When do the traditional winter or summer sales start in Spain?

26.12.2022

On June 29, the summer sales (rebajas de verano) officially start in the Comunidad Valenciana, but many chain stores and smaller retailers often decide to start earlier with the traditional discounts. The tradition of long waiting lines in front of the doors of the El Corte Inglés or other chains is no longer of this time, but the sales period is still very popular. Like many things in Spain, the summer discounts also do not take place in all autonomous regions at the same time.

Traditionally, the summer discounts start on July 1 in Spain, but in some autonomous regions the discounts start earlier. In Madrid, for example, the discounts will start again around June 21 in Murcia on July 1. In all cases, the discounts last until the end of August or the beginning of September, as in all other regions. However, there are cities where the 'rebajas' signs can already be seen on the shop windows before July 1.

Free sales days

Since the year 2012, it is possible for the shopkeepers in Spain to offer discounts all year round, which means that the traditional discount periods have disappeared a bit. However, the Confederación Española de Comercio (CEC) believes that it is very important for shops, retailers and consumers if these traditional summer and winter discounts were to return to the country.

Primeras & Segundas rebajas

Since the sale lasts so long in the summer months, they often divide it into 'primeras rebajas' or the first sale which is usually the first two or three weeks and the 'segundas rebajas' or the second sale which takes place after the second or third week .

Winter sales

When Christmas, New Year's Eve and Epiphany are over, the next big party in Spain starts: las rebajas! In most states, the big Spanish sale after Reyes (Epiphany) starts on January 6, the day Spanish children traditionally receive their presents. Sometimes parents are lucky, because more and more shops start discounting as early as January 2, which makes a significant difference in gift spending. In the Canary Islands, shoppers officially have to wait until January 10.

Entire collection on sale during the winter sales

At the Spanish chains, the entire collection usually goes into the rebajas. Because the sale starts at all stores at the same time and is also widely announced in the media, hordes of consumers gather on the first day to make their move. Everywhere there is standing, waiting, watching that your spot is not taken and making sure that the well-filled plastic bags do not slip off your fingers. You should therefore be there as soon as possible for the best bargains: after a week, the unique items and the most common sizes are already sold out.

If you don't like a lot of crowds, it's better to wait a week or two or go shopping online. After the first fifteen days, it is also time for the segundas rebajas, with discounts of up to seventy and sometimes eighty percent. Shopping at discount prices is still possible in most federal states until the first week of March. After that, it's again waiting for the summer sale!