The Jornadas Medievales Ciudad de Ávila, subtitled ‘El Mercado de las Tres Culturas’, are organised by the city council on the first weekend of September, Thursday to Sunday. The 29th edition runs 3–6 September 2026. The name recalls the medieval coexistence of Christians, Jews and Muslims in Ávila, and residents are encouraged to dress for one of the three cultures; balconies and shop windows are decorated along the route.
The market spreads over about 20 sites inside and outside the wall: the Mercado Grande and Mercado Chico squares, Plaza de Italia, Plaza de Nalvillos, the Jardines de San Vicente, the Paseo del Rastro, the Lienzo Norte below the north wall, the Atrio de San Isidro and the courtyards of the Superunda and Los Verdugo palaces. In 2026 there are 310 craft and food stalls (51 of them local artisans) and close to 150 programmed activities: around 20 parades and historical recreations, nine mounted tournaments at the Atrio de San Isidro, more than a dozen falconry displays, archery, puppet theatre, fire shows and medieval dance, performed by 15 Spanish companies, seven international groups and 14 roaming street characters. The Grand Parade of the Three Cultures leaves at 12:00 on Saturday and a closing parade runs each night at 22:00.
Families get about 40 activities in the Jardines de San Vicente, a costume-design workshop and contest on Saturday and a children’s race on Sunday at 11:00 for ages 4–12. There is no entry ticket: the stalls, shows and tournaments are in public streets and squares, and visitors pay only for food, crafts and some workshops.
The event was first held in 1997, holds the Spanish ‘Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional’ title and is being put forward for international status. The council counted about 120,000 visitors in 2024 and 130,000 in 2025. Free shuttle buses link peripheral car parks with the visitor reception centre during the event; Ávila is about 90 minutes by train from Madrid Chamartín. At 1,130 m the evenings are cool even in early September.
