Spending Christmas in Menorca means discovering the island from within: lights in the squares, artisan markets, concerts, deeply rooted traditions and a gentle rhythm that invites you to savour each day.
If you are wondering what to do in Menorca in December, how to plan your New Year’s Eve in Menorca, or simply looking for ideas on what to do in Menorca in winter, here you will find a real, up-to-date agenda with the main events for 2025.
Shared festive moments: lights, traditions and Christmas atmosphere
Lighting ceremony in Maó with the Llumets (6 December)
The Llumets are little elves from Menorcan folklore who, according to legend, live on a tiny island off the coast of Maó and come every year to switch on the city’s Christmas lights. The event marks the official start of the holidays.
- Date: 6 December 2025, 6:00 pm
- Location: Plaça de la Constitució, Maó (in front of Santa Maria Church)
- What to expect: music, a family-friendly show and the magical moment when the Llumets “descend” down the façade to light up the city. One of the most exciting events for children.
You can find the full Christmas programme for Maó in the 2025 Christmas programme of the Ajuntament de Maó.
Image: Josep Bagur Gomila (www.menorca.info)
Lighting ceremony and “Correllums” performance in Ciutadella (5 December)
Ciutadella welcomes the Christmas season with an itinerant show that transforms the historic centre into a small festival of light and music.
- Date: Friday, 5 December 2025, 6:30 pm
- Starting point: Espai Cultural Can Saura, route through the centre to Plaça des Born
- Performance: Correllums, by the company Mucab Dans – a free show for all audiences
You can check the full Nadal 2025 Ciutadella programme on the Ajuntament de Ciutadella website.
Christmas Markets in Menorca 2025
If you are looking for Christmas markets in Menorca, December is your month. Local crafts, traditional food, live music and family activities fill squares and cloisters across the island. According to the 2025 Christmas market guides, Maó and Ciutadella host the largest markets, but they are not the only ones.
Maó Christmas Fair (5–8 December)
- Dates: 5–8 December 2025
- Locations: courtyard of the Claustre del Carme, Plaça de la Constitució and carrer de Ses Moreres (Maó)
- Opening hours:
- 5 December: 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- 6, 7 and 8 December: 10:00 am – 8:30 pm
- Highlights: around twenty stalls with Christmas products, local food and charity organisations; children’s workshops in the cloister, live performances, storytelling, family games, cooking demonstrations, a carousel in Plaça del Carme and a photocall in Ses Moreres
More details in the official Maó Christmas Fair 2025 schedule.
Ciutadella Christmas Market (5–8 December)
- Dates: 5–8 December 2025
- Main location: Plaça des Born and the surroundings of the Cathedral
- What makes it special: local crafts, traditional sweets, food stalls, workshops, magic shows, concerts and children’s activities. Traditional desserts such as cuscussó or amargos are a must-try. This is one of the most popular Christmas markets in Ciutadella and an essential stop to immerse yourself in local life during Christmas in Menorca.
Other Christmas markets in Menorca’s inland towns
Beyond Maó and Ciutadella, several municipalities organise their own smaller but very authentic markets:
- Ferreries: Christmas Market in Plaça Espanya, first weekend of December
- Fornells: Christmas Swap Market on 13 December 2025, 10:00 am, carrer de la Mar — perfect for circular-economy lovers
- Es Mercadal: Christmas market and family workshops at the Centre Artesanal de Menorca, with cultural and traditional craft activities
ARTIEM Capri Solidarity Christmas Market (11 December)
Christmas is also celebrated at the ARTIEM hotels. In the heart of Maó, ARTIEM Capri hosts an open-to-the-city Solidarity Christmas Market.
- Date: Thursday, 11 December 2025
- Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Location: Hotel ARTIEM Capri, Maó
- What to expect: local crafts, meaningful gifts, products by small creators, and family-friendly activities — all with a charitable purpose
A perfect opportunity to explore another kind of Christmas market in Menorca, where each purchase supports local and social projects.
Concerts and Culture: the soundtrack of Christmas
Concerts at the Teatre Principal de Maó
The Teatre Principal de Maó, one of the oldest opera houses in Spain, hosts several key musical events every December. Highlights for Christmas in Menorca 2025 include:
- 18 December – Christmas Concert (Conservatory of Menorca): classic Christmas repertoire
- 20 December – “Nadal Ibèric”: festive programme inspired by Iberian traditions
- 29 December – “New Year with the OCIM: Carmen”: end-of-year concert by the Menorca Chamber Orchestra, centred around Bizet’s Carmen — an excellent prelude to New Year’s Eve in Menorca
Full schedule available on the Teatre Principal de Maó website.
Maó Music Band & Nativity Dioramas
- Maó Music Band Concert: 20 December 2025, 8:00 pm, Teatre Principal
- Nativity Diorama Exhibition: organised by the Maó Nativity Scene Group, dedicated in 2025 to the 150th anniversary of La Mola — from 16 December at Sala Sant Antoni
“Viu Nadal amb l’IEB”: The Sibyl and Intangible Heritage
- Date: 20 December 2025, 11:30 am
- Location: Cathedral of Menorca (Ciutadella)
- Content: lecture-concert by soprano Maria Camps, historical explanation, manuscripts and garments exhibition
Theatre, “Pastorets” and family activities in Ciutadella
- Performances of Els Pastorets: several shows at Teatre Sant Miquel (12, 13, 14, 19 and 20 December 2025)
- Children’s workshops and activities: wooden games, face-painting, magic shows and creative workshops at Plaça des Born and Can Saura throughout the month
- Choirs and local bands: concerts in the Cathedral, convents and cultural venues across the historic centre.
New Year’s Eve in Menorca: how to farewell 2025
Music and New Year’s Eve in Maó
- 29 December: New Year Concert with OCIM – Carmen (Teatre Principal)
- 31 December: live music and celebrations at Plaça de la Constitució; Fandango All Stars welcome 2026; Midday children’s bells hosted by Roc es Rellotger
Midday drinks, children’s bells and parties across the island
- Fornells: New Year’s Eve vermut with Xalicori (31 December, 1:30 pm, carrer Major)
- Ferreries: themed children’s bells and nighttime party in Plaça Espanya
- Es Migjorn Gran: all-day celebration in Pla de l’Església
Swim crossing & San Silvestre run in Maó
- 27 December: swim across the Port of Maó
- 28 December: San Silvestre race through the city
What to do in Menorca in winter beyond Christmas
Outside the peak festive days, Menorca in December offers tranquillity, soft temperatures and landscapes very different from summer. Winter tourism focuses on exploring the historic centres of Maó and Ciutadella, visiting markets such as the Claustre, tasting local cuisine and discovering Talayotic Menorca or the Camí de Cavalls with fewer crowds.
Some additional suggestions:
- Stroll along the Port of Maó and the old town, stopping at the Mercat del Peix or the Mercat del Claustre
- Explore Ciutadella’s historic centre without high-season crowds
- Walk short sections of the Camí de Cavalls, depending on weather
- Visit a Mahón–Menorca cheese farm and learn about local products
Where to stay: experience Christmas in Menorca from ARTIEM Capri
To enjoy all these activities comfortably, staying in central Maó is an excellent choice. ARTIEM Capri, a B Corp–certified hotel, is an ideal winter base: central, welcoming and guided by wellbeing and sustainability.
- Location: in the heart of Maó, minutes from the Claustre del Carme, Plaça de la Constitució and the bus station
- Wellbeing: access to Le Petit Spa, located on the rooftop with heated pool and panoramic views
- Experiences: options such as Capri Love for couples, and urban apartments for those seeking more independence
- Christmas with purpose: the Solidarity Christmas Market on 11 December turns the hotel into a small meeting point for visitors and locals
Whether you are a local looking for a clear Christmas agenda, or visiting and hoping to experience a different kind of holiday, this guide is your starting point. Winter in Menorca never stops — it simply slows down so you can enjoy it fully and calmly.
