The competition, which receives entries from across Catalonia and Spain, this year featured creations from Japan and France, highlighting the festival's growing international reach while maintaining its popular character.
The new Maimoris ratafia, revived from an 1842 recipe by Francesc Rosquellas, will be unveiled during the festival, with a specific tasting session on Saturday, November 7th, at the Casa de la Paraula. This initiative aims to preserve the ratafia heritage.
In recognition of its origins, the festival will name Jovent del Poble as Honorary Confraternity Member 2026. This group initiated the first competition in 1982, playing a key role in establishing the celebration.
The festival will also introduce a new 'capgròs' (giant head figure), Francisca Pastells, symbolizing the traditional knowledge of herbs and ratafia making, honoring the women who have passed down this expertise.
Gastronomy will be a significant focus with the second edition of Fogons de Ratafia, combining cooking with ratafia, an amateur competition, and culinary demonstrations, further exploring ratafia's use as a kitchen ingredient.
The 45th Ratafia Festival will feature around sixty activities in the center of Santa Coloma de Farners. Plaça Farners will host thirty-six ratafia stalls, the highest number to date, while Plaça del Firal will be the gastronomic Ratafiàrium. The program includes guided tastings, talks, exhibitions, family activities, parades, concerts, and the traditional Ball de la Ratafia.
Preliminary events began on October 31st, with the main program concentrated from Thursday, November 5th, to Sunday, November 8th. Thousands of visitors are expected.
The festival is jointly organized by the Santa Coloma de Farners City Council and the Confraria de la Ratafia, with support from the Girona Provincial Council.
