News
Barcelona strengthens security on beaches and transport for Sant Joan
Barcelona is preparing for one of the year's most intense nights. The Sant Joan eve celebration will fill beaches, squares and streets during the night of 23 to 24 June, and the council has designed a special operation to control crowds, strengthen security and clean the city at dawn.
The coastline will be one of the most closely monitored areas. Thousands of people will gather on the beaches to have dinner, set off firecrackers, listen to music or wait for sunrise, a familiar scene every Sant Joan that requires a greater police presence, more emergency services and more control over public space.
Throughout the night, firefighters, the Guardia Urbana, Mossos d’Esquadra and emergency teams will work with a reinforced operation. The priority will be to prevent fires, attend to pyrotechnic incidents, prevent disturbances and respond quickly to any emergency in the busiest areas.
This year, beach surveillance will receive special reinforcement. Cameras will be installed at the main points along the coast and, for the first time, drones will fly over the area to detect crowds, risky situations or movements that may require intervention. The maritime rescue service will also be strengthened.
The celebration on the sand may continue until six in the morning. From that time, attendees will be asked to leave the beaches to allow cleaning crews in. The aim is for the coastline to recover as soon as possible after a night that usually leaves a great deal of rubbish, food waste, bottles and pyrotechnic material.
Beach bars will be allowed to open until 3:30, an extension intended to organise part of the consumption in the beach area. In addition, 298 extra portable toilets will be installed to reduce queues, avoid inconvenience in nearby streets and improve coexistence at the busiest points.
Public transport will also operate as a key part of the operation. The metro will run without interruption throughout the night of 23 to 24 June, and services will be reinforced on the lines with the highest demand. The measure will make it possible to get around the city without relying on cars or improvised night-time journeys.
The municipal recommendation is to prioritise public transport, comply with safety instructions and leave the beaches when the cleaning operation begins. On a night of fire, firecrackers, alcohol and large crowds, small actions can prevent more serious incidents.
Sant Joan will remain one of Barcelona’s major popular celebrations, but each year it requires more complex organisation. The city wants to keep the festival in the streets and on the beach, albeit with more surveillance, more cleaning and more control so that the shortest night of the year does not end up becoming a safety or coexistence problem.
Here you will find the full programme for the Nit de Sant Joan in Barcelona.