The night of January 5 is, for many, the most magical night of the year in Barcelona. The streets are filled with illusion, candy and (hopefully) less rain than other years. Watching Their Majesties pass by is a classic, but… what if we told you that you could be part of the show? The Barcelona City Council, through the Institut de Cultura (ICUB), has opened the “Crida Ciutadana” to look for volunteers who want to be pages, assistants or collaborators in the Cavalcada de Reis 2026.
If it has always been your dream to live the parade from the inside, we tell you how to do it. Of course, time is short.
The deadline is running out: key dates
Here there is no letter to the Kings, the process is official and works through a public draw. First and foremost: the registration period has been open since October 21 and ends on November 21, 2025 at 11:59 pm. Not a minute more.
Once the inscriptions are closed, the die will be cast. According to the City Council Guide, the public draw to assign the places will be held on November 24, 2025 at 12:00 noon, in a free access event at the Palau de la Virreina. The results will be published that same evening, from 19:00 h, on municipal websites (such as barcelona.cat/nadal).
From dancing pageboy to technical collaborator
Participating is not just about smiling and waving; there are different roles depending on age (calculated as of January 1, 2026) and, beware, some involve considerable physical effort. Let’s not forget that the course is five kilometers long and lasts about three hours.
The profiles sought are:
- From 8 to 10 years of age (youngest Pages): They will be the youngest of the retinue. They will be properly dressed and will have to dance a choreography from the assigned comparsas.
- From 11 to 13 years old (Welcome Pages): A role similar to the previous one, also dancing a specific choreography during the parade.
- From 14 to 17 years old (Assistants of the entourage): Here the hard work begins. They will be in charge of handing out the wreaths at street level throughout the parade.
- Over 18 years old (Technical collaborators): This is the largest and most vital group. Their tasks include acting as order service to maintain the security of the entourage, pushing the artistic elements and floats, or assuming other technical functions that the organization needs.
How to sign up and the fine print
If you meet the requirements and see yourself able to keep up with the pace, registration must be done through the official City Hall website dedicated to Christmas (barcelona.cat/nadal).
There are several important points to keep in mind before filling out the form:
- Only one registration: Only one form per person is allowed.
- Help for minors: If you are under 14 years old, you will need your parent or legal guardian to help you with the registration.
- Commitment: This is key. If you are chosen in the lottery, it’s not all partying. You are required to attend the briefings and rehearsals (between one and three, depending on the role) that will be scheduled before the big day.