Everything you need to know about Sitges Carnival 2026
If you’re not sure where Sitges is, it’s a coastal town in the Spanish region of Catalonia, located southwest of the city of Barcelona. Sitges is surrounded by beautiful mountains and is known for its stunning Mediterranean beaches and its lively seafront promenade. Along this promenade, you’ll find some very eye-catching grand mansions. The town itself is full of charming shops, restaurants, as well as many gay bars and nightclubs. Sitges has plenty to offer, but its carnival is something you simply can’t miss.
If you’re visiting Barcelona this February, or if you live in the city or nearby, this carnival is one of the biggest and most anticipated in Europe. It’s just 45 minutes away by train from Barcelona and is considered one of the top ten carnival celebrations in the world!
When does Sitges Carnival take place?
Sitges Carnival 2026 will take place from 7 February, with the presentation of the Sitges Carnival Queen 2026, and will truly kick off from 12 February with the arrival of His Majesty King Carnestoltes on Maundy Thursday. The celebrations will come to an end on Wednesday 18 February with the Burial of His Majesty King Carnestoltes (Ash Wednesday).
The parade on Thursday the 12th will start at around 7:15 pm at La Fragata, before making its way along the Passeig de la Ribera, towards Sant Pau, Parellades and beyond. The idea behind Sitges Carnival is to encourage people to let loose and have fun before the forty days of Lent begin.
What is Sitges Carnival?
This fantastic celebration is famous for its colourful parades, costumes, masks, folk dancing, timeless traditions and delicious food. The event features 50 floats, 3,000 participants, 300,000 attendees and non-stop partying.
The Sitges Carnival is considered one of the wildest celebrations in all of Spain, allowing participants to enjoy themselves and dance like never before. Sitges Carnival is especially popular within the LGBTQ+ community, largely due to Sitges’ reputation as the gay capital of Europe. While the carnival itself is not a gay-specific event, the strong influence of the community helps create a more diverse, inclusive and open-minded celebration.
What happens at the Sitges festival?
During this incredible week-long celebration, people of all ages come together, dressed in wild and creative costumes, to take to the streets. The town fills with life, music, dancing, parties and much more. Alongside the carnival, bars and nightclubs also join in, keeping the festivities going throughout the entire week.
The two most popular parades are the Libertinage Parade and the Extermination Parade, both massive events featuring thousands of participants and plenty of floats. In addition, there is a wide range of unique events such as drag shows, competitions, concerts, fireworks, cultural events and traditional dances.
Key dates you can’t miss:
- Thursday, 12 February 2026: Fat Thursday in Sitges
Thursday marks the official opening of the event, as His Majesty King Carnestoltes I and his entourage arrive to kick off the celebrations. It will be an explosion of colour and activity, signalling the start of a week full of fun.
- Sunday, 15 February 2026: Rua de la Disbauxa (Debauchery Parade)
As mentioned earlier, this is one of the main highlights of Sitges Carnival. Starting at 7:30 pm, this bold and uninhibited parade gets underway. This particular event is known to feature more than forty floats and over 2,000 participants.
- Tuesday, 17 February 2026: Rua de l’Extermini (Extermination Parade)
This parade marks the end of the festivities. It begins at 9:00 pm and is usually filled with drag queens dressed in black, bidding farewell to the incredible carnival and the death of the King. This is the last day before Lent begins, and people from all around head to Sitges to take part in the celebrations.
- Wednesday, 18 February 2026: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday symbolises the end of the festivities. The traditional Burial of the Sardine takes place, during which a large sardine figure is carried to the beach and ceremonially buried.
The Sitges festival places a strong emphasis on live music, with impressive bands performing throughout the event, meaning there is an endless amount of free entertainment to enjoy.
Carnival traditions
Considering that the entire carnival leads up to Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, it comes as no surprise that visitors can enjoy a variety of traditional local dishes within the Spanish community. These may include the classic Spanish omelette or the popular Catalan butifarra sausage.
The Burial of the Sardine, which takes place on Ash Wednesday, also symbolises abstaining from meat and sweets during the 40 days leading up to Easter.
It is also traditional for the main events of the festival, such as the Rua de l’Extermini—one of the largest parades, as mentioned earlier—to make their way down to the seafront. From there, it is customary for DJ sets and live bands to play music throughout the night, while revellers let their masks conceal their identities.
Not just Sitges… Carnival in Barcelona
These spectacular celebrations don’t take place only in Sitges. Carnival festivities can be found all across Barcelona, and although they may not be as extravagant as those in Sitges, you’ll still come across parades towards the end of February.
If you want to enjoy the festivities and feel like staying in Barcelona during the celebrations, take a look at our stunning available apartments for short stays across the city.
