History of the Seville April Fair: from 1847 to the present day

The The April Fair of Seville has its origins in a livestock fair founded in 1846. It has since evolved into a vibrant celebration of Andalusian culture, featuring traditional music, dance, food, and the iconic casetas (private tents) where revellers gather. It begins in 1847, when the city held a cattle fair in the Prado de San Sebastián at the proposal of two councillors, José María Ybarra and Narciso Bonaplata. That first edition lasted three days and had 19 marquees. Since 1973 the Fair has been held in the Real de Los Remedios, today with more than 1,000 marquees and six days of festivities.

Origins of the April Fair: a cattle fair in 1847

José María Ybarra, a Basque, and Narciso Bonaplata, a Catalan, were councillors on Seville City Council and Sevillians by adoption. They requested the reinstatement of the city's fairs, one in April and another in September, permission for which had been granted by Alfonso X the Wise in 1254. The City Council approved the proposal on 18 September 1846 and requested an annual fair in April from Queen Isabel II.

The first Fair was held on 18, 19 and 20 April 1847 at the Prado de San Sebastián; those dates were chosen so as not to coincide with the Mairena del Alcor fair. There were 19 marquees and a bullfight. According to the City Council, the success was such that the following year the livestock sales organisers asked for more police officers, because the public's singing and dancing were hindering the deals.

Over the years, the commercial aspect lost ground and the festive side gained ground. The full story, with more anecdotes, is on the page of origin and history of the Seville Town Hall Fair.

From the Prado de San Sebastián to the Real de Los Remedios

The Fair was held in the Prado of San Sebastián until 1972. In 1896 the Pasarela was installed there, an iron structure located at the end of San Fernando Street, which was dismantled in 1921.

In that period there were also difficult years. In 1964 a fire burned down 67 stands and left more than 50 injured and one dead; the stands were rebuilt, in whole or in part, in a few hours and the Fair continued. According to the City Council, the Civil War left it suspended from 1937 to 1939.

In 1973 the Fair moved to the Los Remedios neighbourhood, with space for more marquees. That first edition at the new fairground was held from 1 to 6 May according to the liturgical calendar, and the mayor Juan Fernández Rodríguez García del Busto inaugurated it at 21:00 on 30 April. The first sevillanas played there were sung by Naranjito de Triana, with José Cala «El Poeta» on the guitar.

Another date that the City Council remembers is 1990: for the first time in a century and a half there were no horses at the Fair, on account of African horse sickness.

Booths, gateway and streets: what the Real is like today

The 19 booths from 1847 are now more than 1,000. Almost all of them are private: their members receive family and friends there, and entry requires an invitation. In 2026 there were booths with free admission, including the 7 from the municipal districts and those of several unions and parties. We have detailed what is eaten and drunk in them what to eat and drink at the Feria de Abril.

Every year a different cover is chosen, dedicated to a monument in the city or to an anniversary, which is lit up at 00:00 on the night of the Pescaíto. The cover of 2026, by the architect Davide Gambini, recalled the 500th anniversary of the wedding of Charles V and Isabel of Portugal, celebrated in Seville in 1526: it was inspired by Charles V's cenotaph at the Real Alcázar and the Portugal Pavilion at the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, with more than 28,000 LED bulbs; we summarized how that edition was in the April Fair 2026 guide.

The streets of the Real are named after bullfighters, such as Juan Belmonte, Joselito el Gallo, Costillares or Pascual Márquez. Next to the Real is Calle del Infierno, the fairground amusement park, with an area of about 87,000 square meters.

How the flamenco dress and sevillanas arrived

The flamenco costume, popularly called the «gypsy costume», was the working clothes of Andalusian peasant women: a cotton petticoat with one or more frills. The women of the upper classes adopted it and added accessories to it, and the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville in 1929 consecrated it as the outfit to wear to the fair. Since then it has changed with the fashions of each year; we review what is worn today in this article. how to dress for the Seville Fair.

Sevillanas are the dance of the boxes: they are danced in pairs, in four-step patterns, and have a three-to-four-beat rhythm. They are not the same as the stage flamenco dance; we explain it in flamenco and sevillanas: what is the difference.

The April Fair and flamenco

Outside the marquee tents, singing, guitar playing and dancing flamencos have their own venues in Seville, ranging from peñas to tablaos. The flamenco is Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.

Whether you visit Seville during the Feria or at any other time, Tablao Flamenco Las Setas, on the ground floor of Metropol Parasol, offers daily 60-minute shows without an intermission, featuring 8 artists on stage. You can check show times and prices.

Frequently asked questions about the history of the April Fair

Who created the Seville April Fair?

It was proposed by two councillors of Seville City Council, the Basque José María Ybarra and the Catalan Narciso Bonaplata. The City Council approved the idea on 18 September 1846, asked Queen Isabella II for authorisation and the first Fair was held from 18 to 20 April 1847 at the Prado de San Sebastián.

When did the Fair move to Los Remedios?

In 1973. Until 1972 the Fair was held in the Prado de San Sebastián. The first edition in the Real de Los Remedios was from 1 to 6 May 1973, and the mayor Juan Fernández Rodríguez García del Busto opened it on the night of 30 April.

Why is it called the April Fair if it's sometimes in May?

Because it was born in April: the first one was held from April 18 to 20, 1847. Its dates change every year according to the liturgical calendar, and in some years the Fair moves to May, as happened in 1973, the first year in Los Remedios.

Where does the flamenco dress come from?

From the work clothes of Andalusian peasant women, a quilted cap with frills, popularly called the «gypsy suit». The women of the upper classes adopted it later, and the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville in 1929 consecrated it as the outfit to wear to the Fair. Since then it has changed with the fashions of each year.