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Barcelona strengthens public transport for Sant Joan eve
Barcelona is preparing for one of the year's liveliest nights. Sant Joan 2026 will fill beaches, squares and streets on the night of 23 June, and public transport will play a key role in avoiding traffic jams, long waits and difficult late-night journeys.
The metro will be the main backbone of the operation. It will run uninterruptedly from 5:00 on Tuesday until midnight on Wednesday, with 43 consecutive hours of service. To absorb demand, up to 18 extra trains will be added at the busiest times.
The measure will be especially useful for people travelling between the centre, neighbourhoods and beach areas. On a night when thousands of people are moving at the same time, being able to return by metro without watching the clock so closely can make the difference between a comfortable party and a difficult journey home.
The TRAM will also run throughout the night on all its lines, except the T6. Frequencies will range from 15 to 30 minutes depending on the section, an important option for those travelling along the coast, the Besòs, Baix Llobregat or areas connected to the tram network.
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat will extend service until 2:00 in the morning, as it does on other holiday eves, and will resume operations from 5:00 on Wednesday. Rodalies will also reinforce the R1 and R2 Sud lines, with special trains and greater capacity towards the Maresme and the Garraf coast.
The Nitbus will maintain its usual service between 23:00 and 5:00, with occasional reinforcements on the busiest lines. The Generalitat's night buses will also adjust schedules in counties such as Baix Llobregat, Vallès and Maresme, where many journeys extend beyond the city of Barcelona.
The operation will include more staff at stations, on trains and at passenger assistance points, especially in coastal and central areas. Cleaning and security work will also be reinforced, two sensitive aspects on a night with plenty of movement, firecrackers, crowded beaches and celebrations until late.
The authorities recommend prioritising public transport and avoiding private cars whenever possible. Sant Joan concentrates journeys to beaches, neighbourhood parties and family gatherings, and any incident on the surface can lead to traffic jams or parking problems.
The festival eve will once again transform the city for a few hours. Barcelona will experience a night of fire, music, firecrackers and criss-crossing journeys, but the transport reinforcement seeks to ensure that the plan is not ultimately conditioned by getting home. This Sant Joan, getting around well will be almost as important as choosing where to celebrate it.