There are weeks when Sitges changes its face completely. Carnival is one of them, and probably the best time of year to see just how well this little town throws a party. For a few days the streets fill with feathers, sequins and music until the small hours. At Hotel Noucentista we look forward to it, because it happens literally under our windows.
If you want a real party, warm and a little wild, without the anonymous crowd of a big city, Sitges Carnival is for you. Here is what it is, and how to make the most of it.
A Week Like No Other
Sitges Carnival is one of the most famous in Spain, and one of the most open: the town, known for its festive spirit and strong LGBTQ+ community, has made it a joyful, uninhibited celebration. Dozens of colles, the dance troupes that rehearse for months, parade in spectacular costumes you do not forget.
In 2027 the festivities run in early February. They open on Fat Thursday with the triumphant arrival of His Majesty King Carnestoltes, who symbolically takes over the town, and close on Ash Wednesday, 10 February 2027, with the Enterro de la Sardina: the burial of the sardine, a procession as theatrical as it is funny that ends the party. In between, every evening has its own event. The final programme is published by the town hall a few weeks ahead, but the backbone never changes.
The Two Big Parades, the Beating Heart of It
Two parades dominate the week, and you should miss neither. The Rua de la Disbauxa, on Sunday night, kicks things off: more than fifty floats and hundreds of dancers moving up through the old streets in a whirl of colour. Then comes the Rua de l’Extermini, on Tuesday night, even more intense, often deep into the night, like a last firework before it ends.
What strikes you is the energy. You do not watch this carnival from afar: you are at the edge of the street, a few metres from the dancers, carried along by the music and the drums. Feathers catch the streetlights, the floats roll past one after another, and the whole town seems to be out. Locals and visitors alike join in, often in costume too, and the mood stays good-natured from start to finish. It is that closeness, the feeling of being part of the party rather than watching it, that makes Sitges Carnival so special.
Staying in the Heart of Sitges Changes Everything
This is where the place you sleep makes all the difference. The parades run through the old centre, a few steps from the hotel. There is no train to catch back to Barcelona at two in the morning, no taxi to hunt for in the crush: when you are tired, you walk home in a few minutes, and if the mood returns, you head back out.
Staying in Barcelona during Sitges Carnival means spending half the night in transport. Staying here means living the party to the end and then sleeping in peace, two minutes from the buzz. Our charming rooms in the heart of Sitges, in an Art Nouveau building in the old town, are made for exactly that: a real home to recover in, right next to the action.
Our Tips for Enjoying It
- Book early. February is a quiet season in Sitges, but carnival week fills up fast: it is one of the few times the town sells out.
- Bring a costume, even a simple one. No one will judge you, quite the opposite: a little colour and you are part of the party rather than watching it.
- Save energy for the parades. They start late and last a long time. An afternoon nap is nothing to be ashamed of here.
- Check the official programme. Sitges town hall confirms the exact 2027 times closer to the event.
Sitges Carnival is not a show you watch, it is a party you live. And to live it fully, it helps to be in the right place. Any questions about the dates or your stay? Write to us from our contact page: at this time of year, we know the party by heart.
