With the Three Kings celebrations over and the cold weather setting in around the corners of the Eixample, Barcelona does not stay at home. As has been the case for decades, the Sant Antoni neighborhood kicks off the city’s festive year. This is no ordinary festival: it is the moment when the streets fill with horses, fire-breathing beasts come out to parade, and neighborhood satire reminds us that, beyond the posturing of the new trendy venues, this is still a neighborhood with a memory.
From January 16 to 25, the area is transformed into an open stage with a program that is especially packed this year. With more than 140 free activities, the Festa Major de Sant Antoni 2026 achieves that almost impossible balance between what the history books dictate and what the body demands today: from the blessing of pets to bicycle gymkhanas.
Els Tres Tombs and the pulse of tradition
The heart of these festivities remains, without a doubt, the Els Tres Tombs parade. On Sunday, January 18, the center of Barcelona will come to a standstill to watch the carriages and horses pass by in honor of Sant Antoni Abat, patron saint of animals. It is a timeless image that crosses the neighborhood until it reaches the Plaza de Sant Jaume and coexists with the traditional blessing of pets. If you have a dog, cat, or even a turtle that wants to socialize, this is the time to come and receive the saint’s protection.
But the tradition in Sant Antoni is not static. This year, lovers of festive imagery are in luck, as the new costumes of the Gigantes de las Colonias Jordi Turull are being unveiled. Alongside them, the now legendary Tonet and Rita will once again dance in the market, proving that the backpack giants and their festive entourage are the true kings of the street.
Calendar of essential events
So you don’t get lost among so many events, here are the key points you should mark in red on your calendar:
- Friday, January 16 – Opening Parade: The official start with giants, festive beasts, and tabalers (drummers) through the streets of the neighborhood.
- Saturday, January 17 – Habaneras and Ron Cremat: The taste of the sea comes to the Mercat de Sant Antoni square with the traditional concert and rum burning.
- Sunday, January 18 – Blessing of the Animals and Els Tres Tombs: A morning of animals and an afternoon of historic carriages traveling through the center to Sant Jaume.
- Wednesday, January 21 – Ballades de Gegants: Tonet, Rita, and the backpack giants take over the Sant Antoni Market.
- Friday, January 23 – Bike Gymkhana: Family tour of historical sites (advance registration required).
- Saturday, January 24 – Youth Concert: Starting at 9:00 p.m., live music in the Jardinets de l’Alguer.
- Sunday, January 25 – Versots and Correfoc: At 7:45 p.m., the sharp satire of the devils begins, and at 8:15 p.m., the final fire explodes with the Porca.
Fire, music, and local criticism
If you’re looking for a little more noise and adrenaline, the final stretch of the festivities is for you. On Saturday, January 24, the Jardinets de l’Alguer will become the musical epicenter with the youth concert, a showcase for emerging bands and local talent that promises to heat up the night.
However, the main event comes on Sunday, January 25, to close the festival in style. Before the fire takes to the streets, the Diables de Sant Antoni will poke fun at current events with their Versots Diabòlics. It’s a moment of pure satire, where no one is spared and the good and bad of the year in the neighborhood is reviewed. Immediately afterwards, La Porca, the neighborhood’s fire beast, will lead a Correfoc that will paint the route between Tamarit, Rocafort, and Floridablanca red, putting the finishing touch on ten days of neighborhood intensity.
A neighborhood with a lot of history
To understand the magnitude of this festival, it is important to remember that Sant Antoni is not just a metro stop or a pretty market. The neighborhood was born around one of the main gates of Barcelona’s city walls, and that welcoming spirit remains intact. According to the city’s historical archives, the Sant Antoni celebration has historically been one of the most popular due to its link with the mule drivers’ guild, something that survives today in a symbolic form but with the same pride of belonging.