Sant Jordi Festival

History of the day and the tradition

Sant Jordi is Catalonia’s colourful equivalent of Valentine’s Day, celebrated on 23 April. According to legend, Sant Jordi saved a princess who was being sacrificed to a dragon. A rose garden grew where the monster’s blood was spilled. Sant Jordi gave the most beautiful flower to the princess.

Booksellers began to popularise this festival in 1923, first as a day in honour of two great literary figures, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, who died on 23 April. Catalonia then adopted the idea of combining literature and love. According to tradition, on this day boys give red roses to girls and they in turn give books to boys. But nowadays everyone loves good books and beautiful roses, regardless of sex, do they not?

Where to buy books and roses?

Each district will have designated areas for selling books and roses, with businesses allowed to extend their stalls onto public streets from 22 April at the following locations:

Ciutat Vella: Portal de l’Àngel Avenue to Cathedral Avenue and Lluís Companys Promenade.

L’Eixample: Catalunya Square, Universitat Square, Catalunya Rambla, Gràcia Promenade and Sant Joan Promenade.

Sants-Montjuïc: Sants Rambla.

Les Corts: Diagonal Avenue (between Joan Güell and Pau Romeva, sea side).

Sarrià – Sant Gervasi: Sarrià Square.

Gràcia: Gran de Gràcia (between Sèneca and Prat Rambla) and Vila de Gràcia Square.

Horta-Guinardó: Eivissa Square.

Nou Barris: the Vía Júlia canopy (between Argullós and Joaquim Valls) and Virrei Amat Square (at the Felip II and Jota junction).

Sant Andreu: Orfila Square and Comerç Square, and Segre (between Pont and Cinca).

Sant Martí: Poblenou Rambla (between Calvell Promenade and Diagonal Avenue), Cabanyal and Sèquia Comtal, Mercat and Font i Sagué Square, and the Gabriel García Márquez Library space.

Sant Jordi programme in Barcelona (2026)

Sant Jordi turns Barcelona into a setting where the city is experienced at a different pace. Streets fill with books, roses and conversations that cross without needing a prior arrangement. Part of that movement concentrates on Gràcia Promenade, between Provença and Rosselló: publishing novelties promoted by the City Council are presented there, while the Ve de Barcelona shop broadens the experience with a selection of local design, gastronomy and fashion.

The celebration begins even before the 23rd. The Reading Proclamation, in the Saló de Cent, opens the calendar with author Ali Smith in conversation with translator Dolors Udina. From there, libraries, cultural centres and neighbourhoods present a programme including meetings with authors, family activities and proposals that connect literature with the Mediterranean as a shared space.

On the main day, the city multiplies. There are open doors at City Hall, children’s workshops, shows and corners where one can stop to leaf through a book or listen. On the Sant Pere ring road, artist TVBoy turns the Sant Jordi poster into a collective work, inviting citizens to leave their own mark.

See our list of museums and emblematic buildings that will open their doors to everyone.

You can also see the list of popular activities to be held in the city during the festive week.

You will find the full festival programme on the official website.