Sant Jordi moves to the Gothic Quarter because of works on La Rambla

The iconic avenue, currently undergoing redevelopment, will not be able to host its usual activities this year. Instead, the Gòtic will become the new epicentre of the diada, just a few metres away but with a very different urban layout, characterised by narrower streets and historic squares.

The move will require booksellers, florists, and visitors to adapt their routes. The experience will be different: less linear, more spread out, with new meeting points scattered throughout the old town.

The change presents both an organisational and a symbolic challenge. For decades, La Rambla has been the central stage for Sant Jordi, associated with the hustle and bustle, book signings, and the constant stroll between stalls. This year, the city is reinterpreting that tradition in a different setting.

Moving the celebration to another neighbourhood not only changes the route, but also how the day is experienced: where people gather, how the stalls are discovered, and which spaces come to the fore. The Gòtic, with its historic character, offers a more intimate and fragmented version of the celebration. A large turnout and new patterns of movement are expected in the centre for the day. Sant Jordi keeps its essence, but this year it unfolds in a different setting that will be remembered as one of the city’s most unique editions.