In Sitges there are weeks when the whole town shifts gear, and Bear Week is one of them. My name is Daniela, I manage the Hotel Noucentista, and every year I welcome guests who come specifically for this party. Plenty of them come back from one edition to the next. If you are planning your trip, here is what you need to know about the week, the mood on the ground and how to enjoy it without running around in circles.
Two Bear Weeks a Year in Sitges
What many visitors do not realise is that Sitges hosts two Bear Week editions every year: one in spring and one in September. They are two different moods. The September edition is the bigger one, with more than 10,000 participants from over forty countries, which makes it one of the largest bear gatherings in Europe. The spring edition is more intimate, around 2,500 people. I often recommend that one to guests who want the party without the crush: the beach is easier to reach, you get a table at a restaurant without waiting, and you have time to actually talk to people.
For spring 2027, the edition is announced from Thursday 29 April to Monday 3 May. The September edition follows the same pattern every year, spread over about ten days, but the exact dates are confirmed later on: before you book your flights or your party tickets, take a look at the official Bears Sitges programme so your calendar is right. Pinning the dates down early is the easiest way to organise the trip calmly.
The Mood in the Bear Village
The heart of the celebration is the bear village, set up on the seafront with the Mediterranean right behind it. Late in the afternoon the square fills up: open-air bars, food stalls, a stage, DJs moving between house and pop anthems, and strings of lights once night falls. People come for a drink, but above all to see each other again. What I like about this week is the tone: warm, good-humoured, with no pretence at all. Regulars and first-timers strike up conversation easily.
Across the days there are themed nights, pool parties, beach meet-ups and a bear market where you can pick up accessories and pieces made by local craftspeople. The moment everyone waits for is the Mr Bear Sitges contest, usually on the Saturday, in front of a very warm crowd. Whether you go up on stage or cheer from the square, it is a genuine highlight. And the good news is that the whole thing is open to everyone, bears, admirers and the simply curious included.
Where to Stay to Make the Most of the Party
During Bear Week, location makes all the difference. After a night that ends late, nobody wants to get back in a car or hunt for a taxi. From the Hotel Noucentista you walk to the seafront, to the bars and to the village: you head back whenever you like, you rest, and you go out again when the mood returns. It is also a quiet Art Nouveau house, which counts for a lot when you need to recover between two busy days.
Do have a look at the rooms a short walk from the seafront and pick the one that suits you, as a couple or with friends. Bear Week periods fill up quickly, the September edition above all: once your dates are set, it is better to book early. And if you enjoy this week, keep the other big date in the community calendar in June in mind, since a good number of guests do both. Any question about availability, or a special request, just write to me: I answer myself.
My Tips for a Good Week
A few simple pointers to enjoy your stay at an easy pace:
- Book early: hotels in the centre sell out a long way ahead during these weeks.
- Alternate: daytime for the beach and for resting, evenings for the parties. The rhythm is far more pleasant that way.
- Check the official programme for the timings of the contest and the themed nights, which change from one edition to the next.
- Bring water and comfortable shoes: there is a lot of walking, and even more dancing.
Sitges is a small town that knows how to host, and Bear Week shows it nicely: music, the sea a couple of minutes away, and a community that puts everyone at ease. If you are still hesitating, let yourself be tempted by the gentler spring edition, or by the more intense one in September. Either way, we will be delighted to welcome you and to help you have a week that lives up to the party.
