PASAIA ITSAS FESTIBALA
MAY 14-17 2026
Pasaia Itsas Festibala (Pasaia Sea Festival) is presented as a grand celebration of the sea and Basque maritime history, a popular gathering that transforms the bay of Pasaia into a vibrant stage where tradition, culture, and community sail together for several days.
The festival brings together historic and traditional boats from across Europe, which dock in Pasaia to share stories of navigation, ancient trades, and ways of life linked to the sea. This event connects directly with the municipality's maritime past, whose shipyards were for centuries a European benchmark in shipbuilding, and with the whaling and fishing tradition that took Pasaia's fishermen to distant waters.
In this context, the collaboration with Albaola is fundamental, as its work in the recovery and reconstruction of historic vessels has positioned Pasaia as a leading center for the preservation of Basque naval heritage and the transmission of this knowledge to the public.
Throughout the port and neighborhoods of Pasaia, activities for all ages take place: maritime parades, boat visits, boatbuilding demonstrations, children's workshops, live music, and street performances. Pasaia Itsas Festibala is not just a visual spectacle, but also a space for cultural transmission, where the intangible heritage, language, and maritime identity of Pasaia are celebrated, still visible in the bustling port and the daily lives of its fishermen. Gastronomy plays a prominent role, with local products and traditional recipes that reinforce the connection between sea and table. In 2026, the Pasaia Itsas Festibala reaffirms its commitment to sustainability, respect for the environment, and community participation, solidifying its position as an event that connects past and present, attracts visitors, and strengthens the pride of a community that has always lived facing the sea.
Pasaia, a historic and strategic port in Europe.
The Pasaia Itsas Festibala maintains a direct relationship with the natural bay and port of Pasaia, showcasing the traditional trades that have defined Pasaia for centuries: shipyards, whalers and fishermen, boatmen, and other local maritime skills.
A gathering of historic and traditional vessels.
At the Pasaia Itsas Festibala, the bay comes alive with boats from ports all over Europe: from schooners, frigates, and emblematic sailing ships to elegant batelas (small boats) or agile txalupas (traditional Basque fishing boats) and traineras (traditional Basque rowing boats). All types of sails, lengths, and masts reflect centuries of maritime history.
Activities for all tastes and ages.
Live music, local cuisine, workshops, boat visits, demonstrations of traditional trades, parades, street performances, and family activities bring the Festival to life.
Albaola, a leading institution in the recovery of Basque maritime heritage.
This Festival cannot be understood without the collaboration of the Albaola shipyard-museum in Pasaia, whose work in the recovery of historic vessels and the preservation of naval heritage gives life and meaning to the festival.
