Calendar of festivals and cultural and sporting activities

Tarragona is a city awash in light and colour. The mild climate and Mediterranean character, the charm of the streets and the warmth of the people make it an ideal spot for outdoor leisure and cultural pursuits. Tarragona is also synonymous with festivities, and here the festivities take to the streets. Thanks to the many traditional local and Catalan regional holidays, the agenda is packed with celebrations all year long.

Download as a pdf

Download as a PDF

© Pep Escoda
5 January

The Three Wise Men arrive to the city by boat, after a long journey to fulfil the dreams of young and old people

The kids wait impatiently for the Tree Wise Men who arrive at the Serrallo to tour the city accompanied by the pages and floats.

10-21 February

Celebrate the great festival of the king of debauchery in Tarragona Carnival

During one week the streets are filled with colour and music to celebrate the great festival of the king of debauchery. The highlight of the festival is the float-filled parade on the Saturday, and of particular note are the concerts, the tasting of botifarra d’ou (egg sausage) and the crema de la bota (the burning of the Carnival King figure in an enormous barrel) at the festivities' end.

Program of the Carnival: download as a pdf

© Alba Rodriguez
4-19 March

Breathe the art of flamenco to its maximum expression

This March the city is organizing a series of events with an emphasis on Flamenco. Internationally-recognized flamenco stars and local artistes will be headlining a programme that includes flamenco shows, concerts, workshops and exhibitions.

© Rafael López-Monné
10-26 March

Treat yourself to delicious rice à la marinière

Some of the best restaurants in Tarragona offer you menus with rice à la marinière as the protagonist.

© Manel R. Granell
19 March

The traditional tres tombs parade returns to Tarragona

Els tres tombs, held in many towns throughout Catalonia, gathers a wide number of riders, carts and horses who go round the streets of the city-centre and receive the blessing of Sant Antoni (Saint Anthony), patron saint of domestic animals.

Festival waterpolo formatiu HaBaWaBa Spain - Piscina Olímpica Sylvia Fontana de Tarragona
1-4 April

Experience the Spanish edition of the world's most famous water polo festival for kids

A four-day tournament plus a day dedicated to fun and excitement at PortAventura Park. The world’s leading grassroots water polo festival will take place at the Sylvia Fontana Olympic outdoor pool in Tarragona.

© Pep Escoda
2-10 April

Easter Week: the Passion comes to Tarragona

Tradition and spirituality coexist in the city during Easter Week, celebrations that most Tarragona residents experience intensely, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Program of the Easter Week 2023 in Tarragona: download as a pdf

© Mag Gerard
8-28 April

Revel in the world of magic

The world of illusionism comes together on the stages of Tarragona to offer a selection of the best magic shows today.

© Manel R. Granell
23 April

Celebrate the Sant Jordi (St. George) Feast in Tarragona

On this day the Saint George Feast, patron saint of the Catalans, is commemorated. It is customary for couples to exchange roses and books. There is also a human towers exhibition by the city's four colles (groups): Xiquets de Tarragona, Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona, Xiquets del Serrallo and Colla Castellera Sant Pere i Sant Pau.

© Manel R. Granell
28 April-14 May

The best jazz music in Tarragona

The only festival in Spain dedicated to dixieland, the origin of Jazz, popular music from New Orleans from the end of the 19th century. Every year it holds more than thirty concerts and activities in different areas as theatres, bars, restaurants and also in the open air.

 © Manel Antolí
4-21 May

Tàrraco a Taula take place as part of Tarraco Viva, the international festival celebrating Roman history. Some restaurants participate in this event which brings back recipes from the Roman era.

Tàrraco Viva, el festival romà de Tarragona - el festival romano de Tarragona
8-21 May

Come to Tarragona’s Roman festival and discover your history!

Tarragona travels in time up until a period of great splendour for the city: the Roman times. During these international symposiums to raise awareness of ancient Roman history, the visitor lives the Roman Tarraco through historic performances such as gladiator fights, Roman theatre, music and dance and historical re-enactments of life in Roman times.All of this within an incomparable setting: the monumental sites declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

© Manel R. Granell
23 and 24 June

Fire, music, and human castles are the backbone of the Saint John Festival in Tarragona

The main events take place in El Serrallo, Tarragona's seafarers´ neighbourhood, with the arrival of the flame from the Canigó, and on the Rambla Nova, with the Fire Parade, led by the local fire groups (Ball de Diables, Drac, Bou, Griu, Víbria and Colla de Diables Voramar del Serrallo), accompanied by some invited groups, which ends with the lighting of the bonfire. Kermesses (street parties) take place in different squares around the city, ending at dawn.

Tarragona, Ciutat de Castells - Ciudad de / Ville de / City of Castells
24 June-24 September

Tarragona, City of Human Towers, offers human tower exhibitions and events

A magnificent chance to live out this tradition with over 200 years of history that is still very much present in our area’s traditional festivals.

© Manel R. Granell
5-8 July

A competition of light and colour

The International “Ciutat de Tarragona" Fireworks Contest has a long tradition (1990) and has become one of the most emblematic in the Mediterranean.

28 July

The great night of the opera in Tarragona

The performance of the opera Tosca is a step forward in the consolidation of the project started at the Camp de Mart, in June 2021, with the performance of Rigoletto. This new operatic project by Àngel Òdena wants to bring opera closer to new audiences by presenting more daring scenic approaches, without underestimating the fidelity to the music and the original scripts, which wants to put Tarragona on the map of cultural production in Catalonia.

Sant Magí, Tarragona
12-19 August

This is one of the city’s major festivals

and is celebrated with fascinating elements of local popular culture, such as Magí de les Timbales, the giants, the Gegantons Negritos, dwarves, bastoners (dancers hitting sticks together in rhythm) and more. All these festive figures come together to accompany the water of Sant Magí, the central focus of the festival. The castells (human towers) also play a role in the celebration, along with a wide variety of festive and cultural events (concerts, theatre, etc.).

Festival Internacional de Teatre de Tarragona
14-16 August

An open door to new talents performed in different languages

The Tarragona international theatre festival aims to bring together all the new plays of contemporary authors and directors of different origins, whether from home or abroad. The main distinctive trait is that these new dramas will be performed in places that are not theatres, but rather other of the city’s emblematic or historical sites.

© Manel R. Granell
11 September

The National Day of Catalonia

The Catalan National Day or Diada de l'Onze de Setembre is the bank holidays of Catalonia and is commemorated annually.

Tarragona lives the Catalan National Day with the Catalan traditions par excellence: Sardana dances and human towers.

Festes Santa Tecla Tarragona
15-24 September

There is no other time of the year as lively as during the great festival, Santa Tecla.

For over one week, the people from Tarragona and the visitors go out on the streets to take over the most emblematic areas of the city where the different traditional, festive and gastronomic events take place.

Peonada Popular Santa Tecla
17 September

The sports event of Santa Tecla

The most festive and traditional sporting event in Tarragona.

Concurs de Castells / Concurso de Castells, Tarragona
In October in every year ending in an even number

The world's largest human tower show

The Castells Competition is an event with the best colles (human tower groups) in the country, held every two years in Tarraco Arena Plaça (ancient bullfighting ring).
The most important human towers groups from around Catalonia, together with the local ones, gather to participate in the most contested and attended human castle day of the entire season.

Romesco de Tarragona
6-22 October

Romescvs + Macabevs. 100% DO Tarragona

Special menus in the city's restaurants. Treat yourself to Tarragona's most celebrated dish.

Tarraco Manga, Tarragona
7 and 8 October

The event devoted to manga, anime, and videogames in Tarragona

Enjoy multiple activities at the Tarragona Exhibition and Conference Centre: workshops, conferences, food trucks, artist alley, merchandising area, live tournaments, arcade machines, gaming and retrogaming influencers, gamers, cosplayers, dance, and anime music groups, kpop, jpop, idol, etc.

© Tarragona Turisme
In autumn

Enjoy The Embutada: come and taste the new wines while enjoying regional gourmet products and cultural attractions!

The Embutada festival aims to uphold the memory and winemaking traditions of the funnel system, which was not only used in Tarragona and the towns of the county of Tarragonès, but also in such iconic winemaking regions as Priorat and Baix Penedès.

Mitja Marató / Media Maratón + 10k "Ciutat de Tarragona"
5 November

“City of Tarragona” Half Marathon +10K, two competitive races that bring together runners from all over the world in a great celebration of long-distance running

As has been the tradition for over 25 years now, the “City of Tarragona” Half Marathon +10K will be held in November. Some 2.500 participants fill the city’s streets, free from circulating traffic, in order to reach their personal goal.

Fira de l’Oli Nou / Feria del Aceite Nuevo, Tarragona
November

The best time of the year to taste, choose and savour the new olive oil from our cooperatives

One of the city’s most traditional fairs, where you can sample the different olive oils produced in the protected Designation of Origin of Siurana.

© Montse Riera
End of November-beginning of January

The magic of Christmas in Tarragona     

From the end of November Tarragona is decked with festive Christmas lights and hosts its annual Christmas fair. Two very rooted traditions are re-enacted: el Tió (log that gives presents) and the nativity scenes exhibited in premises of different associations and in the city’s parks. The festivities are completed with different Christmas activities: Performance of the theatre show Els Pastorets (The Little Sheperds), Christmas carol singing, and the children’s park, among others.

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