Sant Joan in Barcelona: Fireworks Rules, Beaches and Metro Hours
Midsummer night is Barcelona's loudest night of the year. Here is how the fireworks, bonfires, beaches and transport work, based on the city's 2026 plan.
La Revetlla de Sant Joan is the night of 23 June, when Barcelona celebrates midsummer with fireworks, bonfires, coca (a flat sweet pastry) and cava, and 24 June is a public holiday in Catalonia. In 2026 the Metro ran for 43 hours without a break, and the beaches stayed open all night before being cleared at 6:00 for cleaning.
What happens on the night of Sant Joan?
A revetlla is the eve of a feast day, and Sant Joan (Saint John’s Day) is the biggest of them in Catalonia. The celebration starts in the evening of 23 June and runs through the night:
- Fireworks and firecrackers go off in streets, squares and on the beaches from the afternoon until late at night.
- Bonfires (fogueres) are lit in squares and streets that have permission, often organized by neighborhood associations.
- Coca de Sant Joan, a flat pastry often topped with candied fruit or pine nuts, is sold in bakeries and shared with cava.
- Beach parties fill the city’s beaches until dawn.
Expect noise across the whole city until the early hours. If you have pets, keep them indoors with windows closed.
Is 24 June a holiday?
Yes. Sant Joan is one of Catalonia’s regional public holidays, so most offices, banks and many shops close on 24 June. It fell on a Wednesday in 2026 and falls on a Thursday in 2027. Our Barcelona public holidays calendar lists the other dates.
What are the rules for fireworks?
Consumer fireworks in Spain are sold in categories, and the national regulation on pyrotechnic articles, Real Decreto 989/2015, sets a minimum age for each:
| Category | Type | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Very low hazard and negligible noise | 12 |
| F2 | Low hazard, for use in limited outdoor areas | 16 |
| F3 | Medium hazard, for large open outdoor areas | 18 |
The category and the minimum age are printed on each product. For Sant Joan 2026 the Ajuntament authorized 99 fireworks sale points; buy only there or in licensed shops, never loose products from street sellers.
Fire is the main risk in the hills. In 2026 the city reminded residents that lighting fires within 500 meters of wooded areas such as Collserola or Montjuïc is prohibited, and the fire service (Bombers) warned against setting off fireworks near forests and parks. Keep a bucket of water nearby, never relight a firework that failed, and keep children at a distance when adults light anything above category F1.
How do the bonfires work?
Bonfires need permission from the Ajuntament, and the city classifies them by the amount of wood:
- Foguera major (large bonfire): no weight limit, and the only type that needs a specific report from the Bombers
- Foguera petita (small bonfire): up to 250 kg of wood
- Foguera de peveter: up to 25 kg of wood
The Guàrdia Urbana watches for unauthorized bonfires, especially in the Collserola area of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Horta-Guinardó and Nou Barris. Streets around authorized bonfires and street parties can be closed to traffic during the night.
What happens on the beaches?
The beaches are the center of the night. Under the Ajuntament’s 2026 plan:
- the beaches stayed open all night, with information teams until 3:00
- beach bars could serve until 3:30
- loudspeaker announcements increased toward 6:00, when the beaches had to be empty
- police began clearing the sand at 6:30 so 350 cleaning staff with 135 vehicles could work across nine beaches
- people could return as the cleaning finished, between 9:00 and 10:00
The city also set up three ambulances, three first-aid points at La Barceloneta, Bogatell and Mar Bella, 298 portable toilets and Purple Points (punts liles) for people facing sexist or LGBTI-phobic aggression. Lifeguards do not work at night, so avoid swimming in the dark, especially after drinking. Our guide to Barcelona beach rules covers the rest of the year.
How do you get home?
In 2026 TMB ran the Metro without interruption for 43 hours, from 5:00 on Tuesday 23 June until midnight on Wednesday 24 June. Eight lines and 165 stations stayed open, with up to 18 extra trains in some time slots and extra staff at the stations near the sea, especially on line L4. The 2027 timetable is published shortly before the night, so check TMB’s announcements nearer the date.
The Guàrdia Urbana also marked safe routes to public transport stops and increased patrols in dark or quiet areas. If you drive, expect alcohol and drug checks across the city.
Bottom line
Plan to travel by Metro, buy fireworks only from authorized points and check the age category before handing anything to teenagers. If you live near a beach or a bonfire square, expect noise until dawn and street cleaning in the morning of 24 June.
FAQ
When is Sant Joan in 2027?
The night of celebration is Wednesday 23 June 2027, and Thursday 24 June 2027 is the public holiday in Catalonia.
Can children set off fireworks?
Children aged 12 and over can use category F1 products, those 16 and over category F2, and adults category F3. The age is printed on each product.
Are the beaches open on Sant Joan night?
Yes. In 2026 they stayed open all night and were cleared from 6:00 for cleaning, reopening between 9:00 and 10:00 on 24 June.
Does the Metro run all night on Sant Joan?
It did in 2026, for 43 hours in a row. TMB announces the service for each year shortly before the night; for emergencies during the celebrations, see our guide to emergency numbers in Barcelona.
