The Holy Year of St. James, also known as the Xacobean or Jubilee Year, takes place whenever July 25, the feast day of St. James the Apostle, falls on a Sunday. This event, which follows an irregular sequence of 6, 5, 6 and 11 years, marks a unique cycle in the history of The Way of St. James and in European Christian tradition.
During a Holy Year, the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago is opened, allowing pilgrims to obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting the temple, praying, and receiving the sacraments. This symbolic act makes each Holy Year a moment of deep spiritual and cultural significance for Galicia and for Europe as a whole.
Xacobean Years of the 20th and 21st Centuries
The following table lists all the Xacobean Years celebrated since 1909, together with some of the most notable facts from each period. The cycle follows the traditional 6-5-6-11 year sequence.
| Year | Century | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 20th | First Holy Year of the 20th century. |
| 1915 | 20th | Held during World War I. |
| 1920 | 20th | Revival of pilgrim tradition after years of interruption. |
| 1926 | 20th | Strong international presence, especially from France. |
| 1937 | 20th | Not officially celebrated due to the Spanish Civil War. |
| 1948 | 20th | First Holy Year after the war. Pilgrimages resumed. |
| 1954 | 20th | Large European participation. |
| 1965 | 20th | Coincided with the Second Vatican Council. |
| 1971 | 20th | Renewal of the modern Way of St. James spirit. |
| 1976 | 20th | Last before the 1980s revival. |
| 1982 | 20th | Visit of Pope John Paul II – modern revival of pilgrimages. |
| 1993 | 20th | Way of St. James declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| 1999 | 20th | Over 150,000 pilgrims – international consolidation. |
| 2004 | 21st | Spiritual and cultural projection strengthened. |
| 2010 | 21st | Visit of Pope Benedict XVI – record pilgrim numbers. |
| 2021 | 21st | Extended until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2027 | 21st | Next Holy Year of St. James – historic attendance expected. |
| 2032 | 21st | Second Holy Year of the 2030s. |
| 2038 | 21st | Follows the six-year interval pattern. |
| 2049 | 21st | Next after an eleven-year cycle. |
Upcoming Xacobean Years after 2025
- 2027: next official Holy Year of St. James.
- 2032: second Holy Year of the 21st century.
- 2038: will follow six years later in the traditional cycle.
- 2049: closes the sequence after eleven years.
Between Holy Years, The Way of St. James continues to welcome pilgrims from around the world. Yet the Xacobean Years remain exceptional moments when Santiago de Compostela becomes the spiritual heart of Europe.
When is the next Holy Year of St. James?
The next Xacobean Year will take place in 2027, when July 25 falls on a Sunday, reopening the Holy Door and beginning a new cycle of faith, culture, and pilgrimage.
