Barcelona prepares for a unique triple holiday in February 2026

Carnival, Santa Eulàlia and Valentine's Day coincide in Barcelona. The city centre and neighbourhoods will buzz with activities and celebrations. Restaurants and businesses expect records. Monday will be a school holiday for many. Discover what this super long weekend will be like.

Barcelona will experience an unprecedented weekend in February 2026: Carnival, Santa Eulàlia and Valentine's Day will coincide, generating an explosion of events and activity throughout the city. The calendar has arranged for the celebrations most loved by Barcelona residents to overlap from 12 to 18 February, with a school holiday on Monday that promises to fill streets, businesses and transport.

Wednesday 12 February will mark the start of this festive marathon. That day will see the celebration of the feast day of Santa Eulàlia, the winter patron saint, alongside Jueves Lardero, which kicks off Carnival. The Institut de Cultura de Barcelona is already working to ensure that both municipal programmes coexist without losing their main events, although details will be announced shortly.

The day will begin with the traditional Baile de Santa Eulàlia, the placing of the standard at City Hall and the procession of the Laies, a unique parade of giantesses. In the afternoon, King Carnestoltes and Queen Belluga will arrive in the city with the Arribo and the Taronjada, the shower of orange confetti that recalls the ancient battles of medieval Barcelona. Last year, the Arribo moved to Sants and all signs point to decentralisation being repeated to avoid works on La Rambla and coincide with the patron-saint events.

On Friday and over the weekend, Santa Eulàlia will fill the old town with street parades, stick dancers, bestiary and a correfoc on Saturday, while Sunday will be the turn of the local troupes' human towers. At the same time, Carnival will spread through the neighbourhoods, with around fifty activities designed for children and families.

Saturday 14 February, Valentine's Day, will add a romantic touch to the agenda, with restaurants, florists and gift shops expecting a rush of customers. Monday the 16th will be a holiday at many schools, although each school will be able to decide whether to join the municipal proposal.

Carnival will conclude on Wednesday the 18th with the traditional Burial of the Sardine, a more intimate event in the neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, the Llum BCN festival will be brought forward this year and will take place from 6 to 8 February in Poblenou, thus avoiding coinciding with the other celebrations.