As San Lucas 2026 in Mondoñedo: Galicia's 870-Year-Old Horse Fair

What is the As San Lucas Mondoñedo horse fair?

The As San Lucas Mondoñedo horse fair is a ten-day festival in the small cathedral town of Mondoñedo, in Galicia's Lugo province, running October 16–25, 2026. Its heart is a traditional horse and livestock fair on Sunday, October 18, after Galicia's semi-wild mountain horses are ridden down into town on Saturday evening.

The town's official program bills 2026 as the 870th edition. Galicia's tourism board traces the fair to 1156, when tradition holds that King Alfonso VII granted Mondoñedo an eight-day fair, and it lists As San Lucas as a Festival of Galician Tourist Interest.

You don't need to know anything about horses to enjoy it. There are free concerts, a children's day and bagpipe bands. But if you love horses, this is one of the best chances anywhere to see Galicia's native horse and its old-fashioned ambling gait up close.

The 2026 horse schedule, day by day

All times come from the official program published on mondonedo.net. Most horse events happen at three spots: Recinto da Granxa (the show ring), Campo da Feira (the fairground) and Praza da Catedral (the cathedral square).

Saturday, October 17: contests and the horses come to town

• 12:15 – Copa Galicia final for Pura Raza Galega (PRG) horses, a morphology (conformation) contest at Recinto da Granxa.
• 12:45 – Riding and functionality demonstration at the same ring.
• 13:15 and 13:45 – PRG classes for stallions and mares over 3 years old.
• 17:30 – The horses' arrival, shown live on a giant screen in Praza da Catedral.
• 18:45 – The paso dos cabalos: horses and riders pass through Praza da Catedral on their way to Campo da Feira.

The program's recommended viewing spots are Os Muíños, Rúa San Roque, Fonte Vella, Praza da Catedral, in front of the Auditorio Pascual Veiga and the arrival at Campo da Feira.

Sunday, October 18: Día de As San Lucas

• 08:00 – Gran Feira Tradicional de Gando Cabalar (the traditional horse fair) at Campo da Feira.
• 13:30 – Prizes for the livestock contest.
• 16:30 – Fifth Cabalo Marchador Galego andadura contest at Recinto da Granxa: serrada, chapeada and foal classes.
• 17:15 – The horses head back to the mountain.
• 18:00 – A first-ever under-16 andadura class, with prizes for the top four.
• 21:15 – Night riding show (doma nocturna) in Praza da Catedral, with grandstand seating.

Later in the week

• Monday, Oct 19 (Día do Neno, kids' day) – Traditional children's games at 11:00 and a second night riding show at 20:30.
• Saturday, Oct 24 – Andadura galega in serrada and chapeada: horses up to 1.51 m at 11:30, taller horses at 16:30, at Recinto da Granxa.

The program lists grandstand seats at €10 per person for the giant-screen horse arrival on Saturday and the Monday night show, sold at Mondoñedo's tourist office (Oficina de Turismo). Sunday's night show also has a grandstand area, but the program doesn't give a price. Watching from the streets along the route is free.

What happens at the Sunday feira

As San Lucas began as a livestock market, and Galicia's tourism board still describes it as a cattle and horse fair at heart. On Sunday morning, breeders bring horses to Campo da Feira to show, compare and sometimes sell them.

For visitors, it feels more like a country show than an auction. You'll see owners leading horses in halters, families looking over foals and plenty of conversation about bloodlines. Go early: the fair opens at 08:00 and the best atmosphere is in the morning.

The official program names Tuesday, October 20 Día de As Maulas. Turismo de Galicia describes the day of the maulas as the last day of the festivities, when everything at the fair is sold at half price. The 2026 program, which continues through October 25, doesn't mention any half-price sales.

Meet the Pura Raza Galega horse

The Pura Raza Galega (Cabalo de Pura Raza Galega, or PRG) is Galicia's native mountain horse. It is small, tough and usually bay or black, typically standing about 120–140 cm (roughly 12 to 14 hands). The breed was officially recognized, and its stud book opened, in 1998, and it is listed as endangered.

Most PRG horses live semi-wild on communal hillsides, managed by local owners rather than kept in stables. Galicians call these free-roaming mountain horses bestas. Each summer, the herds are rounded up into stone corrals called curros for the rapa das bestas, when their manes are clipped. One of the best known is in Sabucedo (Pontevedra).

Not every besta is a registered PRG. Breeders use morphology contests like Saturday's Copa Galicia final to reward horses that best fit the breed standard. Judges assess conformation, much like the PRE morphology shows we explained here.

The Mondoñedo descent matters to local breeders. Organizers say the fair's future as a traditional livestock festival depends on keeping animals on the mountain, with breeding that stays profitable and passes to new generations.

What is andadura, the Galician gait?

Andadura is Galicia's traditional ambling gait. It was valued for work and travel because it is smooth enough to ride for hours. Breeders of the cabalo marchador galego (Galician gaited horse) are working to keep it alive.

There are two styles:

In the adult classes, horses try to cover the course quickly while keeping a good-quality gait. Even so, the organizing breeders say these horses are valued more for gait quality and rider comfort than for speed. If you know the Paso Fino or Peruvian Paso, think of andadura as Galicia's own version of a smooth gaited ride.

Tip for spectators: stand near the ring rail and listen. With a chapeada horse, you can often count all four beats.

Is it a good trip for families?

Yes, with a little planning. The program includes a kids' day on Monday, a puppet show on Sunday and free concerts. The horse parade is the highlight for most children.

Organizers have tightened safety for the 2026 descent. Riders must be registered and wear wristbands, only one rider is allowed per horse and minors riding must wear a helmet.

Spectator checklist

• Arrive early for the 18:45 parade; the cathedral square fills up fast.
• Stay behind barriers and leave room for horses. Never step into the route for a photo.
• Leave dogs at home or well back from the front rows. Crowds and close horses can startle both.
• Keep kids at your side and teach them not to wave or shout at passing horses. Our safety page has more tips.
• Wear waterproof shoes. Mid-October in Galicia often means rain and muddy fairgrounds.
• Ask before touching any horse at the feira, and approach from the side, never from behind.

What to watch next

• Oct 17, 18:45 – The paso dos cabalos. Look for the small, sturdy mountain horses with thick manes.
• Oct 18, 18:00 – The new under-16 andadura class, a sign that the tradition is reaching a new generation.
• Oct 24 – Andadura classes split by height, a good chance to compare serrada and chapeada side by side.
• National status – Organizers are seeking Spain's Festival of National Tourist Interest label. Turismo de Galicia has reported favorably, but the ministry hasn't decided yet.

Want another Spanish breed? Read our guide to the Hispano-Breton horse, a heavy draft breed that is very different from the small Galician horse. For more traditional fairs in Spain, see the Marcilla horse fair or browse all trends.