May 2026 delivers four long weekends in a row. Here’s what to do with them without leaving the Basque Country — or wasting time figuring it out.
May is the best month of the year in the Basque Country. Not yet summer, so not yet the traffic. But already long days, open terraces and events picking up again. With four public holidays this year — May 1st, May 8th, Ascension on the 14th, Whit Monday on the 25th — the month plays out like a series of built-in mini-breaks. Here’s how to use them.
May 1st — Long weekend from the 1st to the 4th
Nothing major scheduled in the area that weekend, which is actually the point: it’s the ideal moment to get the board out or lace up the trail shoes before the summer crowds arrive. The coast is accessible, the inland trails have been dry for weeks. For surf fans, it’s the perfect window to explore the quieter spots between Bidart and Guéthary. Get equipped for the session →
May 8th — Herri Urrats on Sunday May 10th at Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle
On Sunday 10 May 2026, thousands of people are expected around the lake at Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle for a new edition of Herri Urrats, the popular festival organised by the Basque ikastola federation Seaska. Throughout the day from 10am to 8pm, visitors can enjoy performances and activities across 7 stage areas along the lakeside. It’s one of the only major popular gatherings of the Basque spring — family-friendly, free to wander, with food stalls on site. Come early: the car park fills fast, and shuttle buses run from the centre of Saint-Pée.
Ascension — Long weekend May 14th–17th: head to the Soule
The Fêtes de Barcus run from 14 to 17 May 2026. Barcus is a village in the Soule, about an hour from Biarritz towards the Pyrenees. Classic Basque village festival: bandas, communal meal, traditional games. For those who prefer the mountains to the party, the Ascension weekend is also the best window for a first serious hike in the Haute-Soule before the trails get busy. IGN map Pyrénées Atlantiques →
Whit weekend — Festival Andalou in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, May 22nd–25th
The Festival Andalou takes place over the Whit weekend, from 22 to 25 May 2026 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Flamenco, Andalusian music, a festive atmosphere in a town perfectly suited to it. The Whit weekend also marks the start of the season in Saint-Jean-de-Luz: the Tuesday market comes back in full force, restaurant terraces reopen. It pairs well with the Fêtes de Jatxou, also running 22–25 May, for those who prefer the village atmosphere.
Practical note
May is also the season for first cycling outings on the inland roads before summer traffic takes over. See cycling gear on Amazon →