Barcelona celebrated its annual Sant Jordi festival on 23 April 2026, with thousands flocking to book and rose stalls across the city, though the festive atmosphere was tempered by a persistent challenge from airborne plane tree pollen. The traditional day of culture and romance saw early morning calm give way to bustling crowds, as residents and visitors embraced the literary and floral traditions despite widespread allergy symptoms.
The city's main artery for the celebration, a 4.5-kilometre stretch from Gràcia to Plaça de la Catedral, quickly filled with stalls from publishers such as L'Altra, Blackie Books, and Minúscula, according to VilaWeb. While a pleasant spring breeze initially accompanied the morning setup, it soon turned "treacherous," scattering pollen throughout the city centre. This led to many experiencing sneezes, coughs, itchy throats, and watery eyes, transforming the pollen into "the dragon that must be fought," as described by the source.
Authors Draw Crowds Across Barcelona
In the Raval district, a lengthy queue formed along Carrer d'Elisabets for South Korean author Han Kang, the 2024 Nobel Literature laureate. She was in the city to present Ink and Blood (Tinta i sang), translated by Héctor López Bofill and Hye Young Yu and published by La Magrana. By 9am, a hundred people were already waiting for her signing session, scheduled from 12pm to 2pm at La Central del Raval bookstore. Among them were Anna, her mother, and a friend, who had travelled from Pineda de Mar in the Maresme region and started queuing at 8:30am to be among the first.
New Venues Ease Congestion
Plaça de la Catedral, a new addition to Barcelona's Sant Jordi map this year, offered a more comfortable space for visitors. It served as an alternative to La Rambla, which is currently undergoing construction work. Sandra, a Gràcia resident, expressed her approval of the new location to VilaWeb, stating, "La Rambla has always stressed me out a lot. You can't even walk there! These last few years I never ended up going. At least now we can walk... Maybe it's because it's still early, but it's pleasant." She suggested that if Avinguda del Portal de l'Àngel and Plaça de la Catedral become permanent Sant Jordi venues, La Rambla could be reserved solely for rose stalls, with the cathedral area dedicated to books.
Literary Figures and Allergic Reactions
Along Avinguda del Portal de l'Àngel, author Emma Zafón signed copies of her latest novel, The Mother (La mare), at the Alibri bookstore stall. She told VilaWeb she was "very happy" but quickly added, "The only thing that bothers me is the pollen!" An hour later, she was signing at the Ona bookstore stall on Passeig de Gràcia, alongside other prominent authors. These included Elisenda Carod, signing The Mother of Eggs (La mare dels ous); Magda Oranich with All the Battles (Totes les batalles); and Xavier Grasset, presenting Good Taste (El bon gust). Grasset, suffering from severe hoarseness, told VilaWeb he had visited three hotels to find an anchovy sandwich, which he believed would help his voice, noting its "eye-watering" cost.
Gil Pratsobrerroca, celebrating his first Sant Jordi as an author, was signing dozens of copies of The Game of Silence (El joc del silenci) at a "frenetic pace." His book has been a top-selling Catalan fiction title for 22 consecutive weeks and was predicted to be one of the day's best-sellers. Three friends, Rosa Pilar Bonet, Neus Vicente, and Mercè Espanyol Barenys, queued to have Magda Oranich sign their books, unanimously calling her "our role model!" and a "fighter" for many women.
Nadal Prize Winner and Cultural Debates
Further along Passeig de Gràcia, a large crowd gathered at the Laie bookstore stall for David Uclés, this year's Nadal Prize winner. Many carried copies of his books, The Peninsula of Empty Houses (La península de las casas vacías) and The City of Dead Lights (La ciudad de las luces muertas). Uclés had recently been involved in a controversy surrounding the publication of a Spanish edition of Mercè Rodoreda's Death and Spring (La mort i la primavera) by Club Editor, for which he designed the cover and wrote the postface. A vendor at the stall noted that The City of Dead Lights was currently their best-selling book.
The iconic Casa Batlló was adorned with roses, serving as a central symbol of Sant Jordi in Barcelona, while La Pedrera displayed an "immensely long" senyera (Catalan flag) across its façade, according to the report.
As the day progressed, the pollen remained a significant factor, prompting VilaWeb's reporter to purchase tissues for the afternoon's festivities. The experience underscored the dual nature of Sant Jordi 2026: a joyous celebration of Catalan culture and literature, alongside a tangible reminder of nature's less romantic side. The success of new spaces like Plaça de la Catedral may influence future Sant Jordi planning, potentially offering more dispersed and comfortable experiences for the millions who participate in this cherished annual event.
