Tarragona City Council has announced 513 events for the 2026 Santa Tecla Festa Major, running from Tuesday 15 September to Thursday 24 September. For residents and visitors planning the city’s main annual festival, the programme sets out nine days of concerts, traditional events, cultural activities and sport, with the busiest dates scheduled for 21 to 24 September.
This year’s programme marks 600 years of documented festive pyrotechnics in Tarragona and an anniversary for the Gegants Moros giant figures. The council presented the programme at the Casa de la Festa, where the figures are kept and exhibited.
Fire traditions and the main festival dates
The Ball de Diables de Tarragona and the Drac de Sant Roc are preparing events connected to the six-century anniversary of festive fire, based on a 15th-century reference to the Sant Miquel entremès, a traditional dramatic procession element.
- Sunday 13 September: the Ball de Diables Infantil will stage a commemorative performance at the Ermita de la Mare de Déu de la Salut.
- Thursday 17 September: the Drac de Sant Roc will hold a traditional-style street procession using early-format pyrotechnics, accompanied by the Cobla Mitja Lluna.
- Saturday 19 September: the Ball de Diables will make an extraordinary 19th-century-themed appearance with the Banda Unió Musical de Tarragona.
The principal Santa Tecla celebrations from 21 to 24 September include the Pregó opening address, the Baixada de l'Àliga procession, casteller human-tower events, the Professó procession and the Correfoc fire run.
Residents attending fire events should check the final Santa Tecla timetable issued by Tarragona City Council before travelling, as the programme contains more than 100 pages of activities.
Reported by elperiodico.com, Redacción COPE Barcelona, tarragonaturisme.cat, El Periódico, tarragona.cat, Racó Català.
