Halloween in Ibiza: The Past & Present
Once a minor import, Halloween in Ibiza has grown into a week-long spectacle that rivals the island’s legendary summer nights. Equal parts family-friendly fun and all-night revelry, Halloween here seamlessly blends the eerie with the enchanted.
Ghosts of Tradition: Sa Trencada and Tots Sants
Long before vampires and disco zombies took center stage, Ibiza honored Tots Sants (All Saints’ Day) with a gentle and heartfelt tradition. On the evening of October 31, families gathered for Sa Trencada, a feast of autumn bounty. Tables overflowed with walnuts, almonds, chestnuts, and pine nuts (cracked open only after nightfall) as well as pomegranates, figs, and pastries. The sweet star of the table was panellets - marzipan treats rolled in pine nuts - and occasionally, buñuelos, fluffy pumpkin fritters.
Folklore held that spirits of deceased loved ones returned home that night. Out of reverence, families left the table set overnight, lit an oil lamp, and placed candles, sometimes inside gourds or pumpkins, to guide souls back. Children once knocked on neighbors’ doors asking, “No hi ha res per ses ànimes?” (“Is there nothing for the souls?”), receiving snacks in a tradition that echoed modern trick-or-treating. Reverent yet playful, these customs remind us that Ibiza’s spooky season has long danced between the sacred and the mischievous.
A Decade of Transformation: From Quiet Rituals to Costume Revelry
Over the past ten years, Ibiza’s Halloween has exploded in popularity, transforming from a quiet locals’ ritual into one of the island’s biggest annual celebrations. While some older residents once scoffed at the commercial trappings, younger generations and families embraced the fun. Today, Halloween doesn’t replace Ibiza’s All Saints’ traditions, it complements them.
Clubland has driven much of this growth. After the summer season winds down, Ibiza’s world-famous clubs rise again for Halloween with encore-style parties. At Pikes Hotel, the now-iconic “Haunted Hotel” party turns the historic finca into a surreal maze of themed rooms, performances, and macabre revelry. Costumes are mandatory, creativity is celebrated, and ticket proceeds support local charities - a perfect blend of party spirit and community heart.
Club Chinois, a sleek newcomer in Marina Botafoch, quickly made Halloween its own with over-the-top themes like “Lost in Wonderland” and this year's “Disco Inferno”, dazzling guests with immersive visuals and trippy décor. Venues like Es Paradís and Eden in San Antonio fuse their closing parties with spooky themes and for 2025, 528 Ibiza is having its first ever Halloween special under the Pikes Presents party brand.
Halloween for All Ages: Community and Family Festivities
But Halloween in Ibiza isn’t just for night owls. It’s also a family-friendly, island-wide celebration that brings together communities of all ages. Every town, from Sant Joan de Labritja to Santa Eulària, hosts events for children and families. In Sant Joan, the main square bursts with Halloween decorations, costume parades, and trick-or-treat trails through local shops. In Sant Josep, the “Tots Sant a Sant Josep” festival spans a week of spooky programming, including horror film screenings, haunted house walks, and craft workshops.
Parks are decorated with scarecrows and webs, while local businesses offer treats to little ghouls and goblins. What emerges is a true multi-generational block party, rooted in joy, creativity, and togetherness.
Where Heritage Meets Hedonism
As the last beats fade and the jack-o’-lanterns flicker out, Ibiza’s Halloween reveals its real magic: the union of heritage and hedonism. It’s not unusual for a family to begin the night with a Sa Trencada feast and finish it in costume on the dancefloor. Mornings start with flower offerings at cemeteries, and nights end with zombies dancing beneath disco balls.
Ibiza has woven a unique tapestry: a Halloween that honors its ancestors while celebrating the fantastical, where reverent rituals coexist with glitter and gore.
