Alt CampAlt EmpordàAlt PenedèsAlt UrgellAlta RibagorçaAnoiaAranBagesBaix CampBaix EbreBaix EmpordàBaix LlobregatBaix PenedèsBarcelonèsBerguedàCerdanyaConca de BarberàGarrafGarriguesGarrotxaGironèsLluçanèsMaresmeMoianèsMontsiàNogueraOsonaPallars JussàPallars SobiràPla d'UrgellPla de l'EstanyPrioratRibera d'EbreRipollèsSegarraSegriàSelvaSolsonèsTarragonèsTerra AltaUrgellVallès OccidentalVallès OrientalAlt CampAlt EmpordàAlt PenedèsAlt UrgellAlta RibagorçaAnoiaAranBagesBaix CampBaix EbreBaix EmpordàBaix LlobregatBaix PenedèsBarcelonèsBerguedàCerdanyaConca de BarberàGarrafGarriguesGarrotxaGironèsLluçanèsMaresmeMoianèsMontsiàNogueraOsonaPallars JussàPallars SobiràPla d'UrgellPla de l'EstanyPrioratRibera d'EbreRipollèsSegarraSegriàSelvaSolsonèsTarragonèsTerra AltaUrgellVallès OccidentalVallès Oriental
CA|ES|EN

Diari de Catalunya

Sant Jordi 2026: A Morning of Calm Before the Bustle and Pollen as the Dragon

Sant Jordi's Day in Barcelona begins peacefully, but plane tree pollen becomes the unexpected protagonist of the day.

Generic image of a red rose on an open book, symbolizing Sant Jordi.
IA

Generic image of a red rose on an open book, symbolizing Sant Jordi.

The morning of Sant Jordi in Barcelona offered a more serene perspective of the celebration, with stalls being set up and early bird shoppers, before the city center filled with crowds.

Strolling through Barcelona in the early hours of Sant Jordi allows one to enjoy an atmosphere of calm before the massive influx of visitors. As booksellers and florists arrange their stalls, the city can be observed preparing for the celebration, a feeling comparable to the tranquility before a large family meal.
By eight in the morning, Gran de Gràcia street was already bustling with activity, with publishers like L'Altra, Blackie Books, and Minúscula setting up their stands. This section forms part of the central axis of the festival, stretching for four and a half kilometers from Gràcia to Plaça de la Catedral. The spring breeze, initially pleasant, turned into a treacherous wind that spread plane tree pollen, causing sneezes and itching among attendees, transforming it into the day's "dragon" to be combated.
In El Raval, a very long queue of readers formed on Elisabets street to get an autograph from South Korean writer Han Kang, winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. The author was presenting her work Tinta i sang, published by La Magrana. Many of her followers, some arriving from Pineda de Mar, queued from early morning to be among the first to meet her at the La Central del Raval bookstore.
Plaça de la Catedral, making its debut as a Sant Jordi space this year due to construction on La Rambla, was a pleasant place to stroll at eleven in the morning. This alternative was well-received by some visitors, who found it less crowded than traditional spaces. It was even suggested that La Rambla be dedicated exclusively to rose stalls, while the Catedral area hosted book stalls.
Along Portal de l'Àngel avenue and Passeig de Gràcia, several authors signed copies of their works. Among them, writer Emma Zafón was seen with her novel La mare, and other figures such as Elisenda Carod, Magda Oranich, and Xavier Grasset. Also notable was the enthusiasm of Gil Pratsobrerroca, experiencing his first Sant Jordi as a writer with El joc del silenci, one of the best-selling Catalan fiction books.
Casa Batlló, adorned with roses, was one of the most emblematic spots of the day, while La Pedrera displayed a long senyera. Passeig de Gràcia quickly transformed into a hive of activity, consolidating itself as one of the epicenters of the celebration. The day concluded with the need for tissues to combat the effects of pollen, a reminder of the particularity of this Sant Jordi 2026.

Related News