Sitges Carnival 2027: dates, parades and complete guide

Sitges Carnival is one of the most celebrated in Europe — not because of the city's size (30,000 inhabitants) but because of its intensity. Ten days in which a small coastal town on the Costa del Garraf becomes the epicentre of Catalan festivity, with parades that fill the seafront promenade, professional-level comparsas and an atmosphere that blends century-old tradition with open, diverse celebration.

Sitges Carnival 2027 runs from 20 February to 2 March 2027.

Key dates for Sitges Carnival 2027

Day	Event
Saturday 20 February	Dijous Gras (Fat Thursday) — opening night parade
Sunday 21 February	Gran Rua — the main parade, afternoon
Tuesday 2 March	Rua de l'Enterrament de la Sardina — official closing

The exact schedule for each event is published on the Ajuntament de Sitges official calendar from December onwards. The general structure has been stable for decades: the first weekend opens with Dijous Gras and the Gran Rua; Shrove Tuesday closes with the Burial of the Sardine.

The Gran Rua: the main parade

The Gran Rua is the heart of Sitges Carnival. On Sunday afternoon, the Passeig de la Ribera transforms into a runway of comparsas, floats and costumes months in the making. Sitges's comparsa groups have a reputation that extends well beyond the city — they dedicate the entire year to preparing costumes, choreography and performances that rival any big-city carnival.

The route runs from the northern end of the promenade to the town hall square. Arriving before 17:00 and claiming a spot in the front rows along the seafront is the key to watching the parade properly. Admission is completely free.

Dijous Gras: the festive opener

Dijous Gras (Fat Thursday) is the opening act. Unlike the Sunday Gran Rua — more spectacle than party — Dijous Gras has a more intimate character: a night parade, smaller groups and the atmosphere of people who know the coming week is going to be unlike any other. It is many locals' favourite precisely because the weekend crowds haven't arrived yet.

The Burial of the Sardine: the closing

Shrove Tuesday marks the official end with the Rua de l'Enterrament de la Sardina: a mock-mourning parade in which participants "weep" the death of Carnival while simultaneously celebrating that it will return the following year. A tradition found across Spain, but Sitges executes the comic drama at a level all its own.

Carnival and LGBTQ+ atmosphere

Sitges Carnival has a particularly visible LGBTQ+ presence, rooted in the city's history as one of Spain's first openly gay-friendly destinations. Since the 1970s, Sitges developed an identity that Carnival amplifies: the most elaborate groups in the Gran Rua often feature strong drag elements, the bars in the Las Drassanes area and the so-called "Street of Sin" fill throughout the ten days, and the atmosphere is one of celebration without restriction.

It is not an exclusively LGBTQ+ carnival — it is a carnival for everyone in which diversity is naturally integrated, not separated.

Where to stay for Carnival

Sitges hotels book up well in advance for Carnival. For the Gran Rua weekend (20–21 February 2027), booking before October 2026 is strongly advised. Prices rise 30–50% compared to a normal February week.

More affordable alternatives:

• Vilanova i la Geltrú (10 min by train) — lower prices, connected to Sitges by regional rail
• Castelldefels (20 min by train) — larger hotel supply, good connections
• Barcelona — 40 minutes by train, though late Saturday trains can be packed

Getting to Sitges Carnival

The train is the most comfortable option and the only sensible one if the plan includes any nightlife. The R2 Sud line from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia reaches Sitges in 40 minutes, with frequent service. On Gran Rua and Dijous Gras days, Renfe typically adds late-night trains.

By car: the C-32 connects Barcelona to Sitges in about 35 minutes. Parking during Carnival is a serious challenge — most central streets are closed or resident-only. Peripheral car parks fill before 16:00 on Sunday.

Full transport details in the how to get to Sitges guide.

Sitges beyond Carnival

If you're staying a few extra days, Sitges in February has its own charm: the old town without summer crowds, empty but luminous beaches, museums with room to breathe and local restaurants at their best. The what to do in Sitges guide covers the essential visits beyond the festivities.

Sitges nightlife isn't exclusive to Carnival — year-round, the Las Drassanes area and the Street of Sin maintain an activity level that would be the envy of cities ten times larger.

Complete Carnival guide

For detailed information on the programme, daily events, practical tips and the history of Sitges Carnival, the full guide is on our Sitges Carnival page, updated each autumn with the following edition's dates and news.