Santa Coloma Summer Festa Major

The Festa Major d'Estiu is Santa Coloma de Gramenet's principal popular gathering at the end of the summer break. It combines Catalan folk culture, concerts, family entertainment, performing arts and community activities with a musical fireworks finale, spreading events across the neighbourhoods and placing local performers and organisations at its heart.

Usual date

It is held on the first weekend of September and normally runs for four days. The 2026 edition takes place from 4 to 7 September.

See the full Santa Coloma Summer Festa Major 2026 programme.

The celebration does not in itself create a general public holiday. Official non-working days are set by the relevant labour calendar.

Where it is held

The festival uses many venues across Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Plaça de la Vila, the Església Major, Parc d'Europa, Parc de Can Zam, Plaça de Pau Casals, Plaça del Rellotge, the gardens of Can Sisteré and Can Roig i Torres, La CIBA and Mas Fonollar are recurring settings. Its decentralised approach also takes children's and cultural events into different districts and neighbourhoods.

Origins and history

The Museu Torre Balldovina's historical exhibition traces the festival to the late nineteenth century, when a sizeable summer community proposed a celebration to mark the end of the season. After permission to move the winter Festa Major was refused, a new summer festival emerged and was first held on the third Sunday of September 1895. In 1915 it moved to the first Sunday of September, both to coincide with the opening of the Església Major and to avoid the grape harvest.

The festival was interrupted during the Spanish Civil War. It regained its popular character from 1976 and, with the return of democracy, associations and community groups helped move activities into streets and neighbourhoods across the city.

Events and traditions

  • Bell-ringing, the inaugural procession, opening address and toc d'inici.
  • Giants' gatherings, correfocs, trabucaires, human towers, sardana dancing and folk-culture parades.
  • Large concerts and festivals including FISC-Sintonitzza and Santako Sound.
  • Havaneres, theatre, exhibitions, activities for older people and children's entertainment.
  • Musical fireworks in Parc de Can Zam and a closing concert.

A locally made festival

The council and Festival Committee develop a family-orientated, inclusive, charitable, participative and civic programme. Folk-culture groups and Santa Coloma's own talent have a prominent role. Events, times, routes and access arrangements are confirmed in each year's official programme.

Sources

Today's international trade fair

You can also find information about international trade fairs and discover today's featured trade fair at FeriasHoy.com.