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Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs, Barcelona, Jan 14, 2024. Photo by Josbel A. Tinoco courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs, Barcelona, Jan 14, 2024. Photo by Josbel A. Tinoco courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs, Barcelona, Jan 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-ND 2.0).
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Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs, Barcelona, Jan 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-ND 2.0).
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Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs, Barcelona, Jan 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-ND 2.0).
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Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs, Barcelona, Jan 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-ND 2.0).
The vibrant central barri of Sant Antoni plays host to the city’s first major neighborhood festival of the year, with events happening over several days. We round up on some of the “must-sees” taking place, one of which includes the blessing of various domesticated critters.
Saint Anthony Blessing the Animals, the Poor and the Sick. Master of St. Veronica, 1395-1415 (Google Art Project).
The middle of January is a time for taking stock and healing those self-inflicted festive excesses, right? Perhaps. But just so you know, if you plan to do all of your resting up at home, you’ll be missing out. Representing the opening of the city’s festival season, Festa Major de Sant Antoni runs January 16-25, 2026 and its numerous free cultural events and gatherings make it a great time to visit the area.
What’s It All About?
Barcelona’s local cultural festivals, like those in many towns and cities with rich Catholic traditions, are often dedicated to a saint. These celebrations are known as festes patronals (patron saint festivals). Since Sant Antoni draws its name from the long-vanished Church of Saint Anthony (which once stood in the adjoining neighborhood of El Raval), its festa major is celebrated annually in conjunction with the feast day of Saint Anthony the Abbot (January 17th). As Saint Anthony, or “Anthony the Great,” is a "co-patron” saint of animals (sharing the title with St. Francis of Assisi), the festival attracts a good amount of pet-loving enthusiasts who bring along their furry friends to be blessed.
Where Do I Start?
In case you aren’t familiar with the area, Sant Antoni is the hip, brunch-biting and serenely chill neighborhood in the Eixample district that surrounds Antoni Rovira i Trias' majestic Mercat de Sant Antoni, built in 1882. There are numerous fringe events happening throughout its many nearby bars, schools and civic centers, so my suggestion would be to start your exploration outwardly from the market and venture along the popular thoroughfares of Carrer del Parlament, Carrer de Tamarit and Ronda de Sant Antoni. The festival is packed with concerts, DJ sessions, exhibits, foodie events, theater performances, children's activities, cooking workshops, beer and wine fairs, an artisan market, traditional dance performances, correfocs, bonfires and so much more. You can get the full schedule of events at fmsantantoni.com.
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It's not just a Barcelona tradition, all of Spain celebrates Saint Anthony's feast day. Pet owners and pets alike across the country don their Sunday best on this special day for the blessing of the animals. Photo taken Jan 17, 2019, courtesy of Ajuntment de Vilanova i la Geltrú (CC BY-ND 2.0).
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It's not just a Barcelona tradition, all of Spain celebrates Saint Anthony's feast day. Pet owners and pets alike across the country don their Sunday best on this special day for the blessing of the animals. Photo taken Jan 17, 2019, courtesy of Ajuntment de Vilanova i la Geltrú (CC BY-ND 2.0).
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It's not just a Barcelona tradition, all of Spain celebrates Saint Anthony's feast day. Pet owners and pets alike across the country don their Sunday best on this special day for the blessing of the animals. Photo taken Jan 17, 2019, courtesy of Ajuntment de Vilanova i la Geltrú (CC BY-ND 2.0).
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It's not just a Barcelona tradition, all of Spain celebrates Saint Anthony's feast day. Pet owners and pets alike across the country don their Sunday best on this special day for the blessing of the animals. Photo taken Jan 17, 2019, courtesy of Ajuntment de Vilanova i la Geltrú (CC BY-ND 2.0).
The Must Sees
The Blessing of the Animals, January 17 & 24, 2026, 11:00-12:00
Where: Escola Pia de Sant Antoni, Ronda de Sant Pau, 72.
The benedicció dels animals is a charming tradition that sees pet owners bringing their furry family members out in droves to the Escola Pia de Sant Antoni (Ronda de Sant Pau, 72) where you can witness the blessing of the animals in the name of Saint Anthony himself.
Opening Ceremony & Parade, January 17, 2026, 11:00-13:30
Where: Jardinets de l'Alguer.
Devils and wild beasts dance through neighborhood streets alongside gegants, capgrossos, the Porca de Sant Antoni, drummers, classic cars and bastoners in this all-out celebration. The everything starts at Jardinets de l'Alguer, continuing along Calàbria, Floridablanca, Villarroel, Tamarit and back to Jardinets de l’Alguer.
"Foguerons" (bonfires) fill the squares of the Gràcia neighborhood during the Saint Anthony celebrations. Photo by Börkur Sigurbjörnsson (CC BY 2.0).
Fogueron de Sant Antoni, January 17, 2026, 20:30
Where: Jardins de Maria Mullerat.
The neighborhood plaza is set ablaze in the great fogueron (bonfires) of Sant Antoni! Born in the Mallorcan village of Sa Pobla, this relatively new addition to the Sant Antoni celebrations came to Barcelona in 1992 and has grown in scope ever since. Make you way to the Jardins de Maria Mullerat in Sant Antoni neighborhood on the 17th for a warming bonfire in the square and live folk music.
Sardana Dances, January 18, 2026, 11:30-14:15
Where: Fossat del mercat.
The sardana is without question the most well-known and arguably most important Catalan traditional dance. It is characterized by joining raised hands in a circle and dancing with slow, small, precise steps. The circle slowly turns and widens as more and more people join the dance, following the timing and movements of a designated leader. The dance is thought to have come from ancient folk dances that existed around the Mediterranean region. Still popular today, it's a symbol of Catalan culture and local people’s pride in their traditions.
Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs de Sant Andreu, Barcelona, Jan 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-ND 2.0).
The Tres Tombs de Barcelona Parade, January 24, 2026, 10:45-13:30
Where: Escola Pia de Sant Antoni, Ronda de Sant Pau, 72.
The Tres Tombs cavalcada (parade) is the oldest in the city and offers a unique glimpse at a truly historic tradition. The name Tres Tombs (three turns) is derived from a time when the procession would make three laps around the neighborhood. The procession features horses, ponies, donkeys and vintage carriages highlighting Catalunya's agricultural heritage. Starting at 10:45 in front of the Escola Pia de Sant Antoni the parade runs along Paral·lel, Tamarit, Comte Borrell, Parliament, Sant Pau, Sant Antoni, Villarroel, Floridablanca, Sant Antoni, Universitat, Pelai, Rambla, Hospital, Sant Antoni Abat, Manso, Paral·lel and ending at Josep Puig i Cadafalch Square. The parade offers the perfect opportunity to witness a traditional procession and ponder how the city's streets might have looked two centuries ago.
Trobada de Puntaires, photo by Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrú (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr .
Trobada de Puntaires, January 24, 2026, 11:00-13:00
Where: Carrer de Vilamarí with Carrer de Floridablanca.
Spain has a long history of lace-making. But at the end of the 19th century, machines did away with the professional lace-maker entirely. However, the culture and love of lace-making is alive and kicking in Barcelona today. Many towns and villages throughout Catalunya host annual lace-making trobadas (gatherings) throughout the year in conjunction with other celebrations, such as local fairs and festes majors, including the festa major de Sant Antoni, organized by the Associació Veïnal de Sant Antoni.
Since machines make so much of the lace we see today, it is hard to appreciate the amount of work, skill and commitment that goes into making a piece of hand-made lace. Whereas a knitter might create a hat in a few hours, a lace-maker will take months to create the smallest of pieces because the weaves are so tiny. See firsthand how these intricate works of art are created at this neighborhood trobada of lace makers at Carrer de Vilamarí with Carrer de Floridablanca.
Fira de la Cervesa Artesana, January 24, 2026, 11:00-Midnight
Where: Carrer d'Urgell, between Floridablanca and Tamarit.
Coinciding with the last days of the Sant Antoni district's main festival, the district's Artisan Beer Fair returns for a full day on Carrer d'Urgell, between Floridablanca and Tamarit, you can taste different types of craft beers handmade by producers from Barcelona and the rest of Catalunya. Entry is €2.70 Tastings start at €2.50.
Supervins, January 24, 2026, 12:00-21:00
Where: Mercat de Sant Antoni, Carrer de Tamarit.
Celebrating 16 years of filling glasses and emptying plates, enjoy Catalan wine and good food at Supervins at Mercat de Sant Antoni (Carrer de Tamarit). Price: €13 for three drinks with a glass, €8 three drinks without a glass.
The famous "correfoc infernal" of the Saint Anthony celebrations, photo courtesy of the Ajuntament d'Esplugues de Llobregat (CC BY 2.0).
Seguici de Sant Antoni, January 25, 2026, 11:30-14:00
Where: Carrer d’Urgell, Carrer de Tamarit, Jardinets de l’Alguer.
See dancing gegants (giants) and capgrossos (big heads) accompanied by wild festival beasts, music groups and dancing troupes in a parade that starts at Carrer d’Urgell goes along Carrer de Tamarit and ends at Jardinets de l’Alguer. The spectacle culminates in a mostra de balls final (dance exhibition) of traditional Catalan dances.
Correfoc (Fire Run), January 25, 2026, 20:15-22:00
Where: Starts at Jardinets de l'Alguer.
The festival’s main correfoc takes place on Sunday and offers up some much-needed winter heat while illuminating Sant Antoni’s main arteries. Starting out from Jardinets de l'Alguer on Avinguda Mistral and hosted by Diables de Sant Antoni, this year’s fire run features all the usual devil-clad pyro-lovers. They parade through the streets accompanied by multiple menacing beasts; pounding out rhythms and providing enough flame to keep your kittens’ paws warm. You can catch the correfoc along: Jardinets de l’Alguer, Carrer de Tamarit, Carrer de Rocafort, Carrer de Floridablanca, Carrer de Comte Borrell, back along Carrer de Tamarit and returning to Jardinets de l’Alguer.
While the 25th is the last day of the Festa Major de Sant Antoni, Barcelona's Gràcia neighborhood caries on celebrating with it's own festival extending the party for yet another weekend: Foguerons de Sant Antoni de sa Pobla a Gràcia.
Foguerons de Sant Antoni de sa Pobla a Gràcia
Human Castles, January 31, 2026, 19:00-20:00
Where: Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia.
See one of the famous Catalan castells (human castles) being built right before your eyes!
One of Catalunya's most famous traditions is that of the castells, human towers that are created by "building" each level with a "layer" of people standing on the shoulders of those below until reaching heights of up to ten stories. At over over 200 years old, the tradition has been acknowledged as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Under the traditional slogan of "strength, balance, bravery and sense," castells are an outstanding calling card for Catalunya in the world. Seeing a casteller exhibition is a thrilling experience; it showcases individual and group effort, solidarity and the integration of people of all ages, conditions and abilities within a single project. You can witness this amazing feat at Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia from 19:00 to 20:00, followed by a parade at 20:00.
Cercavila, January 31, 2026, 20:00-21:00
Where: Starts at Plaça de la Vila.
The festival's final parade brings together the àliga de Gràcia (eagle of Gràcia), and the neighborhood's many fantastical beasts, including devils, demons and dragons alongside the Bastoners de Gràcia (stick dancers), a thundering drum corps, the dancing gegants of Gràcia, and several fire wielding creatures who begin their final procession at Plaça de la Vila, along Carrer del Penedès, Carrer de Puigmartí and Carrer de Torrijos, finally ending at Plaça de la Virreina where they light the last Fogueron. If you stick around until 21:00, you can also join in on the giant bonfire that closes the celebrations.
Foguerons de Sant Antoni, January 31, 2026, 21:00
Where: Plaça de la Virreina in Gràcia.
Celebrations culminate in the great fogueron in Gràcia. Once the fire is lit, meat is roasted over the flames, songs are sung and traditional dances are performed. Make you way to Plaça de la Virreina in Gràcia on last day to warm your mitts and enjoy the many cultural activities planned.
You can check the festival schedule for the full details.
Updated January 19, 2026.