The 19th annual Nit de Castells gala in Valls is set to achieve a record attendance, with 91 human tower groups confirming their participation. The event, which will be broadcast on local television channels this Saturday at 9pm, will present twelve awards across various categories, decided by six different juries.
The Nit de Castells is an initiative by Revista Castells and is organised jointly with Valls City Council, TAC 12, and La Xarxa. The Cultural Centre of Valls will host almost all human tower groups from the Catalan scene, marking an unprecedented number of attendees. This includes most conventional groups, nearly all university groups, and three international groups.
Sònia Hernández, the Minister of Culture, will attend the Nit de Castells, presiding over the event alongside Dolors Farré, the Mayor of Valls. Many mayors and other institutional representatives, as well as organisations and businesses linked to the human tower world, will also gather at the Cultural Centre.
Awards and Categories
The gala, presented by television personalities Carles Cortès and Aina Mallol, will start at 9pm and be broadcast across Catalonia's local television networks. Over one hour, the 19th Castells Awards will be presented. Six different juries determine the winners: human tower chroniclers, high-level human tower groups, the CCCC Board, Valls City Council's Department of Tourism, the Advisory Board of Revista Castells, and the editorial teams of Revista Castells, TAC 12, and La Xarxa. Additionally, one award is decided by a public vote organised by La Xarxa, and another is automatically given to groups that successfully completed a new level of human tower last season.
Three of the twelve awards have finalists, with the winners announced during the gala. These include:
Human Tower Moment of 2025:
* The '4de10 amb folre i manilles' (four-level ten-person human tower with supporting layers) completed by Colla Vella els Xiquets de Valls at the Santa Úrsula Festival.
* The '2de9 sense manilles' (two-level nine-person human tower without top supporting layers) built by Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls at the Santa Úrsula Festival.
* The '3de8' (three-level eight-person human tower) completed by Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges for the Pepe Rodríguez Memorial.
Breakthrough Group 2025:
* Castellers de Sarrià
* Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges
* Nois de la Torre
Square of the 2025 Season:
* Plaça de la Vila del Catllar
* Plaça de la Vall del Castell de Vilafranca
* Plaça de la Vila de Vilanova i la Geltrú
Recognising Excellence in Human Towers
The remaining awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award, Best Season Group Award, Completed Tower Award, Pere Català i Roca Award, Human Tower Ambassador Award, and two Special Awards. One Special Award recognises a significant event in the human tower world, and the other acknowledges a trend or phenomenon that promotes human towers. There are also the well-known Image of the Season TAC 12 – La Xarxa Award and the award for groups that successfully completed a new level.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an emblematic figure in the human tower world who has shown a strong and active career in building human towers. The Human Tower Ambassador Award honours a person or institution outside the human tower world who has spread awareness of human towers beyond their natural scope. Both are judged by the Advisory Board of Revista Castells.
The Square of the Season Award recognises a human tower square that played a relevant role in the previous season, due to a significant festival, good organisation, or long history. This is judged by the editorial teams of Revista Castells and TAC 12. The Best Season Group Award goes to the group that, overall, had the best season, also judged by the editorial teams of Revista Castells and TAC 12.
The Breakthrough Group of the Season Award distinguishes a non-high-level group that, in the jury's opinion, showed the best evolution or stood out for a specific achievement last season. This is judged by groups that achieved constructions superior to the '3de9f' (three-level nine-person human tower with supporting layer) last season. The Human Tower Moment of the Season Award recognises a human tower built in the previous season that, due to its difficulty, result, or value, deserves special recognition. This is judged by human tower chroniclers.
The Completed Tower Award distinguishes groups that have shown safety, along with their records and ambition, judged by the CCCC Board. The Image of the Season TAC 12 - La Xarxa Award recognises an image that, due to its aesthetics, spectacle, or concept, had a great audiovisual impact during the season, decided by popular vote through a contest organised by La Xarxa. The Pere Català Roca Photography Award distinguishes a photographer who has made notable contributions to human tower photography, judged by Valls City Council's Department of Tourism. The New Level Award honours groups that have raised their historical level with a successfully completed human tower.
The two Special Nit de Castells Awards are given by the editorial teams of Revista Castells and TAC 12. Special Award 1 recognises a significant event in the human tower world for its impact, transcendence, or value. Special Award 2 acknowledges a phenomenon or trend that helps project and strengthen the human tower world. The event continues to highlight the cultural importance of human towers in Catalonia.
