Diocese of Jaén to open jubilee year of the Virgen de la Cabeza on September 3, 2026

The Diocese of Jaén has announced that it will formally open the Jubilee Year of the Virgen de la Cabeza (Our Lady of the Head) on September 3, 2026. The jubilee commemorates the devotion to the Virgen de la Cabeza, patron of the province of Jaén, in Andalusia, southern Spain.

Her shrine stands in the Sierra Morena, a mountain range in the north of the province, and has drawn pilgrims for centuries. During the jubilee year the faithful will be able to obtain plenary indulgences and take part in liturgical and cultural activities organized around the celebration.

Large numbers of pilgrims are expected over the course of the jubilee, including visitors from other parts of Spain and from abroad. Religious tourism in the area is also expected to increase, benefiting the local economy.

Planning activities and access for the faithful

The diocese, led by its bishop, has begun planning the activities that will be held during the jubilee year so that they are accessible to all the faithful, whatever their age, mobility or personal circumstances. The program will include Masses, processions, religious concerts, lectures and gatherings on spirituality.

The jubilee will run for an extended period, giving the faithful repeated opportunities to visit the shrine and attend the special liturgies that will be held regularly.

Civil and church authorities are also coordinating on the region's infrastructure, from roads to accommodation and services for pilgrims, so that it can handle the expected demand.