By Harry Nara · Last updated
- Dijous Gras, when the Carnival King arrivesThursday 4 February 2027
- Ash Wednesday, the burial of the sardineWednesday 10 February 2027
- Where
- Barcelona and Sitges
- Tickets
- Free
- Time of year
- February or March
- Dates
- Set by the moon and the spring equinox, so they move by weeks each year
Carnaval runs from Dijous Gras to Ash Wednesday, counted back from Easter, so these dates are fixed by the calendar. The city, Sitges and Vilanova publish their programmes only a few weeks ahead.
Carnaval runs for a week from Dijous Gras to Ash Wednesday. Barcelona keeps it local and low-key, with a Carnival King, neighbourhood parades and a mock funeral for a sardine. The great show is 50 minutes down the coast at Sitges, where hundreds of thousands come for two all-night parades, and at Vilanova, with its sweet-toothed food fight. Stay in the city for the families’ version, and take the train for the wild one.
What Carnaval Barcelona actually is
Carnestoltes, as it is called in Catalan, is the blowout before Lent. A figure called the Rei Carnestoltes arrives on Dijous Gras, Fat Thursday, reigns over a week of misrule, and is tried, condemned and burned or buried at the end of it. Franco banned the festival, so what you see today is a revival with a sharp streak of mockery.
Barcelona does not go overboard. The King arrives with Queen Belluga and the city’s giants, and the evening ends in a taronjada, a mock battle first recorded in 1333, once fought with oranges and now with orange confetti, followed by fireworks. Neighbourhoods then run their own parades, children come to school in costume, and on Ash Wednesday mourners in black bury a sardine.
Sitges is another matter. More than 300,000 people come for a carnival over a century old, born of a rivalry between two local clubs, the Casino Prado and El Retiro. Vilanova i la Geltrú, next along the coast, opens with the Merengada, a battle fought in meringue.
Where to watch Carnaval Barcelona
- Sitges on Sunday and Tuesday nights, for the Rua de la Disbauxa and the Rua de l’Extermini. These are the two great parades, with floats, drag and sequins, and the town stays up until morning.
- Barcelona on Dijous Gras, for the King’s arrival. The route changes from one year to the next, Sants one time and La Rambla another, so check the city’s programme.
- Vilanova i la Geltrú on the Thursday and Sunday, for the Merengada and the street-dance Comparses. It is a more local crowd than Sitges, and you may leave covered in sugar.
- Your own neighbourhood in Barcelona, on the weekend. Local parades are small and friendly, and they are the best version for children.
Tickets and what it costs
You need no tickets for the street events. Book a room early if you plan to stay in Sitges, as the town fills for the two big nights, and rooms there rise steeply.
Official information and booking: guia.barcelona.cat
Getting there
Trains run from Sants and Passeig de Gràcia to Sitges about every 15 minutes in about 50 minutes, and Renfe adds services on the peak days. Vilanova is a few stops further along the same line.
Check the last train before you go, and expect long queues on the platform at the end of a parade night. In Barcelona, the Metro is the simple choice for the King’s arrival.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Expecting Rio in Barcelona
The city’s carnival is a community affair, and first-time visitors can miss it altogether. If you want a spectacle, go to Sitges.
Missing the last train from Sitges
The parade finishes late and the train queues are long. Find out the last departure, leave plenty of time, or book a room in town.
Dressing for summer
A Catalan February is cool, and colder by the sea after dark. Costumes are half the fun, but bring a layer for the walk back to the station.
Skipping the food
Dijous Gras has its own menu: botifarra d’ou, an egg sausage, plus omelette and coca de llardons, a sweet pork-crackling cake. Bakeries and restaurants serve it that week.
Other Barcelona events
Frequently asked questions
When is Carnaval in Barcelona?
From Dijous Gras, the Thursday before Lent, to Ash Wednesday six days later. It moves with Easter, so it can fall from late January to early March. The dates card above has this year’s.
Is Sitges carnival better than Barcelona?
For a big night out, yes. Barcelona’s is local and family-friendly, while Sitges puts on two huge parades. The train takes about 50 minutes from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia.
What is the burial of the sardine?
The mock funeral that ends Carnaval on Ash Wednesday. Mourners in black follow a sardine standing in for the Carnival King, and it is buried or burned as Lent begins.
Is Carnaval good for children in Barcelona?
Yes, in the city. Neighbourhood parades are gentle and many schools take part. Sitges by night is an adult event.
Sources
- Barcelona City Council, what’s on guide
- Barcelona Metropolitan, Celebrating Carnaval in Catalunya
- Catalan News, Carnival in Catalonia
Dates on this page are checked against the organiser’s own listing and confirmed through 2028. Written and maintained by Harry Nara.