If you are planning to spend a week’s holiday in Tarragona at the end of June, you will find a city full of life between the festivities of Saint John (Sant Joan) and Saint Peter (Sant Pere).
These are days of popular festivals, perfect for going to the beach with friends and family, eating the typical coca de Sant Joan (a traditional sweet bread topped with candied fruit or filled with custard), welcoming the Flama del Canigó in El Serrallo, and enjoying a great castells (human towers) exhibition.
Saint John Festival Programme in Tarragona 2026
The first events begin the weekend before Saint John’s Eve, meaning we have almost a full week of celebrations in Tarragona.
So you don’t miss a single detail, here are the main events:
| Date | Saint John Event | Description |
| 20/6/2026 0:30 am to 4:00 am Cos del Bóu | Peta-ho per Sant Joan with the Colla Jove de Tarragona. | Musical street party with PD Pelacanyes and Murddock. |
| 20/6/2026 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm Moll de Costa 1 | Vermut Summer Music by the Xiquets del Serrallo. | Traditional vermouth and live music in the maritime neighborhood of El Serrallo. |
| 20/6/2026 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm Plaça de la Rumba | Vespreig matalasser. | The Xiquets de Tarragona organize a musical evening for their centenary. |
| 20/6/2026 11:30 pm to 0:30 am Plaça del Fórum | La desvetlla dels ninots with the TomaNota brass band. | Festive parade through the Part Alta (Old Town) up to Passeig de les Palmeres. |
| 21/6/2026 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Rambla Nova 29 | Sardana dancing for Universal Sardana Day. | Traditional dance with the Cobla Cossetània to celebrate Saint John. |
| 21/6/2026 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Plaça Verdaguer | Open-air rehearsal with the Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona. | The Colla Jove prepares the Saint John castells (human towers) with a public rehearsal. |
| 23/6/2026 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm Plaça del Bisbe Bonet | Arrival of the Flama del Canigó at El Serrallo, Tarragona. | Arrival of the sacred flame and lighting of the Saint John bonfire. |
| 23/6/2026 10:30 pm to 11:55 pm Plaça de la Mitja LLuna | Saint John Fire Parade in Tarragona. | A night of correfoc (fire-runs) with the city’s different balls de diables (devils’ groups). |
| 24/6/2026 0:00 am to 4:00 am Plaça Corsini | Great musical and popular Saint John’s Eve party in Tarragona. | The main street party featuring cover bands Ready to Rock and Femme Versions. |
| 24/6/2026 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Plaça de la Font | Saint John castells (human towers) exhibition. | The city’s four local groups (colles) build human towers to celebrate Saint John. |
| 25/6/2026 to 29/6/2026 El Serrallo | Saint Peter’s Festival in the Serrallo neighborhood of Tarragona. | Main local festival in El Serrallo with parades, street parties, and maritime processions. |
Where to find the Saint John bonfires in Tarragona
The beaches of El Miracle, L’Arrabassada, Llarga, and La Móra are the places where most people gather, especially groups of friends and families meeting for an outdoor dinner and lighting fireworks by the sea. El Miracle is the busiest due to its proximity to the city center, as it can easily be reached on foot, while L’Arrabassada and La Móra attract a more family-oriented crowd.
When planning to go, it’s wise to keep in mind the local municipal regulations regarding fireworks and bonfires. Officially, lighting fires on the sand is strictly forbidden—though there’s always someone who tries it, usually ending badly—and the City Council places extra bins to collect waste before the morning cleaning shifts begin.
As a final tip for fire festival enthusiasts, a local group of diables usually performs a small, intimate night-time carretillada (fireworks display)—it doesn’t happen every year and isn’t on the official schedule—at Cala Jovera, right in front of Tamarit Castle. A nearly secret fire show in a protected natural setting.
Where to buy the best coca de Sant Joan in Tarragona
Whether you prefer the classic Saint John coca with candied fruit and pine nuts or those filled with custard or chocolate, the best choice is to go for artisanal products from traditional local bakeries and pair it with a good Catalan cava.
Forn Andreu, located at 21 Carrer Lleida, with over a hundred years of experience, is one of the city’s most iconic spots and one of the few that work with organic grains; their custard-filled cocas have a huge following, so it is best to order them days in advance.
However, other excellent and award-winning options include Cal Jan bakery inside the Mercat Central de Tarragona, Velvet MGL, or Pastisseria Conde.
How to get around Tarragona on Saint John’s Eve
During the evening and night of June 23rd, driving around the center and the seafront of Tarragona becomes quite difficult due to road closures and the influx of people heading down to the city.
Vehicle access to El Miracle beach is closed from the afternoon along Passeig de Rafael Casanova, making walking undoubtedly the best choice if you are already in town.
If you are coming from outside the city, forget about searching for a parking spot near the sand. The most practical solution is to leave your car in park-and-ride lots like the one at L’Arrabassada, or use the central underground municipal car parks, such as those at Plaça de la Font or Corsini.
Additionally, the local bus company (EMT) increases its night service lines to connect the city center with the eastern and western neighborhoods—an ideal alternative to move around without worrying about parking. The City Council does this every year as part of a special summer schedule that kicks off with Saint John.
Accommodation in Tarragona for Saint John
Planning a week’s summer holiday in Tarragona is a fantastic idea to experience popular traditional festivals like Saint John, Sant Magí, or Santa Tecla.
To make the most of these days by the sea, it’s best to find a central, comfortable place to stay that grants you total freedom of movement.
Our apartments are just a few minutes’ walk from El Miracle beach, the open-air verbenas, and the squares where the correfocs and castells take place.
TGNA Tarragona Apartaments is your best option to experience the summer at your own pace, with a private space to cook, relax, and stay with family or friends.
