Despite having recently concluded the Christmas and Epiphany holidays, many citizens are already looking at the calendar to plan the next celebrations. The Carnival 2026 date is approaching, as it will take place between Thursday, February 12, known as Fat Thursday, and Wednesday, February 18, the day when the burial of the sardine, or Ash Wednesday, is performed.

This week of revelry will also include another significant date on the calendar: Valentine's Day. For those celebrating this holiday, February 14 will fall exactly on Carnival Saturday, offering an opportunity to combine both celebrations.

Regarding public holidays, the calendar approved by the Generalitat de Catalunya does not include any free day directly linked to Carnival. However, regulations allow each city council to add two local holidays in their municipality. Many councils take advantage of this prerogative to include, for example, the Monday following the Carnival week.

In key municipalities in the metropolitan area, such as L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Barcelona, the usual local holidays are Easter Monday (which in 2026 falls on May 25) and La Mercè Day (September 24), although the final decision on the local holiday calendar rests with each council.