Next season, the Copa del Rey final is set for May 6, 2023, a change from the originally planned date. The shift was approved to avoid clashing with Seville’s April Fair, a major cultural and social event in the Andalusian capital. The decision came after discussions within the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which indicated that the calendar adjustments would be brought to its Delegates Commission for consideration. The commission noted that La Liga supported the change, an important factor given the typical scheduling tensions between the two bodies. (Source: Royal Spanish Football Federation)
The message from the federation’s Delegates Commission stressed that the proposed adjustment aligns with the broader calendar and is intended to minimize conflicts with major events in Seville. The process is underway to secure formal approval, reflecting ongoing coordination between Spain’s main football authorities.
Official update
May 6, 2023 was proposed as the final date for the upcoming King’s Cup season. The Delegates Commission reviewed the proposal for approval during the meeting. A formal announcement accompanied by a social media post confirmed the ongoing discussions and the expectation of a decision in the near term. (Source: RFEF communications)
Since late 2020 and through at least 2024, the Sevillian La Cartuja stadium has been the designated venue for the final, which determines the Spanish league champion. Recent champions include Real Sociedad, FC Barcelona, and Real Betis, each securing the crown in the preceding seasons. The venue and dates have been shaped by global disruptions and the evolving football calendar, with the final traditionally scheduled for April in many years but occasionally adjusted to accommodate other major events and competitions. (Source: RFEF historical summaries)
In recent seasons, April has often hosted the final. For this particular edition, the schedule was influenced by the World Cup held in November and December in Qatar, which shifted some match dates and planning. The final was briefly set for Saturday, April 29, reflecting the joint planning between national associations and leagues. (Source: football calendar notes)
The date challenge stemmed from the clash with the last Saturday of Seville’s April Fair, a peak period for demand and costs in the city. The high occupancy of hotels and venues during two major events raised concerns about availability and pricing. (Source: event scheduling summaries)
police
The security dimension also featured prominently. During the most recent fair, authorities mounted a substantial security operation, with 1,500 National Police officers alongside 500 Local Police officers. For the Cup final held on April 23, security resources were scaled to roughly 2,000 officers to ensure smooth mobility, safety, and crowd management. Local officials also prioritized cleanliness and traffic flows to minimize disruptions during peak demand. (Source: Efe security briefings)
One proposal from Seville City Council was to move the final to April 15, before the fair began, but this conflicted with other major competitions and scheduling commitments. An alternate date under consideration, and eventually adopted, was May 6. The shift was made to balance the needs of fans, teams, and event organizers while maintaining a feasible security and logistics plan. (Source: city council notes)
There was a parallel consideration around league scheduling: aligning the final date with the 33rd round of La Liga while ensuring that two finalists could play their league matches without conflict. Resolving this alignment is essential, but current planning suggests it should be manageable with careful calendar adjustments. (Source: league calendar analysis)