Bilbao Ekintzak has opened the call for the award of 35 Christmas stalls

The Presidency of Bilbao Ekintza, EPEL has approved, via the Resolution of September 9, the call for the adjudication of Christmas stalls for the #BilbaoGabonak 2026 initiative. The call was published in the Official Gazette of Bizkaia, issue number 183, on September 24, 2026, with the official reference BOB-2026a183-(II-4900). Local merchants and producers have until 1:00 PM on October 15 to submit their applications.

Bilbao Ekintza is the Bilbao municipal agency responsible for promoting the city’s economic activity and commercial network. The purpose of the call is to organize a Christmas market, providing local merchants and producers with the opportunity to offer their products, thereby increasing the city’s attractiveness and maintaining Basque identity. The resolution was signed in Bilbao on September 16 by President Concepción Claver Zurro.

The market will be located in Doña Casilda park, next to the lighting arch, and will be open from December 4, 2026, to January 5, 2027.

35 stalls and schedule

• A maximum of 35 themed wooden stalls, each approximately 6 m², with a front or side opening.
• December 4: from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
• December 5 to 20: Monday to Thursday 5:00 PM-9:00 PM; Fridays 5:00 PM-10:00 PM; Saturdays and holidays 11:00 AM-2:00 PM and 5:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sundays until 9:00 PM.
• From December 21 onwards: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM-2:00 PM and 5:00 PM-9:00 PM; Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays 11:00 AM-2:00 PM and 5:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sundays until 9:00 PM.
• December 24, 31, and January 5: 11:00 AM-2:00 PM.
• December 25 and January 1: closed.

Who can participate

• Must be a micro-enterprise or SME, according to Regulation 651/2014.
• Must be registered for the Economic Activities Tax (IAE) in retail trade categories: food, bakery, pastry, confectionery, gifts, and Christmas decorations. Artisan activities are excluded.
• Tax and Social Security obligations must be up to date.
• Must have Civil Liability insurance for the duration of the market contract.

Application and deadlines

Applications shall be sent to the email address comercio@bilbaoekintza.bilbao.eus, from the day following the publication in the gazette until 1:00 PM on October 15. Two or more merchants may submit a joint application, specifying the period they will take turns. Proposals shall have a maximum of 10 pages, single-sided, and the documentation must include a descriptive memory, ID (NAN or NIF), IAE registration, and tax and Social Security certificates.

Scoring and fee

• A maximum of 70 points can be obtained; applications that do not reach 30 points will be excluded.
• 20% of stalls for food sellers, 60% for gift items, and 20% for Christmas items.
• Merchants located in Bilbao will receive 10 additional points.
• Those awarded a stall must pay a participation fee of 600.00 euros within 10 business days after the publication of the provisional list.

Applications will be analyzed by an Evaluation Committee composed of technicians from the Commercial Area of Bilbao Ekintza, and a provisional list will be published on the website, with a claims period of three business days. An appeal for reconsideration against the resolution may be filed before the General Directorate.

Requirements and Assembly

• Assembly will take place on December 1, 2, and 3; disassembly on January 6, 7, and 8.
• Stalls must present signage in Basque and Spanish.
• Stalls cannot remain closed for more than two days without justification.
• Advertising and music via loudspeakers are prohibited on the exterior.
• Cleaning will be the responsibility of the commercial participants, and Bilbao Ekintza will be responsible for lighting, dinner, and the promotion of the market.

The call aims to boost local commerce, creating a new urban consumption area thanks to the Christmas market and offering a leisure space for both visitors and citizens. Interested parties must submit their application before the deadline, as it will close on October 15 at 13:00.

Fuente: Official Gazette of Bizkaia (BOB), number 183, September 24, 2026, section II, pp. 1-12 (official reference: BOB-2026a183-(II-4900)).