Highlights of a packed day

Saturday 29 August will be one of the busiest days of Manresa’s Festa Major 2026, featuring a full programme of cultural, musical and sporting activities. The day kicks off with exhibitions and sports tournaments, building towards major evening events including the Tronada Manresana, the popular cercavila parade, and performances from artists such as Miki Núñez. According to the official programme published by the Ajuntament de Manresa via web.lafestamajor.cat, the schedule includes over 30 events across multiple venues.

Morning and afternoon events

From 9:00 to 13:00, the fourth Exposition-Trobada of Classic and Sports Vehicles takes place on Carrer Abat Oliba, organised by Biela Club Manresa (bielaclubmanresa.com). At 10:00, adults can join a cordage workshop at the Museu de l'Aigua i el Tèxtil, where participants will create a magazine rack using traditional rope techniques. The session costs €15, materials included, and booking is required. The Institutional Proclamation begins at 12:30 in the Ajuntament’s Session Hall, delivered by aerospace scientist Estel Blay Carreras, recipient of the 2026 Rosa Argelaguet Isanta Award. The Orfeó Manresà provides musical accompaniment. Later that afternoon, the Interclub Football Tournament continues at Les Cots and La Balconada football fields, while the Women's Basketball Trophy features a match between Manresa Club Bàsquet Femení and Club Bàsquet Igualada at Congost’s dirt pitch.

Evening celebrations begin

At 17:15, floral offerings are made to the town’s giant figures, La Geganta, La Pubilla and La Gegantona, in the ground-floor vestibule of the Ajuntament.

"The aim is to give prominence to iconic elements of the festival that form part of the collective imagination," says the Manresa City Council.

The Tronada Manresana fireworks display starts at 18:00 at Congost football field, followed by the popular cercavila parade through the historic centre. Organised by Pirotècnia Tomàs, it features casteller groups, trabucaires, dancers, bastoners, giants, devils and dragons from Manresa and invited municipalities.

Music, dance and night-time spectacle

At 19:00 in the crypt of the Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria de la Seu, the 17th Meeting of Percussion Bands takes place, led by La Banda Röcksie and coordinated by Ernest Larroya Torregrosa. Entry is free. Festival Microscopies presents two simultaneous performances: "Mira't", a balance-themed circus act by Circ Pànic at Plaça Neus Català i Pallejà, and "Escalès de la Roser", a cello-driven dance piece by Laura Marsal and Marçal Ayats at the same location. Young people aged 12 to 16 can attend Nit Fluor at Jardins del Casino from 21:30, a glow-in-the-dark party with UV lighting, fluorescent makeup and DJs. Attendees are encouraged to wear white clothing. A large screen on Plaça Major will broadcast the Correfoc Preview Show at 21:30, featuring Quants Band and displays of fire-demon costumes. This acts as a teaser for the full Correfoc event on 31 August.

Concert line-up on Carrer Sallent

The main concert stage on Carrer Sallent launches at 23:00 with Miki Núñez, performing his "A volar" tour, which blends his best-known hits with new material. He is followed by Two Fucking DJ’s, offering a freestyle closing set. Elsewhere, Superhits with Pepe Revolution and MMMeel DJ brings pop, disco and indie classics to Plana de l’Om, while swing lovers can enjoy live music at Plaça Neus Català i Pallejà. The 41st Oreneta d’Or Ciutat de Manresa folk dance showcase closes the night on Plaça Major at 23:00, featuring local group Casal Cultural Dansaires Manresans and Grupo Folklórico Santa Cecilia d’Osca.

How to participate

Many events are free and open to all. For those requiring advance booking, such as the cordage workshop or guided visit to Can Font, reservations must be made directly through the organisers. Full details and locations are available on the official Festa Major website.

Reported by regio7.cat, bielaclubmanresa.com, eb.lafestamajor.cat, Regió7, eb.manresa.cat, Regió 7.