — the only one aligned with both windows. Light enters from the east, crosses the 44-metre-high nave and lands beneath the western rose. Had the medieval masons been a degree off, the phenomenon would not exist.
How to see it without missing it
- Get up properly early: the cathedral opens before sunrise on both days and the sun does not wait. Check the exact opening time on the official site a few days ahead.
- Build in a buffer: it is free and hugely popular — locals, photographers and school groups pack the nave. Half an hour of margin is not too much.
- Face west: the show happens on the inside of the main facade, beneath its rose window. The projection moves; the perfect figure of eight lasts only briefly.
- No flash, no tripod: the usual photography rules apply, in a much fuller nave.
- If the morning is overcast, there is no projection — the phenomenon runs on direct sun. That is the plan's only real risk.
Concerts: the organ, with a 44-metre nave as its soundbox
La Seu keeps a historic organ and hosts organ and sacred music concerts through the year. The draw is not just the instrument: a Gothic nave rising 44 metres — taller than Notre-Dame — turns any programme into something physical, with sound ricocheting between the fourteen columns.
The planning caveat: there is no fixed concert calendar, and line-ups change each season. Dates, programmes and access conditions are published by the cathedral itself on catedraldemallorca.org — be wary of any site selling "concert tickets" without a specific date. The tourist ticket does not include concerts: it covers the cathedral and the Museum of Sacred Art during regular visiting hours.
Christmas and Easter at La Seu
As a working cathedral, La Seu hits peak liturgical intensity at Christmas and during Holy Week. For visitors that means two things. First, solemn services open to everyone — attending mass is free, though without the tourist circuit or the museum. Second, tourist visiting hours may be shortened or suspended on the major days, exactly as happens every Sunday.
If you are travelling on those dates, re-check the schedule on the official site the evening before, and keep a plan B for the key day: the area around the cathedral — La Almudaina, La Llonja, the Arab Baths — does not close for the celebrations. And remember the general rule: free entry to a service is not the same as visiting the cathedral.
Events and seasons: planning your visit around them
Cathedral events create very predictable crowd spikes: the two Festival of Light mornings, concert nights and the big liturgical feasts. If your trip overlaps with one, play it smart:
- Separate the event from the visit. See the light show or the concert on its own, and book the tourist visit for a different slot or day.
- Book a dated ticket as soon as your trip is fixed — around event dates, the early-morning slots go first.
- Both dates fall in low season — 11 November and 2 February are ideal for pairing the sunrise figure of eight with a quiet full visit at midday.
- The best vantage points for shooting the phenomenon and the empty nave are mapped in the photo guide.
Palma Cathedral events FAQ
When is the Palma Cathedral Festival of Light?
Twice a year: on 2 February (Candlemas) and 11 November (Saint Martin’s Day). The phenomenon happens at sunrise and lasts only a few minutes, so you need to be inside before the sun comes up. The cathedral announces the special opening time for those days on catedraldemallorca.org.
Do I need a ticket for the Festival of Light?
No — entry on those two early mornings is free. The trade-off is the crowd: locals, photographers and school groups fill the nave. Arrive early and position yourself facing the inside of the west facade, below its rose window.
What exactly do you see during the event?
The rising sun shines through the great rose window (about 12 metres across, over 1,100 pieces of glass) and its coloured projection slides down the west wall until it sits directly beneath that facade’s own rose window. For a few minutes two roses of light line up vertically — the famous figure of eight.
Are there concerts at Palma Cathedral?
Yes — the cathedral hosts organ and sacred music concerts through the year; it keeps a historic organ, and the acoustics of the 44-metre nave are half the show. Specific dates and tickets are published by the cathedral itself on catedraldemallorca.org; there is no fixed year-round programme.
Does the tourist ticket include concerts?
No. The tourist ticket (from €11) covers the cathedral and the Museum of Sacred Art during visiting hours. Concerts are separate events with their own access conditions, announced by the cathedral for each date.
Can I visit the cathedral at Christmas or Easter?
Yes, with caveats: these are the busiest liturgical seasons and tourist hours can change or be suspended on key days. During services and on Sundays there is no tourist visiting, though attending mass is free. Check the mass times page and the official site before planning those days.
Which entrance do I use on 2 February and 11 November?
In the winter months (November–March) the regular tourist entrance is through the Casa de l'Almoina, per the signage at the cathedral itself. On Festival of Light mornings, follow the stewards’ directions — the crowds mean entry is managed on the spot.
Facts last reviewed: August 2026. Dates and conditions cross-checked with the official site (catedraldemallorca.org) and Tiqets.