Year after year, on September 23rd, children fill the streets dancing with big-headed figures and dragons they have built themselves, taking part in traditional dances and enjoying pyrotechnic shows and casteller exhibitions. This is why Sitges’ Small Main Festival is anything but “small”: boys and girls are the true protagonists of this celebration in honour of Saint Tecla.

 

2026 Programme

 

Preliminary events - Santa Tecla

 

Saturday 12 September

Opening of the exhibition of the 14th Festa Major Photo Contest on Instagram             

Time: 1 pm

Place: Vermuteria La Gralla

Organiser: Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges.

 

Ball de la Lira dinner     

Dinner-dance with the Orquestra Mil Notes Grup, held by the organisers in homage to the loyalty of all the members, especially those turning 10, 25, 50 and 75 years old. Reservations with the organization's secretary.

Time: 8 pm

Place: Jardins d'El Retiro

Organiser: Societat Recreativa El Retiro.

 

Wednesday 16 September

Opening of the exhibition ‘Del garatge al carrer’

With festive imagery by the Santa Tecla Children's Matinal. Registration at sitgesfestamajor.cat.

Time: 6 pm

Opening times: 18, 19 and 20 September from 6 pm to 8 pm. Saturday 20 will also be open from 11 am to 2 pm.

Place: Mercat Vell

 

Thursday 17 September

The satire and capers of Les Gitanes d’antes. O el que facin aquest any

Time: 10 pm

Place: Hort de Can Falç

Organiser: Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges.

 

Official events - Santa Tecla

 

Friday 18 September

Human towers: Kids’ popular rehearsal

Open to all children in town.

Time: 6.30 pm

Place: Pl. Ajuntament

Organiser: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Night of les Pubilles and els Hereus

Time: 9 pm

Place: Casino Prado Suburense

Organiser: Foment del Turisme de Sitges

 

Saturday 19 September

Meeting of gegants, cabeçuts and dracs petits

Children participate in the Festival with pretty, elaborate creations.

Time: 11 am

Place: Hort de Can Falç

 

Santa Tecla vermouth

Time: 12 noon

Place: La Fragata

Organiser: Casino Prado Suburense.

 

Festa Major concert by the band at the Hospital

By Agrupació Musical Suburband.

Time: 5 pm

Place: Jardins de l’Hospital de Sant Joan Baptista

 

Opening of the exhibition of the 27th Photo Contest -  Festa Major de Sitges 2026        

Available until 4th of October.

Time: 7 pm

Place: Espai Cultural Pere Stämpfli

Organiser: Grup d’Estudis Sitgetans.

 

Senyor Graham concert

A magical evening filled with a repertoire of swing classics performed by Senyor Graham, the ‘Sinatra of Sitges’.

Time: 8 pm

Place: Jardins d'El Retiro

Organiser: Societat Recreativa El Retiro.

 

Exhibition of the Santa Tecla Banner

During liturgical celebrations at the parish church.

 

NIT DE FOC

Timbalada

By the drummers from the participating colles.

Time: 7.30 pm

Place: La Fragata

Route: La Fragata, Pg. de la Ribera, Sant Pau, Parellades, Cap de la Vila, Major and Pl. Ajuntament.

 

Espetegafoc

Event with fireworks

Time: 8.30 pm

Place: Pl. Ajuntament

Route: Pl. Ajuntament, Baluard, Fonollar, Sant Joan, Davallada, Barcelona, Aigua, Sant Domènech, Major and Pl. Ajuntament.

 

Correfoc

Event with fireworks

Correfoc with the three groups from Ball de Diables de Sitges, Colla Jove, Colla Vella and the Agrupació de Balls Populars, as well as invited groups: Set Pecats Capitals from La Pobla de Mafumet, Diables of El Papiol, Diables Voramar from Tarragona and other groups.

In collaboration with: Fishers’ Guild of Sitges (Confraria de Pescadors de Sitges)

Time: 9:30 pm

Place: Port de n’Alegre

Route: Port de n’Alegre, Fonollar, Baluard and Pl. Ajuntament, where the final fireworks will be lit.

 

Nit de Foc Concerts

With performances by Miquel del Roig, Vizuri and Solc.

Time: Starting at 11 pm

Place: La Fragata

Organiser: La Saca (Sitgetana de Cultura i Animació).

 

 

Sunday 20 September

Gathering of gegants, cabeçuts and dracs petits

Then, a parade featuring the participants.

Time: 10 am

Place: Pl. Ajuntament

Route: Pl. Ajuntament, Major, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Pau, Pg. de la Ribera and La Fragata.

 

Children's dance performances

Once the parade ends (approx. 11 am) at La Fragata, the gegants and cabeçuts perform a final joint dance and then, in order of arrival, the dance by children's dance groups takes place with the Ball de bastons, Panderetes, Pastorets, Cercolets, Cintes, Gitanes, Moixiganga and children from Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

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 There will be simultaneous interpreting in Catalan sign language. Prior registration required at sitgesfestamajor.cat

♿ There will be spaces reserved for wheelchair users without prior registration.

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Gathering of dracs and colles infantils de diables

Event with fireworks

Passacaglia involving the participants, which will end with a lighting ceremony.

Time: 11:30 am

Place: Pont d'en Domènech

Route: Pg. de la Ribera to La Fragata.

 

Ball parlat de diables infantils

Event with fireworks

Once the fireworks have been lit and the traditional dance exhibition (approx. 12.30), the following will perform at La Fragata in this order: Colla Vella de Diables, Colla Jove de Diables and Diables from the Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges.

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 There will be simultaneous interpreting in Catalan sign language. Prior registration required at sitgesfestamajor.cat

♿ There will be spaces reserved for wheelchair users without prior registration.

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Transfer of Santa Tecla iconography

The Commissió Municipal de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, representing the municipal authorities, collects the iconography of the Patron Saint from Father Rafael Vilaplana, parish priest.

Next, accompanied by the Banda Terrabastall from the Escola de Grallers de Sitges, the festivities will move to the Sant Sebastià hermitage, the location designated by the standard-bearer, Maria Dolors Carbonell i Tutusaus. Once it reaches its destination, an opening prayer will be said at the display of the iconography of Santa Tecla, and then a brief concert featuring the Banda Terrabastall will be held.

Time: 6 pm

Place: Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla parish church

Route: Baluard, Fonollar, Port de n’Alegre and Av. Balmins.

  

Presentation of the documentary ‘Que no s’apagui la gralla’

Final degree project in Audiovisual Communication that shows how the Escola de Grallers de Sitges has kept folk music alive for over fifty years. The authors are Jhonathan Elyson Inacio Almeida, Jordina Nebleza, Biel Rovira and Roger Prats.

Time: 7.30 pm

Place: L’Escorxador – Centre d'Arts Vives

Organiser: Escola de Grallers de Sitges in collaboration with the Comissió Municipal de Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla.

 

Exhibition of the Santa Tecla Banner

During liturgical celebrations at the parish church.

  

Monday 21 September

Exhibition of the iconography of Santa Tecla

The iconography of Santa Tecla will remain on display at the place designated by this year's Standard Bearer.

Time: 11 am to 1 pm and 6 to 9 pm

Place: Sant Sebastià hermitage

 

Reading of the Children's Proclamation of Santa Tecla

By the Colla de la Gorra: Nil Calvo, Nil Gonzalvo, Gabriel Méndez and Arnau Molina. Then, hot chocolate with melindros for all children will be served. The event ends with the dressing of the Gegants Moros.

Time: 5:30 pm

Place: Palau del Rei Moro

Organiser: Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges.

 

Senior citizen dance

With a performance by the musical trio Almas Gemelas.

Time: 6 to 8 pm

Place: Hort de Can Falç

 

Human towers: Santa Tecla popular rehearsal

Time: 9 pm

Place: Palau del Rei Moro

Organiser: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

  

Tuesday 22 September. La Vigília

Exhibition of the iconography of Santa Tecla

The iconography of Santa Tecla will remain on display at the place designated by this year's Standard Bearer.

Time: 11 am to 7 pm (time of the Civic Procession)

Place: Sant Sebastià hermitage

 

Lighting of the 21 cannonballs and bell tolling

 Event with fireworks

By all the primary schools in Sitges on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Escola Miquel Utrillo and the 25th anniversary of the Escola Maria Ossó.

Time: 2 pm

Place: La Fragata

 

Popular procession

 Event with fireworks

The popular dances, figures, musicians and authorities, with the Suburband Musical Group, gather around the tabernacle of Santa Tecla and head to the Parish Church.

Time: 7 pm

Place: Sant Sebastià hermitage

Route: Av. Balmins, no. 21, Port de n'Alegre, Rafael Llopart, Sant Damià, Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Major and Pl. Ajuntament.

Upon arriving at the parish church, the dancers receive the iconography of Santa Tecla which, accompanied by the authorities, the Standard Bearers and the chord holders, is placed in the presbytery to preside over the liturgical acts of the day.

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♿ On the intersection of Carrer Rafael Llopart and Joan Maragall, an accessible space for wheelchair users will be set up. Prior registration required at sitgesfestamajor.cat

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Fireworks display

 Event with fireworks

Stunning fireworks display organised by Pirotècnia Igual, S.A.

Time: 11 pm

Place: La Fragata

 

Santa Tecla Eve

As the fireworks comes to an end, Pg. de la Ribera. Gralles dance with Les Antines: festival concert with the greatest hits from recent decades played on the gralla and timbal drum. Next, a night featuring local DJs with A-si-vale DJs, Les pitjor impossible DJs, DJs HXO and DJ Zöé.

Organiser: Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges and Comissió Municipal de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla.

 

Starting at midnight, Cap de la Vila. Sardana dancing with Cobla Sitgetana.

 

Wednesday 23 September. Santa Tecla festivities

Children's Matinal 

 Event with fireworks

Three parallel routes (check maps) and breakfast for participating children when they finish.

In collaboration with: Caprabo and Bonpreu-Esclat.

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⏯️  Event broadcast live on Canal Blau TV

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Matinal de foc (fireworks)

 Event with fireworks

The bèsties infantils alternate with the colles de diables, who participate in this order: Colla de Diables de l’Agrupació de Balls Populars, Colla Vella de Diables and Colla Jove de Diables.

Time: 6:30 am

Place: Davallada

Route: Davallada, Barcelona, Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Josep, Espalter, Pl. Pou Vedre, Bassa Rodona, Santa Tecla, Primer de Maig, Pg. de la Ribera (by the sea) and La Fragata.

 

Matinal Gran

Time: 7 am

Place: Baluard

Route: Fonollar, Baluard Vidal i Quadras, Port de n’Alegre, Rafel Llopart, Sant Damià, Sant Sebastià, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Pere, Pg. de la Ribera (inland side) and La Fragata.

 

Matinal Petita

Time: 8 am

Place: Pl. Ajuntament

Route: Pl. Ajuntament, d’en Bosch, Davallada, Barcelona, Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Major, Nou, Pg. de la Ribera, La Fragata.

 

 

Church ceremony in honour of Santa Tecla

Presided over by our bishop, Father Xabier Gómez García. This year, the Colla dels Gitanes de la Vila, celebrating their 50th anniversary, are making the offering to our patron saint on behalf of the entire town.

Time: 11 am

Place: Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla parish church

 

At the end of the celebration, the Cor dels Amics de l’Orgue dedicate songs to the Saint.

 

Exit from Mass

 Event with fireworks

After the ceremony, it starts off from the Baluard

Musical parade by the Agrupació Musical Suburband, which accompanies the authorities to the Town Hall. At that point, the dancers and their respective musicians will all perform at the same time, along with Cobla Maricel and La Banda.

After the performance of the dancers and figures, La Banda plays Els Segadors, the Catalan national anthem.

 

Human tower performance

When the Exit from Mass is over, pl. Ajuntament

With the Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Santa Tecla Vermouth Concert at the Centenary Societies

1 pm (after the departure of the procession), the musicians arrive once the event begins.

Societat Recreativa El Retiro: featuring the Agrupació Musical Suburband.

Casino Prado Suburense: featuring the Cobla Maricel.

 

Descent of the walking human tower by Jove de Sitges

Descent of the human walking tower via stairs of La Punta.

Time: 6:30 pm

Place: Baluard

 

Procession in honour of Santa Tecla

Event with fireworks

The tabernacle of Santa Tecla is paraded through the streets and squares of the town, carried by the girls from the town's neighbourhoods and organisations. The religious procession begins with the parish umbraculum carried by the Corps of Porters of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla. The Gegants, beasts and dancers, with their musicians, kick start the Procession, which is presided over by Father Rafel Vilaplana i Moltó and members of the Town Council, closing ranks with the Agrupació Musical Suburband.

Maria Dolors Carbonell i Tutusaus has been designated as Standard Bearer of the Santa Tecla Standard and has named Vinyet Mirabent Ojeda, Montserrat Mirabent Ojeda and Rosa Tubau Llorià as cord holders.

Time: 7 pm

Place: Baluard

Route: Baluard, Fonollar, Sant Joan, Davallada, Barcelona, Santiago Rusiñol, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, Pg. de la Ribera, Nou, Major, Pl. de l’Ajuntament and Baluard.

Before the procession heads down Pg. de la Ribera, Cobla Sitgetana performs several sardana dances.  They then perform Els Gegants de Sitges, by Tomàs Gil, and Processó de Santa Tecla, by Jordi Pañella Virella, with the corresponding walk.

When the religious procession passes reaches Pg. de la Ribera, the patron saint of the town is greeted by volley fire and the ringing of bells.

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The Sensory-Friendly Zone is for people of any age with sensory diversity and is located on Carrer Sant Gaudenci

♿ A space accessible for wheelchair users will be set up at the corner of Carrer Francesc Gumà and Carrer Jesús and on Pg. de la Ribera (next to the band). Prior registration required at sitgesfestamajor.cat

⏯️  Event broadcast live on Canal Blau TV

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Entrance of Santa Tecla to the Parish Church

 Event with fireworks

When the tabernacle arrives at parish church, the dancers and musicians receive the iconography of the patron saint and pay homage to her as she enters the church, amidst fireworks and bell ringing.

Inside the temple, the prayer Us he miram Santa Tecla is read.

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⏯️  Event broadcast live on Canal Blau TV

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Final Ballad of the Bèsties de Foc and Gegants

Event with fireworks

Following the closing prayer, in front of the Town Hall, to bid farewell to the traditional acts of the Festa Major.

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⏯️  Event broadcast live on Canal Blau TV 

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End-of-festivities party

Starting at midnight, Pg. de la Ribera

Dancing with music by cover band Reines del Mambo and Muerta Sánchez DJ.

 

Saturday 26 September

Santa Tecla human tower exhibition

Festivities with Xicots de Vilafranca, Castellers de Sant Cugat, Nois de la Torre and Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

With the Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

Time : 6 pm

Place : Cap de la Vila

 

 

Other Santa Tecla events

 

Thursday 24 September

Museus de Sitges open days

Time:

• 10 am to 7 pm, Museu del Cau Ferrat and Museu de Maricel
• 10 am to 2 pm, Fundació Stämpfli

Organiser: Museus de Sitges

 

Friday 25 September

Human towers: Santa Tecla special rehearsal

Time: 9 pm

Place: Palau del Rei Moro

Organiser: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Saturday 26 September

Performance by Els amics 9S de Navàs

A dance and music show that aims to infect the audience with the joy and excitement of all the band members.

Time: 7 pm

Place: Jardins d’El Retiro

Organiser: L’Alegria de Sitges.

 

Sunday 27 September

Holi Party

Time: 6 to 8 pm

Place: Parc de Can Robert

Organiser: Department of Childhood and Youth in collaboration with the Commissió Municipal de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla. Comissió Municipal de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla.

 

Santa Tecla organ concert

By Maris Bietags (Tübingen, Germany). Donations welcome.

Time: 6 pm

Place: Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla parish church

 

35th National Competition of Sardana Groups, Vila de Sitges Trophy

Catalonia Under-12s and Under-18s Championship, with the Cobla Maricel.

Time: 6 pm

Place: La Fragata

Organiser: Els Amics de la Sardana