Tarragona Three Kings Parade 2027 (Cavalcada de Reis): a practical guide

What is the Cavalcada de Reis?

In Spain, Christmas presents are brought by the Three Kings (the Three Wise Men) on the night of 5 to 6 January, and that afternoon Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar parade through the city on floats, throwing sweets to the children. It is a free family celebration and the last big event of the Christmas season.

In Tarragona its official name is in Catalan: Cavalcada de Reis, "Kings' parade". The council uses it in all its notices, and calls the Kings Reis d'Orient or Reis Mags. In 2026 about 40,000 people came out to watch (City Council).

When is the Tarragona Three Kings Parade in 2027?

It will be on the afternoon of Tuesday 5 January 2027. The time and route have not been published yet: in 2026 the council announced them on 2 January. We will update this guide then.

How it went in 2026 (Tarragona City Council):

• 18:15: the Kings arrive by boat at El Serrallo, the fishermen's quarter.
• 19:00: the parade leaves from Carrer Reial.
• 20:30: arrival at Plaça de la Font, in front of City Hall.

That is an hour and a half of parade, plus the welcome at the harbour.

The Kings' arrival by boat at El Serrallo

In 2026 the Kings arrived by boat at El Serrallo at 18:15, welcomed by the harbour's boats and 21 firework salvoes. After a welcome speech, they greeted the crowd from the balcony of the Teatret del Serrallo, followed by fireworks. From there, the procession moved to Carrer Reial to begin the parade (City Council).

If you want to see both the arrival and the parade, bear in mind there are only 45 minutes between them and El Serrallo gets very crowded. Watching the arrival and then finding a spot near the end of the route, on the Rambla Nova or close to Plaça de la Font, is easier than trying to get a front-row place at the start.

The parade route, street by street

The 2027 route is still to be confirmed. The 2026 route, according to the council (note of 2-1-2026):

1. Carrer Reial (start).
2. Plaça dels Carros.
3. Carrer Apodaca.
4. Plaça de la Mitja Lluna.
5. Carrer Unió.
6. Rambla Nova.
7. Carrer Sant Agustí.
8. Portalet.
9. Plaça de la Font (finish).

The parade was led by the Guàrdia Urbana (local police) on motorbikes and the float of the Fanal de la Ciutat de Tarragona, the city lantern, and the Star float (l'Estel) took part too. In Plaça de la Font, to trumpets and kettledrums, the Kings read a message of peace to the children and the mayor handed them the keys to the city.

No times are published for each stretch. It leaves at 19:00 and reaches Plaça de la Font around 20:30: the Rambla Nova, the longest and widest stretch, sees it roughly halfway through.

Before the parade: the Magatzem Reial and letters

• Magatzem Reial: the Kings' pages' "royal warehouse", in Refugi 1 on the Moll de Costa, next to El Serrallo. In 2025 it opened from 27 to 30 December (on the 27th, 28th and 29th from 10:00 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 20:00, and on the 30th mornings only). The pages themselves show visitors round, there is a royal mailbox for letters, and it is aimed at children aged 0 to 10. Tickets cost 2 euros, refunded when validated at the door, and were sold at entrades.tarragona.cat from 11 December (City Council; City Council). About 8,000 people visited (City Council). The 2026 dates have not been announced.
• Letter to the Kings: the council has a letter to download. Over Christmas 2024-2025, a royal page collected letters in the Rei Jaume I courtyard of City Hall (Plaça de la Font, 1) from 2 to 4 January, 18:00 to 20:00 (City Council).

Road closures and buses

In 2026 the council announced road closures and parking restrictions along the whole route, with temporary signs, but did not publish a list of streets or times (City Council).

Tarragona's city bus company, EMT, published no diversion notices for the parade in 2025 or 2026. It also plans to launch a new network of lines in the last quarter of 2026, so line numbers in January 2027 may differ from today's (EMT Tarragona).

The route is in the centre and easy to follow on foot: from Carrer Reial to Plaça de la Font is a walk along the Rambla Nova. Leave the car at the hotel.

Safety tips from the local police: children and sweets

In 2026 the Guàrdia Urbana and Civil Protection published 17 tips (City Council). The most useful:

• Stay behind the barriers, and do not go near the floats or climb onto them, even when they are stopped.
• Do not step into the road for sweets, and do not throw things.
• Do not climb railings or bins for a better view.
• Hold children by the hand and agree on a meeting point away from the route. If you find a lost child, take them to an officer.
• Do not stand in evacuation routes. In an emergency, call 112.

Other tips:

• Arrive early, especially for the Rambla Nova and Plaça de la Font.
• Rain: the council does not publish a wet-weather plan. If the forecast looks bad, check its website that day.
• Kings' Night: children leave their shoes out before going to bed so the Kings can leave the presents there.

What is open and closed on 6 January?

Wednesday 6 January 2027, Epiphany, is a public holiday across Spain (BOE). What the official websites say:

• Museu d'Història de Tarragona (Amphitheatre, Praetorium and Circus, Archaeological Walk along the walls, Colonial Forum, Casa Canals): it was closed on 6 January 2026. The 2027 calendar of special opening hours has not been published yet (City Council). On 5 January, a Tuesday, it keeps its normal winter hours.
• Cathedral: tourist visits are closed on 1 and 6 January (Tarragona Cathedral).
• National Archaeological Museum (MNAT): the main building is closed for works, with reopening planned for the last quarter of 2026, no date given (MNAT).
• Shops: the 2027 calendar of holiday opening days in Catalonia has not been published yet.

For things to do that day, see the Tarragona events calendar.

More Christmas in Tarragona

Lights, the Christmas fair on the Rambla Nova, nativity scenes, the Pastorets plays and New Year's Eve are in our Christmas in Tarragona guide. For the rest of your trip, see our 1, 2 or 3-day itinerary and the Tarragona events calendar.

If you are coming for the parade, book a place to stay near the centre early, so you can walk there and back.