Lleida’s 45th Aplec del Caragol brought large crowds to Camps Elisis on 24 May 2026, with the city’s signature snail festival taking place in temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius. The event remains one of Lleida’s main cultural gatherings and drew participants across generations.
As the heat rose to around 35 degrees, attendees used water pistols, shade and plenty of drinks to keep cool. Many wore their group T-shirts, neckerchiefs and straw hats, while some groups set up pools or ventilation systems at their plots.
Food stayed at the centre of the day. Snails were served in several traditional ways, including a la llauna, a la gormanda and in cassoles de tros. Other dishes included lamb with potatoes and onions, xató salad and fideuà, with long lunches often leading into music and games.
Morning events included a floral offering at the statue of Manolo Calpe, attended by Lleida mayor Fèlix Larrosa. The programme also featured a parade with the Trabucaires dels Trons and the Bé i Band brass band, plus garrotins, DJs and a handmade allioli competition. The third edition of the Petita Rua de l’Aplec began in the afternoon.
The festival’s entertainment programme also included musical bingo, the Canya-Polvoró-Canya World Championship, karaoke, more brass bands, a concert by the Saturno orchestra, snail races and a casteller exhibition. Evening tardejos led into dinner and a second night of celebrations.
Fecoll president Ferran Perdrix said the festival had started well, with just over 20 medical assists between Friday night and Saturday morning and one hospital transfer for a leg injury. Security included the Guàrdia Urbana, Mossos d’Esquadra and 130 private security staff. Fecoll also hosted international journalists as part of its push for the Aplec to be declared an International Tourist Festival.
