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Supermarket opening hours across Spain on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2025
Mercadona, Lidl and Carrefour are all opening on New Year's Eve but with reduced hours across Spain
We've all been there. The guests are arriving in a few hours, you've suddenly realised you're short on cava, and panic sets in. Before you dash out the door in a cold sweat, it's worth checking exactly when your local supermarket is actually open over the New Year period, because the last thing you need is to find the shutters down when you're desperate for those last-minute party essentials.
The good news is that most major supermarkets across Spain will be open on New Year's Eve, giving you one final chance to grab whatever you've forgotten. The not-so-good news is they'll be closing early, so you'll need to get your skates on if you want to beat the rush and make it home in time for the grapes at midnight.
Amidst all the magic, nougat and toasts that make this time of year special, here's what you need to know about when the most common supermarkets in Spain are opening and closing during the festivities.
December 31 opening hours
Much like Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve sees most supermarkets opening in the morning but shutting up shop well before their usual closing times, making sure staff can get home for their own celebrations.
- Mercadona and Lidl will be open on December 31 from 9am to 7pm, giving you until early evening to get your shopping done.
- Carrefour stores will also be open until around 7pm or 8pm on the same day, though times may vary slightly between locations.
- El Corte Inglés, Hipercor and Supercor are running similar reduced hours that day, generally staying open until 7pm.
- Alcampo and DIA are also adapting their schedules with morning openings and earlier closings, though the exact times will depend on each individual store or concession.
January 1, 2026
As for New Year's Day itself, you're essentially out of luck. Almost all supermarkets will remain closed on January 1 as it's a national holiday, so if you've run out of milk for your hangover coffee, you'll have to wait. Normal opening hours resume from January 2 onwards.
Planning ahead isn't just practical, it also saves you from that last-minute stress that nobody needs when they're supposed to be relaxing and enjoying themselves. No matter how rushed we all get with the shopping and preparations, this time of year is really about spending quality time with the people we care about.
Getting your supermarket trip organised well in advance can give you a little more peace of mind during the holidays, leaving you free to focus on what actually matters, whether that's perfecting your twelve grapes technique or just enjoying a quiet moment with family and friends before the clock strikes midnight.
You might also like: New Year's traditions in Spain from grapes to red underwear
Image: Freepik
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