Festa Major de Gràcia: Barcelona's decorated streets festival
Updated on
The Festa Major de Gràcia, Barcelona's Gràcia festival, starts every year on 15 August and runs until the 21st. The opening speech (the pregó) is given on the evening of the 14th in Plaça de la Vila. In 2026 it ran from 15 to 21 August, with 23 decorated streets and squares and over 900 free events. The 2027 dates hadn't been made official when this guide was updated.
How the week works
This festival is over two hundred years old. The Fundació Festa Major de Gràcia, which organises it, dates the first written reference to 1817 and the first mention of decorated streets to 1862. Since 1997 it has been recognised as a Festa Tradicional d'Interès Nacional (a traditional festival of national interest).
The calendar barely changes from one summer to the next. The decorated streets can be visited all through festival week, from the 15th onwards.
| Day (2026 edition) | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 14 August, 7pm | Opening speech | Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia |
| 15 August, 6.30pm | Folk culture parade | From Gran de Gràcia to Plaça de la Vila |
| 16 August, midday | Human towers (castells) | Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia |
| 17 August | Nit Tranquil·la (quiet night) | Several squares |
| 19 August, 6pm | Decorated streets prize-giving | Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia |
| 21 August, 9.30pm | Closing correfoc (fire run) | Starts and ends in Plaça de la Vila |
Times come from the official 2026 programme, released on 4 August. In 2027, 15 August falls on a Sunday.
The decorated streets and the competition
Decorations (guarnits) are what set this festival apart. Each committee spends a whole year choosing a theme and building models, then constructs the set that transforms its street. The streets compete for prizes, which are handed out midweek.
The 2026 winner was Plaça de Rovira i Trias, with a tribute to the Majorcan band Antònia Font based on their album *Batiscafo Katiuscas* (435 points). Second prize went to Carrer de Mozart for its enchanted greenhouse. Carrer de la Llibertat came third with a *Lord of the Rings* world. For the first time, five committees in the southern part of the neighbourhood shared one design on that theme. The full results are on the Gràcia district website and the Fundació's site (both in Catalan).
Our tip: walk the decorated streets in daylight. In 2026 the council set up one-way routes in some of the busiest streets.
Quiet night and staying safe
Since 2024 the festival has set aside one night for low-volume activities instead of concerts. In 2026 it was 17 August. The idea came from the street committees themselves, as a way to ease the impact on residents, according to the district council. The 2026 edition included a sardana gathering in Plaça d'en Joanic and folk dancing.
During the 2026 festival there was a Punt Lila in Plaça de la Revolució offering support for harassment and sexist, LGBTIphobic or racist violence. Next to it, an Energy Control stand gave out drug information. Safe routes to public transport were also marked out. For the correfoc the council advises cotton clothes with long sleeves and trousers. Add a hat that covers your head, plus eye and ear protection. All of it is on the festival safety page.
Getting there
Don't drive. In 2026 traffic was restricted every night from 9pm to 5am in the centre of Gràcia (between Passeig de Gràcia, Gran de Gràcia, Travessera de Dalt and Còrsega). The handiest metro stops are Fontana, Lesseps and Diagonal (L3), Joanic (L4) and Verdaguer (L5).
TMB added up to 10% more trains on the L3, and the metro ran non-stop from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August, according to its press release. Engineering works change every summer: in 2026 Verdaguer station on the L4 was closed and FGC trains weren't running between Gràcia and Sarrià. Check the council's transport update before heading out. If you're under 26, the T-jove travel card pays for itself that week.
How to get involved
The decorations are made by each street's committee, made up of residents who work on them all year round. If you want to take part, the most direct way is to contact the committee for your street or one nearby. Each committee has a page on the Fundació's list, and according to its history page the Fundació itself is led and staffed by volunteers. For anything else, use its contact page.
Arriving for the autumn semester? There's plenty going on in the neighbourhood all year: see our guide to things to do in Gràcia.
FAQ
When is the Gràcia festival 2027?
It traditionally starts on 15 August and ends on the 21st, with the opening speech on the evening of the 14th. As of 14 October 2026 the 2027 dates haven't been published. They're announced on festamajordegracia.cat.
Which street won the Gràcia festival in 2026?
Plaça de Rovira i Trias, with a design dedicated to Antònia Font. Carrer de Mozart came second and Carrer de la Llibertat third.
Is the Gràcia festival free?
Yes. Everything in the official programme is free, and you can walk through the decorated streets without a ticket.
Where can I find the Festa Major de Gràcia programme?
On the Gràcia district website and the Fundació Festa Major de Gràcia website. The 2026 programme came out on 4 August.
Which metro stop is best for the Gràcia festival?
Fontana, Lesseps or Diagonal on the L3, which is the line that gets extra trains. Joanic (L4) and Verdaguer (L5) are also close.
Can tourists help decorate the streets?
The decorations are built by local committees. Contact the one for the street you're interested in through the Fundació's website, as each committee organises its own work.