The Holy Year 2027 in Santiago de Compostela will begin on December 31, 2026, with the opening of the Holy Door of the Cathedral, at noon this time, and will end on December 31, 2027. It is a Compostela Holy Year (also known as a Jacobean Holy Year) because July 25, 2027, the feast day of Saint James the Apostle, falls on a Sunday. During the Jubilee Year, pilgrims who complete the Camino de Santiago (a minimum of 100 km / 62 miles on foot, or 200 km / 124 miles by bike) can earn the Compostela certificate and, by meeting the Church’s requirements, also the plenary indulgence. The Camino enters 2027 after a record 530,987 Compostelas in 2025 (a number that will be surpassed in 2026). The next Holy Year will come five years later, in 2032.The Holy Door: it opens only during Holy Years and is walled up the rest of the time. Walking through it is the symbolic gesture of the Jubilee.
We are less than 100 days away from Holy Year 2027, and in Santiago de Compostela you can already feel the atmosphere of preparation that comes before great events. At Rutas Meigas, we have spent years accompanying pilgrims from all over the world on their Camino de Santiago, and for no one is a Holy Year just another year. It is the year the Holy Door opens, the year the Berenguela Tower is lit up, the year the Camino fills with excitement, and the year many people finally decide to lace up their boots. If you’re thinking of doing it in 2027, now is the time to start planning.
When Does Holy Year 2027 start and end?
The 2027 Compostela Holy Year will begin on December 31, 2026, with the opening ceremony of the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago, and will close exactly one year later, on December 31, 2027, when the door is sealed again until the next Jubilee. Between those two dates, the Holy Door will stay open all 365 days.
The Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago will open at Noon
The big news for this Xacobeo 2027 is the time. The ceremony has traditionally been held in the mid-afternoon of December 31, but the Church of Compostela has announced that this time it will take place at noon, about five hours earlier than usual. The Archbishop of Santiago, Francisco José Prieto, will strike the Holy Door, located on Quintana Square, three times with a hammer, and the Cathedral’s dean has explained that an effort will be made to bring back the sound of the ancient jubilee horn, which, according to biblical tradition, was used to announce jubilee years.
The motto of Holy Year 2027
Every Holy Year has its motto, and the one for 2027 is “_When they saw the star, they were overjoyed_.” The star, so closely tied to the tradition of the “field of stars” on which Compostela was built, symbolizes guidance, encounter, and the joy of reaching the goal after a long journey. It’s hard to find a better image for how we feel on arriving at Obradoiro Square.
Why 2027 is a Compostela Holy Year
As we mentioned in our post about Saint James’s Day, a Holy Year is declared when the feast of Saint James, July 25, falls on a Sunday. And in 2027, July 25 will be a Sunday. This privilege, granted by Pope Callixtus II in 1122 and confirmed by Alexander III in 1178, is shared only by Santiago de Compostela, Rome and Jerusalem.
Because of how the calendar works, Compostela Holy Years follow a pattern of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years. The last one was Holy Year 2021-2022, the first double Holy Year in history, extended by Pope Francis because of the pandemic and still lived with face masks, social distancing and without the traditional hug of the Apostle. That is why so many people are eager for a Jubilee Year without restrictions. After 2027, we will have to wait until 2032.
What changes during the Holy Year: the Holy Door, the Berenguela Tower and the Plenary Indulgence
For anyone walking to Santiago de Compostela in a Holy Year, there are several things worth knowing:
- The Holy Door: it opens only during Holy Years and is walled up the rest of the time. Walking through it is the symbolic gesture of the Jubilee.
- The Berenguela Tower, beacon for pilgrims: during Holy Years, the Berenguela tower, which is also the clock tower, stays lit day and night to show pilgrims the way to the Apostle Saint James.
- The plenary indulgence: it is the spiritual benefit unique to the Holy Year.
The Plenary Indulgence in Santiago de Compostela
The plenary indulgence is, for many believers, the ultimate reason for their pilgrimage: the full remission of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been confessed.
The Cathedral’s dean has asked that we not forget that 2027 is, above all, a religious jubilee. The usual requirements include confession, communion, prayer for the Pope’s intentions, and a visit to the Cathedral, entering through the Holy Door.
The Camino de Santiago arrives at Holy Year 2027 at its Best
If the data shows anything, it’s that the Camino de Santiago doesn’t need a Holy Year to attract more and more pilgrims. In 2025, the Pilgrim’s Office issued 530,987 Compostelas, 6% more than the previous year and an all-time record. To put that in perspective, Holy Year 2022 closed with about 438,300 Compostelas, a number that has already been surpassed even in an ordinary year.
That doesn’t mean 2027 will be just another year. The Holy Year adds the appeal of the Jubilee, the opening of the Holy Door and the cultural program of Xacobeo 2027, and everything points to hundreds of thousands of people visiting Compostela throughout the year. In fact, the biggest concern of the Church of Compostela is hospitality: how to welcome so many people well and how to ease congestion around the Cathedral.
How to Prepare for Your Camino de Santiago in Holy Year 2027
With the crowds expected, the key is to plan ahead.
- Book your accommodation on the Camino early. On the busiest stages and during the highest-demand weeks, beds sell out sooner.
- Choose the date of your Camino de Santiago carefully. Dates around July 25 will be the most crowded. Spring and fall tend to offer more peace and quiet and better weather for walking.
- Consider other variants of the Camino de Santiago. Besides the Camino Francés (French Way), there are Jacobean routes that let you experience the Holy Year with fewer crowds.
- Stay calm, respectful and patient when you arrive in Santiago. There may be longer waits at the Pilgrim’s Office and at the entrances to the Cathedral, so it’s best to arrive without rushing. Respect the flow of people, especially the city’s residents, who will keep going about their daily lives.
Buen Camino!
Want to reach Compostela in Holy Year 2027? Rutas Meigas takes care of everything for you. Contact us
Frequently Asked Questions about Holy Year 2027
When does Holy Year 2027 start and end?
Holy Year 2027 begins on December 31, 2026, with the solemn opening of the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, scheduled for noon this year, and ends on December 31, 2027, when the door is closed again.
Why is 2027 a Compostela Holy Year?
Because July 25, 2027, the feast day of Saint James the Apostle, falls on a Sunday. When that happens, a Compostela Holy Year is declared, a privilege the Church grants only to Santiago de Compostela, Rome and Jerusalem. The next one will be in 2032.
What do I need to get the Compostela in a Holy Year?
The same requirements as in any other year: walk at least the last 100 kilometers (62 miles) on foot or on horseback, or 200 kilometers (124 miles) by bike, carry a stamped pilgrim credential, and request the Compostela at the Pilgrim’s Office. The plenary indulgence is a separate spiritual benefit and has its own conditions.
Do I have to walk through the Holy Door to receive the plenary indulgence?
Entering through the Holy Door is one of the requirements set out by the Cathedral, along with confession, communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions. Walking through it alone does not automatically grant the indulgence. If this applies to you, we recommend confirming the details with the Cathedral itself.
Will there be more pilgrims in Holy Year 2027?
It’s very likely that turnout will be high: the Camino already broke its record in 2025 with 530,987 Compostelas, and the Holy Year adds extra appeal. That’s why we recommend booking early, especially if you want to travel in summer or around July 25.
Rutas Meigas | Camino de Santiago Travel Agency, Routes and Hiking in Galicia | rutasmeigas.com
