There are nights in Barcelona when the January chill seems to vanish under the weight of the excitement of thousands of residents who fill the sidewalks. The eve of Three Kings’ Day is, without a doubt, the most magical evening on the local calendar—a moment when the streets become a stage of light and music. And although there are still a few months to go before the city welcomes the Three Kings, preparations for the event are already underway to find the extras for this year’s edition.
From October 19 through November 23 at 11:59 p.m., the Barcelona City Council has opened registration on its website for the 2027 Three Kings Parade lottery. Anyone who will be at least eight years old by the start of next year can sign up to accompany Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar on their parade route on January 5, taking on different roles within the parade depending on their age group.
Four Ways to Join the Three Kings
To organize the massive procession that will wind through the Catalan capital, the organizers have divided the registration into four different categories:
- Young pages (ages 8 to 10): The youngest participants will take part as part of their assigned processions, where they’ll perform a choreographed routine dressed for the occasion.
- Welcome Pages (ages 11 to 13): As in the previous category, they will be part of the parade troupes, performing a choreographed dance routine.
- Participants (ages 14–17): Starting at this age, young people will walk the entire five-kilometer route (lasting about three hours) with the important mission of handing out crowns to the crowd.
- Technical Support Staff (ages 18 and older): Adults will also walk the route for about three hours. Their tasks will be essential to the smooth running of the evening: they will help maintain order around the processions, push decorative floats, and provide general support to the organization.
Draw, preparation, and commitment
Signing up for the registry—which allows only one application per person—does not guarantee a spot on the most special night of the year. The final spots will be decided by a random drawing among all those registered.
Those who are selected will have to commit to the magic: the organizers require mandatory attendance at the preliminary informational sessions and rehearsals, which may range from one to three depending on the role assigned in the parade. Additionally, it’s important to note that children under 14 cannot submit their personal information directly on the website, so the registration process must be completed by their parents or legal guardians.
