Three Kings Parade Barcelona 2027 (Cavalcada de Reis): route, times and tips

Expected date and route for 5 January 2027, based on previous editions. We update this page as soon as the city publishes the official programme.

In Catalonia the presents are not brought by Santa Claus but by the Three Kings, who arrive in Barcelona on the evening of 5 January. The Cavalcada de Reis is the biggest parade of the year: Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar sail into Port Vell, receive the key to the city and ride through the streets on floats, showering the crowd with sweets. It is the closing night of Winter Festival Barcelona and the most magical evening of the winter for families.

The Three Kings parade at a glance

Dates	5 January 2027, from 16:30
Location	Arrival at Portal de la Pau, parade ends at the Magic Fountain
Metro	Drassanes (L3) · Espanya (L1 · L3)
Entry	Free

The arrival of the Kings at Portal de la Pau

The evening starts at the harbour. At around 16:30 Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar sail in on the historic schooner Santa Eulàlia and step ashore at the Portal de la Pau, at the foot of the Columbus Monument. The mayor welcomes them with bread and salt and hands over the magic key that lets them into every home in Barcelona that night. The quays along Moll de la Fusta fill up early, so come by 15:30 if you want to see the boat arrive.

The parade route and timetable

At 18:00 the Cavalcada sets off from Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera at Parc de la Ciutadella. It follows Passeig de Colom past the Columbus Monument, climbs Avinguda del Paral·lel, passes the Sant Antoni market and continues along Carrer de Sepúlveda to Plaça d’Espanya. The finale is on Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina in front of the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, at about 21:15. More than 1,300 performers, floats, music and giant figures take part, and the Kings throw tonnes of sweets into the crowd. The timetable below is the 2026 edition; the city usually publishes the 2027 route in late December and it rarely changes.

Where to stand? Passeig de Colom and Paral·lel are wide and good with pushchairs; Plaça d’Espanya and Maria Cristina are the busiest. Arrive an hour early, bring an umbrella turned upside down to catch sweets, and use the city’s live map of the floats. Metro: Barceloneta (L4) at the start, Paral·lel (L2/L3) halfway, Espanya (L1/L3) at the end.

Time (5 Jan)	Where
16:30	Arrival by boat – Portal de la Pau
18:00	Start – Parc de la Ciutadella (Av. Marquès de l’Argentera)
18:35	Passeig de Colom / Via Laietana
18:55	Columbus Monument
19:10	Portal de Santa Madrona
19:30	Paral·lel / Ronda de Sant Pau
19:45	Mercat de Sant Antoni
20:10	Sepúlveda / Comte Borrell
20:30	Sepúlveda / Entença
20:50	Av. Reina Maria Cristina
21:10	Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia – finale at the Magic Fountain

Traditions: letters, carbó and the tortell de Reis

In the days before 5 January children hand their letters to the royal pages (patges reials) at the Fira de Reis and in shopping centres. On the night itself families leave out shoes, water for the camels and a glass of something for the Kings. On the morning of 6 January the presents appear, and children who have been naughty get carbó, sugar coal. Breakfast is the tortell de Reis, a ring-shaped cake with a hidden bean and a figurine: whoever finds the figurine is king for the day, whoever finds the bean pays for the cake. Read more about these customs in our guide to Catalan Christmas traditions.

What else is on: Fira de Reis and the last market days

The Fira de Reis on Gran Via, the Three Kings market, is open until 6 January for last-minute toys and gifts, and the Christmas market at Port Vell with its Ferris wheel stays open through the holiday. On 6 January (Epiphany) shops and most attractions close for the day, so plan your sightseeing for 4 and 5 January or after the holiday. The Sagrada Família and Park Güell are open on 6 January.

Tickets and tours around Three Kings

The days around Three Kings are among the busiest of the winter at the Gaudí sights, and 6 January is a public holiday. Book your Barcelona tickets in advance or combine the highlights with the Barcelona Pass. Current offers:

Make a day of it: see the Christmas lights one last time before the Kings arrive, or book an evening visit for the days around Epiphany.

Hotels along the parade route

A hotel near Paral·lel, Sant Antoni or Plaça d’Espanya puts you on the parade route, and the Gothic Quarter and El Born are within walking distance of the harbour. Prices go up for the Three Kings weekend, so book early; our guide to hotels during Winter Festival Barcelona compares the neighbourhoods. Check availability on the map:

Booking.com

Frequently asked questions

Is the Three Kings Parade free?

Yes. The Cavalcada de Reis is a free street parade; you can watch from anywhere along the route.

How long does the parade take to pass?

The full procession takes about 45 minutes to pass a given point. From the first float at 18:00 to the finale at Montjuïc the parade lasts roughly three and a half hours.

Is everything closed on 6 January?

Epiphany is a public holiday: shops, supermarkets and many restaurants are closed. The Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló and the Port Vell market are open, and the Fira de Reis is open for its last day.

The Cavalcada de Reis is Barcelona’s answer to Christmas Eve: a whole city on the pavements, children with letters in their hands and a rain of sweets. If you can time your winter trip to include 5 January, do it.

See the Three Kings arrive in Barcelona on 5 January 2027. Book your tickets and hotel now!