August in Barcelona smells of paste, fresh paint, and nights spent outdoors cutting plastic bottles. The ephemeral transformation of the Vila de Gràcia is, year after year, the summer miracle that reminds us that the sidewalks belong, above all, to those who live there. In this 2026 edition, the tireless efforts of the residents have once again transformed the asphalt into a world of fantasy—a purely artisanal endeavor that culminated today with the jury’s long-awaited verdict to reward creativity and community life.
This morning, during the traditional awards ceremony, the Festa Major de Gràcia Foundation announced that Rovira i Trias Square had won first prize in the street decoration contest. With a total of 435 votes, the committee achieved an unprecedented victory thanks to its entry, which celebrates its 20 years of continuously decorating the square. The award was shared with Mozart Street and Llibertat Street, which rounded out the podium on a day that saw awards distributed among the 23 participating groups.
The Podium for Neighborhood Creativity
The winning entry for Rovira i Trias Square, named “Batiscaforoviruskas,” is a direct tribute to Antònia Font’s famous album *Batiscafo Katiuskas* (2006). This victory was especially celebrated as it marks the first time the committee has won the top prize.
Second place went to Mozart Street, which, with its 394 votes, captivated attendees with *L’hivernacle encantat*, a meticulous recreation that pays tribute to the arbor in Ciutadella Park during its days as a ballroom. Meanwhile, third place (377 votes) went to Llibertat Street for *Argonath, Aranyerra i Mòrdor*, a spectacular scene from the *Lord of the Rings* universe created in collaboration with four other committees.
At the opening of the ceremony, the president of the Festa Major de Gràcia Foundation, Lina López, offered words of recognition to the entire neighborhood. López celebrated that the neighborhood continues to be “the resistance” when it comes to defending “popular culture, brotherhood, and community life.”
Recognition for attention to detail and teamwork
Beyond the overall podium, the jury sought to highlight specific aspects of the handiwork through six special awards:
- Reuse and Recycling: Plaza del Nord.
- Lighting: Calle de Tordera.
- Best Artistic Detail: Fraternitat de Baix Street.
- Best Roof and Sides: Verdi Street.
- Best entrance, exit, or central motif: Calle del Progrés.
- Innovation and Technology: Placeta de Sant Miquel i Rodalies.
In addition, three special mentions were awarded for the choice of theme. The titanic effort to coordinate five different streets (Fraternitat de Baix, Fraternitat de Dalt, Llibertat, Progrés, and Tordera) to create a unified display was recognized for its high level of cooperation. The street in Ciudad Real received an honorable mention for its work on historical memory, while the street in Sant Pere Màrtir (together with the committee from the street in Jesús) was recognized for its focus on gender issues.
Complete list of award-winning streets
All participating streets receive an award for their efforts. Here is the final scoreboard for 2026:
- Plaza de Rovira i Trias: Batiscaforoviruskas (435 votes)
- Mozart Street: The Enchanted Winter Garden (394 votes)
- Calle de la Llibertat: Argonath, Aranyerra, and Mòrdor (377 votes)
- Plaza de la Vila: A Shitty Decoration (376 votes)
- Calle de la Perla: La Perla Negra (363 votes)
- Calle del Progrés: Progrés dels Anells: the neighborhood’s comeback (353 votes)
- Tordera Street: Tordelfs-Rivendel (352 votes)
- Sant Pere Màrtir Street: Can Jesus Come Down to Play? (349 votes)
- Verdi Street: Metamorphosis (344 votes)
- Fraternitat de Baix Street: El bosc de Fratergon (341 votes)
- Placeta de Sant Miquel: The Festival’s Alphabet (334 votes)
- Joan Blanques de Baix Street: Joan Blanques Brigade (323 votes)
- Berga Street: Let’s Go to Grandma’s (320 votes)
- Fraternitat de Dalt Street: The Dalt Region – The Fraternity of the Rings (315 votes)
- Joan Blanques de Baix de Tot Street: A Sea of Jellyfish (314 votes)
- Lluís Vives Street: The Calçotada (307 votes)
- Travesía de Sant Antoni: Can Travessia (305 votes)
- Calle del Perill: Perill in Bloom (300 votes)
- Street in Ciudad Real: “Ens queda la paraula” (298 votes)
- Plaza del Nord: The Unlikely Garden (288 votes)
- Puigmartí Street: Viet Fest (283 votes)
- Calle de la Providència: Floridència (274 votes)
- Plaza del Poble Gitano: Anniversary (232 votes)
