July 25, 2027 falls on a Sunday. That small quirk of the calendar makes 2027 a Holy Year on the Camino de Santiago — a Xacobeo, as Galicians call it — the first since 2021 and the last until 2032. The Holy Door of the cathedral will be opened, Galicia will spend twelve months in festival mode, and rooms along the final stretch of the Camino will be booked out long before the walking season starts. We are a local agency based in Palas de Rei, right on the trail, and this is what a Holy Year actually means — and when to move if you want to walk one.
What is a Holy Year?
A Compostelan Holy Year — Año Santo in Spanish, Xacobeo in Galician — happens whenever July 25, the feast of Saint James, falls on a Sunday. The rhythm of the calendar makes that come around at intervals of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years: the last ones were 1993, 1999, 2004, 2010 and 2021, and after 2027 the next will not arrive until 2032.
The tradition is centuries old. The first well-documented Holy Years date to the fifteenth century — there are records from 1434 of English pilgrims sailing across the Bay of Biscay to earn "the great pardon" in Santiago. Six centuries later, pilgrims still cross the sea for it; most of them now land at an airport.
The Holy Door opens on December 31, 2026
Every Holy Year begins with the same gesture: the solemn opening of the Holy Door of the cathedral of Santiago, the one facing Praza da Quintana. The rest of the time it is not merely locked — it is walled shut. The opening is announced for the evening of December 31, 2026, and for the whole of 2027 pilgrims finishing the Camino will be able to enter the cathedral through it. Walking through that door at the end of your Camino is an experience that exists only in a Holy Year.
For Catholic pilgrims, a Holy Year also carries the plenary indulgence — the jubilee that gave these years their meaning: visit the cathedral and the tomb of the Apostle, pray, and receive the sacraments. You do not need to be religious for 2027 to be worth it, though. A Xacobeo is also a cultural event on a Galician scale, with concerts, exhibitions and celebrations along the whole route from January to December.
The honest part: 2027 will be the busiest year the Camino has ever seen
Holy Years break pilgrim records. All of them, every time. And this one starts from a higher base than any before it: the 2021-22 "holy biennium" closed with more than 438,000 Compostelas in its second year, 2023 beat that, and 2024 set an all-time record of close to half a million pilgrims — without being a Holy Year. Draw your own curve for 2027.
What that means in practice is simple: the beds are finite. The final stretch of the Camino Francés — Sarria to Santiago, the section most pilgrims walk — runs through small Galician towns where the good rooms are counted in dozens, not hundreds. In a record year they will be gone months in advance.
When to book for 2027
- April to October 2027: book 6 to 12 months ahead — in other words, during 2026.
- Easter week and the week of July 25: as early as you possibly can.
- May, June, September and October: the best balance of weather, atmosphere and available rooms.
Nothing changes about the Compostela certificate itself: you earn it, in 2027 as in any other year, by walking the last 100 km on foot — from Sarria, that is five or more walking days — with your credential stamped along the way.
Holy Year 2027: quick answers
Why is 2027 a Holy Year? Because July 25, 2027 — the feast of Saint James — falls on a Sunday. That has been the rule for centuries. The previous Holy Year was 2021, extended through 2022 because of the pandemic; the next one will be 2032.
When does the Holy Door open? On the evening of December 31, 2026, and it stays open throughout 2027.
Do I need to be religious to walk in a Holy Year? No. The jubilee has deep meaning for believers, but a Xacobeo is also a historical and cultural event — and the Camino itself is the same walk it always is, just with more life around it.
How far in advance should I book? For April to October 2027, six to twelve months. For the big weeks, earlier still. Recent years are already breaking records without a Holy Year, and accommodation between Sarria and Santiago is limited.
Is 2027 a bad year to go, because of the crowds? The opposite — it is a year worth being there for. Crowds are only a problem if you improvise. With your nights booked ahead and your dates chosen well, a Holy Year offers the best atmosphere the Camino can give.
We are a licensed local agency (XG-LU-000236) based in Palas de Rei, on the Camino itself, and we answer the phone in English. We build exactly this trip — the classic last 100 km with rooms, luggage transfer and insurance solved in one booking. Tell us your dates for 2027 and we will lock them in before the rush — or write to us and we will plan it together.
