The Three Kings Parade 2025

Practical information

Where:

various streets in the centre of Barcelona

Date:

5 January 2025

Tim:

from 6.00 pm

There is no capacity limit.

Barcelona is gearing up to welcome the magic of Their Majesties and their entourage!

On 5 January, Barcelona will once again be buzzing with excitement for the arrival of Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar. At 4:30 pm, Their Majesties will make their grand entry at the Portal de la Pau aboard the schooner , where they will be welcomed by the Mayor. As a symbol of hospitality, they will be offered bread and salt and presented with the keys to the city so that they can deliver gifts to all the homes in Barcelona.

This year, to mark the bicentenary of the Tres Tombs de Sant Antoni, Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar will be making their way from Portal de la Pau to Pg. Circumval·lació in traditional carts as a tribute to one of the city’s most deeply rooted traditions.

And then, at 6 pm, the moment everyone’s been waiting for: the parade! The Three Kings and their entourage will parade through the city’s streets along the same route as last year, accompanied by floats with several new features.

The parade will begin when the Brincadeira company welcomes Their Majesties by leading the way for the entire procession with a display of lights and percussion.

The Page Estel will be at the head of the royal procession. We’ll once again enjoy the renovated float featuring the star that lights the way for the Three Kings. It will be accompanied by their entourage, who will perform a dance inspired by the music of the spheres and choreographed by the Companyia de Dansa CDC. All are accompanied by music from the Conservatory of the Museum and composer Alejandro Vivero.

Next up will be the iconic Royal Post float. With bicycles, post boxes, and letter-collecting poles for everyone who wants Their Majesties to receive their wishes. The choreography will be directed by Som-hi Dansa.

The Page Gregory and the Dummies Entourage will come next, along with dancers who will collect dummies from the smallest and bravest children. This year, the page will greet us from a larger, taller vehicle designed by José Menchero and Alex Posada to the tune of a new musical composition by Xavi Oró and surrounded by inflatable elements created by artist Patxo Urlezaga.

King Melchior will be the first of the three to appear atop a float that made its debut last year and will be accompanied by several dancers performing choreographies by the Free Bodies company and music by the Liceu Conservatory’s Bernardo Rojas.

He’ll be followed by “The Three Kings, Watching and Listening to Everyone,” a new float designed by set designer Ramón de los Heros which features giant ears to hear all our wishes, all-seeing eyes, a chatty mouth and an all-smelling nose, in European avant-garde style.

This new entourage will feature music by José Manuel Pagán and lyrics by MontseGinesta, with dancers from the Roseland Musical company under the direction of Marta Almirall and choreographies created by Lorena Nogal, the 2024 National Dance Award winner.

King Caspar will come next atop a float that was unveiled last year and is inspired by the natural beauty of the king’s magical land of origin. The entourage, dancing with standards, will accompany him along the city streets to the tune of music by the Liceu Conservatory’s Jordi Font.

King Caspar will bring with him the new Dreams Entourage, created by artist Patxo Urlezaga, which will be the tallest in the parade. It will feature inflatables evocative of a dream world, along with dancers performing a Guillem Jiménez choreography to the music of the Liceu Conservatory’s Esteban Tamashiro.

King Balthasar, atop a renovated float inspired by African landscapes, will then appear accompanied by the Tambedou giant puppet family. Ngomez Nokass and Sambujang Sussoh will be on percussion, and the kora will be playing live as the comparsa troupe performs a choreography by Anna Mbengue. Authentic Africa.

Bringing up the rear on King Balthasar’s float will be Nana, a giant 4.5-metre puppet created by South African artist Hoekwil Roger Titley. The creation represents a girl from Zimbabwe and seeks to encourage solidarity with immigrants.

If you haven’t been good... Then you’re getting coal! A new float this year, designed by artist Ramón de los Heros, will dance to children’s favourite song. Under the choreographic direction of Irene Pallarés and live music by Guillem Albà, the city’s coal merchants will dance with coal, fire and smoke.

Raise your hand if you want sweets! The celebration would not be complete without the sweetest finale. when the Page Omar, with new music by Arturo Calvo, arrives to hand out sweets to all those present. He’ll be joined by the Barcelona Nautical Capital Foundation and Ti, Bi, Da and Bo, the mascots of the Tibidabo Amusement Park, who won’t want to miss the most magical celebration of the year.

Check out the tips to prepare for the celebration and learn about spaces reserved for people with disabilities and the calm area for children with autism.

The Three Kings Parade is produced by the Barcelona Institute of Culture.

Information sheet

Project and management: Barbarana Pons / Artistic adviser: Marta Almirall / Staging coordination: José Menchero / Assistant artistic director: Marta Bou / Artistic producers: Edurne Ucero and Neus Oriol / Coordination of volunteers: Verònica Garcia and Yasmina Fuentes / Lighting design: Andreu Fàbregas / Head technician: Alex Faure / Choreography team: Albert Bonet, Núria Salas, Igone López, Carla Pérez, Maria Paz Marciano, Pere Seda and Lipi Hernández / Performance director: Mònica Luchetti / Dramaturgy: Montse Ginesta

2025 ROUTE

The royal parade will set off at 6.00 pm, following a route from Av Marquès de l’Argentera (at the junction with Pg Circumval·lació) to Montjuïc’s Magic Fountain, at the following expected times:

6 pm Start in Parc de la Ciutadella
6.35 pm Pg. Colom with Via Laietana
6.55 pm Columbus monument
7.10 pm Portal de Santa Madrona
7.30 pm Av. Paral·lel with Ronda de Sant Pau
7.45 pm Mercat de Sant Antoni
8.10 pm C/ Sepúlveda with C/ Comte Borrell
8.30 pm C/ Sepúlveda with C/ Entença
8.50 pm Av. Reina Maria Cristina
9.10 pm Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia

No limits on capacity are planned.

Some spaces will be reserved for people with disabilities or functional diversity, with accreditation.

- Remember that this year, the parade will follow last year’s route; construction on Via Laietana will divert it to Av. Paral•lel, going up on Ronda de Sant Pau and Urgell to Sepúlveda.
- Before you set off, check the official information broadcast by the authorities regarding the event and the route, as well as the weather forecast. Be sure to wear shoes that protect your feet effectively to avoid injury: feet are always vulnerable at mass events.
- If the cold is intense, remember to wear a hat and use a scarf to avoid breathing the cold air directly into your lungs. In general terms it is also important to wear comfortable clothes that suit the weather conditions in order to avoid problems as the evening wears on.
- Be aware of the location of emergency exits or evacuation routes, and follow any instructions from security staff.
- Never push to gain access to a particular area, as you could cause one or more people to fall over: if the area is overcrowded or very crowded, look for somewhere else to stand.
- If you wish to access the areas reserved for people with disabilities or functional diversity, please ensure you allow plenty of time to comfortably settle in, and do not forget to bring your accreditation card. Due to space limitations, those using wheelchairs may be accompanied by one or two people at most. The three designed areas are Palau Plan (seaside), the corner of Pl. Drassanes with Av. Paral·lel, Mercat de Sant Antoni (the corner of Carrer Manso and Carrer Comte d’Urgell) and Plaça d'Espanya (L3 - Paral·lel side). There will also be a reserved area at the Portal de la Pau for the arrival of Their Majesties.
- Check the Cognitively Accessible Guide for People with Autism (PDF 3.34 MB)
- If you go with someone else or in a group, agree on somewhere outside the area where there are people, a place you can meet if you get separated or lost.
- If you are with children, hold their hand. Explain the risks, letting them know how they need to behave and what to do if they get lost.
- Do not allow children to climb up onto any kind of object in order to get a better view: it’s best to carry them on your shoulders if necessary.
- If you come across a child who is lost, take them to the police or a security team immediately.
- Keep your ID on you. In the case of small children, the elderly, and people with intellectual disabilities who need the support of a third person, write their details, including a contact telephone number, on a card that they can wear in a visible place in case they get lost.
- Always keep a close eye on elderly people and those with special needs. When you are in the streets that provide access to the event, do not stop in the middle of the road, because these are the access routes for the emergency services, and for evacuation should it be necessary.
- If you start to feel trapped, or that there is no possible way out, look for an alternative spot where you can locate an evacuation route. Stay calm at all times.
- Do not climb onto railings, fences, containers or other unstable structures, because they can be dangerous and may cause an accident.
- Always follow any instructions given by security staff.
- Remember that the main risks are when the floats are passing by and having an accident when climbing on objects, such as containers, traffic lights, signs, etc. Never do this.
- Always act with common sense: do not put yourself at risk, and make sure that your children are not exposed to a situation where they are at risk of having an accident.
- Make sure that you stay behind the barriers and safety signs when floats are passing by.
- Do not speak to or distract security staff, the drivers, or those who are accompanying the floats on foot unless there is an emergency situation, or there has been an accident.
- Do not get too close to the floats, and never try to climb onto them.
- Never step into the road to pick up sweets that are left behind as the floats pass by, as you could be in danger from those that follow.
- Do not walk between the floats, or approach them when they are stationary or are refuelling.
- Do not throw sweets at security staff, those who are on the floats, or other people who are watching the parade.
- When the event is over, leave the area in an orderly way, respecting the order of departure, and following the instructions of the security staff.
- If you should observe any form of incident, inform the security staff immediately, and, if necessary, call 112.
- Stay calm and follow the instructions given by the emergency services.
- Take extra care of children, and of people with disabilities.
- Leave the area via the route indicated, or take the nearest streets, and do not stop.
- Under no circumstances should you turn back.
- Avoid shouting, running or pushing others, as you could cause dangerous situations given the large number of people present at the event.
- Once you reach a safe place, if you are unable to find someone, let the emergency services know.
- In the case of emergency, if you call 112 from a mobile phone and can get no signal, it may be that the lines are jammed: look for a land line to call from.