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Three knocks of a hammer on a door in Praza da Quintana, and a whole year on the Camino changes pace. The scene will be played out again on 31 December 2026: the Archbishop of Santiago will strike the cathedral’s Holy Door before opening it, as the rite requires [1] [2]. One change was announced when the Holy Year was presented on 24 September: the ceremony will take place at midday, about five hours earlier than in recent Holy Years [1]. For 2021, it began at 4.30pm [2].
Why 2027 is a Holy Year
The rule fits in a line: Santiago celebrates a Holy Year whenever 25 July, the feast of St James, falls on a Sunday. That happens on a cycle of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years; the most recent were 1993, 1999, 2004, 2010 and 2021-2022, which makes 2027 the next [3]. For believers, it is a jubilee year: the plenary indulgence can be obtained on any day of the year by visiting the cathedral, praying and receiving the sacraments of confession and communion [3].
The archdiocese has already chosen the motto, ‘Al ver la estrella, se llenaron de inmensa alegría’, taken from the passage in St Matthew’s Gospel where the Magi see the star, and presented it alongside the year’s hymn and poster [4]. For its part, the Xunta de Galicia, the regional government, is preparing a cultural programme spread across Galicia, concerts included [5].
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 31 December 2026, around midday | The Holy Door opens and the Holy Year begins |
| 15 to 18 July 2027 | European Youth Pilgrimage: thousands of 16 to 35-year-olds expected in Santiago |
| 24 and 25 July 2027 | The Apostle’s fireworks on the night of the 24th, then the feast of St James, on a Sunday |
Based on the Archdiocese of Santiago and the Xunta de Galicia. Check the detailed programme with the cathedral.
More people on the Camino: how to plan for it
The Camino has not waited for 2027 to fill up. On 4 October 2026, the Pilgrim’s Office issued its 500,000th Compostela of the year [6], and from January to September, arrivals were 7% higher than in 2025 [7]. With the Holy Year in mind, the cathedral foundation is already calling for a system to organise the queues and announce waiting times at peak periods [1].
For you, it mostly comes down to where you sleep. In the Xunta de Galicia’s public network, albergues cannot be booked: beds go to those who turn up, one night per albergue [8]. Private albergues, on the other hand, usually take bookings [9]. If you are aiming for summer 2027, and above all the week of 25 July, book the nights that matter early. If your dates are flexible, the 2025 arrivals curve in our Camino de Santiago guide helps you find a quieter month: from November to March, the Pilgrim’s Office recorded only 7% of the year’s pilgrims [7].
Routes, the pilgrim credential, the conditions for the Compostela and the budget are all in our complete guide to the Camino de Santiago. To plan your stages, our guide to estimating walking times helps you keep to a realistic pace, and if you set off in winter to catch the first months of the Holy Year, our sleeping bag guide will help you choose one for the season.
FAQs
When does the Holy Door in Santiago de Compostela open?
On 31 December 2026, at around midday, according to the archdiocese’s announcement when it presented the Holy Year on 24 September 2026. The archbishop knocks on the door before opening it, which marks the start of the 2027 Holy Year. Last time, the ceremony began at 4.30pm, so check the final programme with the cathedral.
Why is 2027 a Compostela Holy Year?
Because 25 July 2027, the feast of St James, falls on a Sunday: that has been the rule since the 15th century. These years follow a cycle of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years. The previous ones were in 2004, 2010 and then 2021, which was extended into 2022.
Do you need to book albergues on the Camino in 2027?
Not in the Xunta de Galicia’s public network, which takes no bookings: beds are allocated on arrival. Private albergues, however, usually accept reservations. For summer 2027, and especially around 25 July, it makes sense to book the key nights early, starting with your arrival night in Santiago.
Sources
- Diario de Santiago, ‘Santiago presenta el Año Santo 2027: nueva imagen, himno y las claves del próximo Jubileo’ (in Spanish), 24 September 2026, accessed 24 October 2026. diariodesantiago.es https://www.diariodesantiago.es/santiago/santiago-presenta-el-ano-santo-2027-nueva-imagen-himno-y-las-claves-del-proximo-jubileo/ ↩
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, ‘Ceremonia de Apertura de la Puerta Santa e inicio del Año Jubilar Compostelano 2021’ (in Spanish), accessed 24 October 2026. catedraldesantiago.es https://catedraldesantiago.es/ceremonia-de-apertura-de-la-puerta-santa-e-inicio-del-ano-jubilar-compostelano-2021/ ↩
- Xunta de Galicia, official Way of St James in Galicia website, ‘The Compostela Holy Year’, accessed 24 October 2026. caminodesantiago.gal https://www.caminodesantiago.gal/en/discover/origins-and-evolution/the-compostela-holy-year ↩
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, ‘“Al ver la estrella, se llenaron de inmensa alegría” será el lema para el Año Santo Compostelano 2027’ (in Spanish), 25 September 2026, accessed 24 October 2026. catedraldesantiago.es https://catedraldesantiago.es/al-ver-la-estrella-se-llenaron-de-inmensa-alegria-sera-el-lema-para-el-ano-santo-compostelano-2027/ ↩
- Xunta de Galicia, press release on preparations for Xacobeo 2027 (in Spanish), 8 October 2026, accessed 24 October 2026. caminodesantiago.gal https://www.caminodesantiago.gal/es/sala-de-prensa/detalle?content=/60-Espazo-institucional/.content/noticias/noticia_1855.xml ↩
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, ‘La Catedral de Santiago entrega la Compostela número 500.000 de este año 2026’ (in Spanish), 4 October 2026, accessed 24 October 2026. catedraldesantiago.es https://catedraldesantiago.es/la-catedral-de-santiago-entrega-la-compostela-numero-500-000-de-este-ano-2026/ ↩
- Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino, Santiago Cathedral’s Pilgrim’s Office, ‘Estadísticas’ (in Spanish), 2025 and 2026 data, accessed 23 October 2026. oficinadelperegrino.com https://oficinadelperegrino.com/estadisticas-nueva/ ↩
- Xunta de Galicia, ‘La Red Pública de Albergues del Camino de Santiago en Galicia’ (in Spanish), accessed 24 October 2026. caminodesantiago.gal https://www.caminodesantiago.gal/es/descubre/el-camino-en-la-actualidad/la-red-de-albergues-publicos ↩
- American Pilgrims on the Camino, ‘Where to Sleep on the Camino: Albergues and More’, accessed 24 October 2026. americanpilgrims.org https://americanpilgrims.org/where-to-sleep-on-the-camino/ ↩
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, ‘Traslado temporal de las Misas del Peregrino a la iglesia de San Agustín’ (in Spanish), 17 September 2026, accessed 24 October 2026. catedraldesantiago.es https://catedraldesantiago.es/traslado-temporal-de-las-misas-del-peregrino-a-la-iglesia-de-san-agustin/ ↩
Camping, wild camping, bushcraft and hiking
Guillaume Hoarau writes for Outfarer about camping, wild camping, bushcraft and hiking. A survival-skills enthusiast and a collector of old field manuals, he likes clear explanations, lists that earn their place and other people’s stories, which he tells well.
