Reus bids farewell to the Carnival Queen with traditional bonfire

The city concludes its Carnival festivities as the Ball de Diables steals the Queen's 'Incorrupt Arm'.

Generic image of a nocturnal festive celebration with fire and people in a public square.
IA

Generic image of a nocturnal festive celebration with fire and people in a public square.

The city of Reus marked the end of its festivities this Tuesday, February 18, with the traditional burning of the Carnival Queen at the Mercadal Square, drawing hundreds of spectators.

The Queen Encarna-val, returning to the throne twenty years after her first reign, was carried through the city center in a funeral procession. The event symbolizes the transition to Ash Wednesday and the end of the irreverent celebrations that have defined the past few days in the Baix Camp capital.
In a local tradition, the Ball de Diables de Reus interrupted the ceremony to steal the Queen's Incorrupt Arm. This unexpected twist extends the carnival by one more day, allowing for a final parade and the reading of satirical verses before the ultimate conclusion of the 2026 edition.