If you don’t know where Sitges is, it is a coastal town in Spain’s Catalonia region, southwest of Barcelona city. Sitges is surrounded by beautiful mountains and is known for its incredible Mediterranean beaches and seafront promenade. You’ll find along this seafront some eye-catching grand mansions. The town itself is filled with cute shops, and restaurants, as well as many gay bars and nightclubs. There’s so much that Sitges has to offer, but their carnival is something which you can’t miss out on.
If you’re visiting Barcelona this February, live in the city or close by, this carnival is one of Europe’s biggest and most anticipated. It is only 45 minutes by train from Barcelona and is one of the top ten carnival celebrations in the world!
When does the Sitges Carnival take place?
The carnival takes place every Thursday before Ash Wednesday, beginning when the King of Carnival arrives in town and ends when he leaves on Ash Wednesday. This year the carnival will begin on the 27th of February and go on until the 5th of March.
The parade will begin around 7pm starting at Avenida Sofia and ending in Cap de La Vila. The idea of the Sitges carnival is to encourage people to let their hair down and get up to mischief before the forty days of lent begin.
What is the Sitges Carnival?
This fantastic fiesta is famous for its colourful parades, costumes, masks, folk dances, timeless traditions and delectable gastronomy. They have 50 floats, 3000 participants, 300,000 people attending and 24/7 non-stop partying.
The Sitges Carnival is considered to be one of the wildest parties across Spain, allowing its participants to really give into temptation one last time. Sitges Carnival is very popular with the gay community, largely due to the reputation that Sitges has as being a gay capital of Europe. Although the carnival itself isn’t a gay event, the influence of the community on the celebration creates a more diverse and open party.
What goes on at the Sitges festival?
During this week-long non-stop party, people from all age groups join in by dressing up in crazy costumes to take to the street. The streets are full of socialising, singing, dancing, partying and more. Along with the carnival are the bars and clubs which join in hosting endless parties all week.
The two most popular parades are the Debauchery Parade and Extermination Parade, both huge events with thousands of participants and loads of floats! As well as this, there are a plethora of unique events like drag shows, contests, concerts, fireworks, cultural events and traditional dances.
Dates you can’t miss out on:
Thursday, 27th February 2025: Fat Thursday (Dijous Gras)
This marks the grand opening of the carnival. The King of the Carnival makes his much-anticipated arrival, setting the tone for a week of wild celebrations. Expect dazzling colours, music, and joyous activity as Sitges comes alive to kick off the festivities.
Sunday, 2nd March 2025: The Debauchery Parade (Rua de la Disbauxa)
One of the highlights of the Sitges Carnival, this parade is bold, risqué, and unapologetically fun. Featuring up to 40 elaborate floats and over 2,000 participants in stunning costumes, it’s a spectacle of creativity and freedom you won’t want to miss. The streets of Sitges will be packed with energy, music, and dancing.
Tuesday, 4th March 2025: Rua de l’Extermini (Extermination Parade)
This parade marks the grand finale of the Sitges Carnival and is an emotional yet exuberant farewell to the celebrations. Traditionally, drag queens dressed in mourning black take part to lament the end of the festivities and the symbolic “death” of the Carnival King. It’s a bittersweet and powerful moment as Sitges bids adieu to one of its most exciting weeks.
Wednesday, 5th March 2025: Ash Wednesday (Enterrament de la Sardina)
The carnival officially ends with the traditional “Burial of the Sardine.” A giant effigy of a sardine is ceremonially carried to the beach and buried, symbolizing the end of the fiesta and the start of Lent. This unique tradition provides a solemn yet light-hearted conclusion to the celebrations.
The Sitges Carnival 2025 is your chance to immerse yourself in one of Spain’s most celebrated cultural festivals. Whether you’re there for the dazzling parades, the vibrant costumes, or the electrifying music, it’s an experience that will stay with you long after the last float passes by.
Carnival Traditions
Considering the entire carnival leads up to Ash Wednesday, and the season of Lent, it is no surprise that local dishes can be enjoyed among the Spanish community. These dishes may include your traditional Spanish tortilla or the Catalan butifarra.
The Burial of the Sardine which takes place on Ash Wednesday also symbolises the abstinence from fish and sweets for the following 40 days leading up to Easter.
It is also traditional for the main events of the festival such as the Rua del Extermini, one of the biggest parades as mentioned before, to be carried down to the seaside. From here, it is tradition for DJ’s and bands to play tunes all night long, with revellers letting their masks hide their identities.
Not just Sitges… Carnival in Barcelona
These wild celebrations do not only take place in Sitges. The Carnival celebrations can be found across Barcelona, whilst perhaps not as vibrant as Sitges, you will still find parades going on towards the end of February.
If you’re looking to fully immerse yourself in the Carnival spirit while enjoying the vibrant city of Barcelona, our stunning apartments at AB Apartment Barcelona offer the perfect base for your stay. With a wide range of options available for short-term or long-term stays, you can choose from stylish accommodations in the heart of the city, close to major attractions, or tranquil retreats in quieter neighbourhoods.
Whether you choose to experience the world-famous parades of Sitges or explore the vibrant celebrations in Barcelona, the Carnival season in Catalonia promises an unforgettable adventure. From the dazzling costumes and thrilling floats to the lively music and unique traditions, this is your chance to dive into one of Spain’s most spirited and joyful festivals. Make the most of your visit by indulging in local delicacies, dancing until dawn, and soaking up the incredible energy of the festivities.
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