Barcelona has that inexhaustible capacity to create its own mythologies where one least expects it. While the official calendar is filled with solemn dates, the streets of Poblenou have been paying homage for over two decades to a figure you won’t find in the Vatican’s calendar of saints, but who does reside in the hearts of residents who prefer fireworks to sermons. We’re talking about Sant Pollastre, a celebration that blends a critical spirit with the tradition of the correfoc and which this year promises to recapture its most vibrant essence.
The origins of this festival are, to say the least, curious. Although today we see it as a major neighborhood celebration, local legend has it that its origins date back to some heroic chickens that, in an act of community service, woke the area’s residents to an impending fire. Oral tradition says they even parted the waters of the Mar Bella to help the fishermen escape. It’s a story that the Diables del Poblenou keep alive to remind us that, in this corner of the city, protection doesn’t come from above, but from the poultry.
One of the most anticipated moments of the dayis the Cursa de Sant Pollastre. Don’t expect elite athletes or high-tech single-seaters; here, the merit lies in the DIY engineering of the homemade carts competing to avoid falling apart before reaching the finish line. This competition precedes the moment when the neighborhood definitely smells of sulfur: the Camí de Foc. This year, the correfoc features the Diables del Clot as guests, reinforcing that brotherhood of fire that so characterizes the neighborhoods of eastern Barcelona.
Sant Pollastre 2026 Schedule (Saturday, May 2)
If you don’t want to miss anything happening in Plaça Prim and the surrounding area, take note of the schedule and main activities:
11:00 PM: End of the festival with PD Diables and bar service in the square.
5:30 p.m.: Puppet show to get the little ones in the mood.
6:00 p.m.: Start of the Procession of Sant Pere el Mentider, featuring the historic meeting between the Lloro del 36 and the Fènix del Poblenou.
7:30 p.m.: Sant Pere el Mentider’s opening speech, where satire and local “lies” take center stage.
8:30 p.m.: Ball de les 7 mentides.
9:00 p.m.: Gran Cursa de Sant Pollastre (race featuring homemade carts).
9:30 p.m.: Camí de Foc (fire run) with a special appearance by the Diables del Clot.
