Barcelona’s Queen Belluga gets ready for Cosmic Carnival

The rehearsal of Queen Belluga, this year's carnival's queen, has taken place on Wednesday. The rehearsal showcased the float that will transport Queen Belluga, a spectacular structure nearly 10 meters long, which will be one of the main attractions of this year's carnival.  

This year, the Barcelona Carnival presents a major novelty: the Arrival of Queen Belluga is being decentralized and moved to the Sants-Montjuïc district on Thursday at 5:15 pm. 

This edition, under the theme 'Cosmic Carnival,' will transform Sants Street into a true interplanetary stage. With a large galactic theme and the first carnival rocket designed at the Cotxeres de Sants. The Carnival aims to take the celebration beyond the edges of the Earth, with Queen Belluga as the universal ambassador of culture and freedom of expression.  

After a show starting at 5:30 pm at the Cotxeres de Sants Civic Center, the parade will begin at 6:30 pm, when Queen Belluga and her float will travel through the streets of Sants. 

The Carnival will go to one of the city's areas with a great carnival tradition, and this year, it will merge two iconic events: the city arrival and the one from the Sants neighborhood. These events will feature the figure of King Carnestoltes, a puppet inspired by current figures, and Queen Belluga, who will be received at the Cotxeres de Sants Auditorium. 

Where and when to celebrate

With flamboyant food fights, parading parties, excessive eating, and somber sardine burials, Carnaval is back!

The shortest month of the year brings with it one of the longest celebrations of the calendar; Carnaval, as it's spelled in Catalan, or Carnival in English, will be celebrated in different Catalan cities and towns this week. 

Learn all about how to celebrate Carnival across Catalonia in our guide.