In Catalonia, presents aren’t brought by Father Christmas but by the Three Kings. And in Barcelona, they arrive by sea. On the evening of Tuesday 5 January 2027, Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar land at the foot of the Columbus monument, then ride through the city on their floats in a shower of sweets. It’s the best night of the year for children — and a surprising show for visitors.
At a glance
| Date | Tuesday 5 January 2027 |
| The Kings arrive | Around 4:30 pm at Portal de la Pau (foot of the Columbus monument) |
| Parade | About 6 pm to 9 pm, from Ciutadella towards Plaça d’Espanya |
| Price | Free |
| Next day | Wednesday 6 January, public holiday: present day |
Arrival by sea
Around 4:30 pm, the Kings’ boat docks at Portal de la Pau, opposite the Columbus monument at the bottom of La Rambla. The mayor welcomes them and hands over the magic key that opens every home in the city for the night. It’s the most moving moment for little ones, and the most crowded: arrive at least an hour early if you want to see the boat.
The big parade
At 6 pm, the parade sets off from Ciutadella Park. In 2026 it lasted just over three hours, with 1,300 performers, acrobats, brass bands, giant floats for each King and seven tonnes of (gluten-free) sweets thrown to the crowd.
The usual route:
| Passing (2026 times) | Where |
|---|---|
| 6:00 pm | Start, Ciutadella Park |
| 6:35 pm | Passeig de Colom / Via Laietana |
| 6:55 pm | Columbus monument |
| 7:30 pm | Avinguda del Paral·lel / Ronda de Sant Pau |
| 7:45 pm | Sant Antoni Market |
| 8:10 – 8:30 pm | Carrer de Sepúlveda |
| 9:10 pm | Finish towards Plaça d’Espanya |
The 2027 route and times are published by the city in late December. With the major redevelopment of the Montjuïc trade-fair grounds — which has already moved the New Year’s Eve celebration — the end of the route may change: we’ll update our Events page. On the evening itself, the city runs a live map showing where the floats are.
Where to stand with kids
- Avoid the start and the Columbus monument: that’s where crowds are thickest.
- Go for Paral·lel or Carrer de Sepúlveda: wide pavements, and the parade passes later, giving you time to get there.
- Arrive 45 minutes before the expected time for a front-row spot.
- The local families’ trick: an upside-down umbrella or a tote bag to catch the sweets.
- Closed shoes and warm clothes: evenings are 8–10 °C and you’ll be standing a long time.
Three Kings traditions
- The letter to the Kings — in December, children write their letter and hand it to the royal pages (patges reials), who tour markets and neighbourhoods. Latecomers can still hand it over on 5 January.
- Coal — children who haven’t been good get coal… made of sugar, black and crunchy, sold in every sweet shop.
- Shoes on the balcony — on the night of the 5th, children leave their shoes by the window, with a little water for the camels.
- The tortell de Reis — the ring-shaped brioche of 6 January, topped with candied fruit and often filled with marzipan. It hides a bean (whoever finds it pays for the cake) and a figurine (whoever finds it wears the crown).
Practical info
- 6 January is a public holiday (a Wednesday in 2027): most shops are closed. Families open presents in the morning, then have lunch together.
- The winter sales traditionally start right after, on 7 January.
- The Fira de Reis on Gran Via, the toy market, stays open until 6 January: perfect for last-minute presents.
- Neighbourhoods also hold their own smaller, calmer parades: ideal with toddlers.
- The metro is the only way to get around that evening: the whole route is closed to traffic.
And before that?
The parade closes the festive season. For the weeks before, see our guides to Christmas in Barcelona and New Year’s Eve, and all the dates on the Events page.
In Barcelona over the holidays with friends or family? For a grown-ups’ outing during the break, book the BPM Bar sangria & cocktail workshop: 90 minutes behind the bar, in the heart of Eixample.