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Sant Jordi's Day (St George's Day) is the day for lovers in Catalonia. The tradition on this special day throughout the region is for lovers to exchange roses and books.
Streets, squares and villages become filled with books and roses, turning into a display of culture and romanticism. It is a day for couples, families and book lovers, where both young and old can give and discover books, stroll among stalls and enjoy the signings of the most popular authors. From Barcelona to Girona and from Tarragona to Lleida, Sant Jordi transforms Catalonia into a living stage. An experience that should be lived, at least, once in a lifetime.
Sant Jordi 2026
As every year, the upcoming Thursday, April 23, all the cities and towns of Catalonia fill with stalls where you can buy roses and books. In the larger towns, it's a great opportunity to get a signature and dedication from some of the currently most popular authors, to attend book presentations and signings that are organized, and to walk through streets full of people, music and all kinds of activities throughout the territory.
What is the origin of Sant Jordi's Day?
The Day of Saint George in Catalonia dates back to the 14th century, when King Alfonso the Magnanimous declared Saint George the patron saint of Catalonia. Initially, it was a strictly religious festival, celebrated with masses and processions. Over time, especially from the 15th century onwards, the celebration incorporated civic and popular elements: in cities gifts began to be exchanged, and florists and rose stalls began to appear on the street.
The consolidation of April 23rd as the Day of the Book and Culture has, however, a more recent and documented origin. In 1923, the Valencian writer Vicente Clavel, director of the Cervantes publishing house in Barcelona, first proposed the creation of a Book Day. Although the initial initiative did not succeed, in 1926 King Alfonso XIII signed an official decree designating October 7th as National Book Day. The first celebration was a great success. Five years later, in 1931, the Book Day was moved to April 23rd, at the request of book sellers, to coincide with the anniversaries of the deaths of Cervantes and William Shakespeare. This change helped to popularize the day, as it coincided with the Day of Saint George and the Rose Festival, celebrated for hundreds of years. Despite its popularity, during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, Sant Jordi's celebrations were banned.
After the return to democracy, the day recovered all its splendor. In 1995, UNESCO adopted April 23rd as International Book Day, recognizing the book as a key instrument in the diffusion of knowledge. Finally, in 2015, Barcelona was named a City of Literature by UNESCO, with the unique celebration of books and roses as the central element of their application.
The legend of St. Jordi
Tradition has it that many, many years ago, the most powerful of the dragons arrived in the town of Montblanc. It devoured all the flocks in the area and had the entire population living in fear. Many knights tried to kill him but the dragon easily defeated them.
Faced with the terror that the dragon imposed on the village, the king decided to give the beast a couple of sheep every day, which appeased the dragon and gave the inhabitants a few days' respite. When the sheep ran out, they gave him oxen and horses, and when they no longer had any more animals, he decided that, by drawing lots among all the inhabitants of the village, they would give one person to the dragon every day. The first name of the draw was that of the princess. Everyone burst into tears, but the princess went out to meet her fate. She bid farewell to her parents and the people of the village and left the city walls to meet the hungry dragon.
When the princess was near the dragon's lair, a young knight suddenly appeared before her, armed from head to toe and riding a beautiful white horse. The princess begged the knight not to risk certain death for her sake. He told her that her name was Jordi and that he had come from lands far away to save her .
After a long struggle, the knight managed to injure with his spear the dragon under the left wing, straight to the heart, causing his death. From the spot where the dragon's blood spilled, a beautiful rosebush grew, bearing roses as red as blood.
Sant Jordi picked the most beautiful rose and offered it to the princess as a sign of love.
What to do in Catalonia on April 23rd?
Sant Jordi's Day in Catalonia is not just a day for a walk; it's a unique opportunity to discover the territory through its culture and heritage. The central streets of Barcelona, Girona, Tarragona and Lleida are filled with little book and rose stalls creating an unmatched atmosphere, while libraries, bookshops and cultural spaces host readings, concerts and meetings with authors. At the same time, local markets offer stunning roses of all colours, and independent bookstores open their doors with signings from less mainstream authors, allowing visitors to experience the day in a different way.
Where to enjoy Sant Jordi in Catalonia?
Every city and town offers its own version of Sant Jordi's Day in Catalonia. If you're looking for a crowded day, one of those that you have to live at least once in a lifetime, Barcelona is the ideal place: walk along La Rambla, discover books, stop for author signings, and let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere that fills streets and squares. But every city has its charm: Girona, with the Old Quarter full of stalls; Lleida, where Ferran's Rambla and Francesc Macià Avenue are filled with books and roses; or Tarragona, with the New Rambla and central squares that combine culture and popular tradition.
The most important Sant Jordi fairs and markets in Catalonia
St. Jordi's Day in Catalonia is not only celebrated on the streets with books and roses, but also through fairs and markets that offer unique experiences all over the region. In Montblanc, the Medieval Week transforms the town into a period village with a crafts market, historical reenactments, performances, and the depiction of the dragon legend. In Sitges, you'll find the St. George's Fair on the Passeig de la Ribera that displays book, roses, and crafts stalls along the promenade, creating a festive and seafaring atmosphere. In Barcelona, if you want to avoid the crowds for a bit, the St. Jordi's Fair at Creu Coberta offers a themed market that usually takes place the weekend before or after April 23, with family activities, crafts, and a traditional festive atmosphere on the commercial street. And in the interior, in the city of Igualada, the St. Jordi's market at Cal Font square is one of the neuralgic points of Anoia, with stalls of books, roses and cultural activities that liven up the city center and bring the celebration closer to the town.
Recommended books for this Sant Jordi's Day 2026
As 23rd April approaches, Catalan bookstores begin to display the most anticipated new releases of 2026, with titles that are mentioned by booksellers and critics as essential for giving and reading during the Sant Jordi's Day in Catalonia. Among the new fiction releases are Relíquia by Pol Guasch, a novel that explores family silence and suicide, and Maite by Fernando Aramburu, which delves into a key chapter of Spanish history from an intimate perspective. Also noteworthy are works like Els Erms by Carlota Gurt, awarded the Anagrama Books Award 2026 and set in the Sau reservoir to reflect on climate change and the human condition, or Peixos, the new novel by Eva Baltasar.
Of course, there will be books from media-famous authors who have already captured the attention of the public. Natza Ferré has published L'última vegada que et dic adéu (Angle), an intimate account of her experience as the sister of a heroin addict; Sílvia Soler returns with Érem tan joves (Univers), exploring family dynamics; Màrius Serra presents El malentès (Proa), a novel that combines chance, accidents and betrayals; and Empar Moliner arrives with Instruccions per viure sense ella (Columna). Also noteworthy is the new work by Alicia Kopf, Memòria de Eco (L'Altra), which arrives after the success of Germà de gel (2015) and confirms the author as one of the most original voices in contemporary Catalan narrative.
Sant Jordi at a country house
A less crowded alternative is celebrating Sant Jordi's Day in Catalonia in a rural house, where tradition and nature blend to offer a private and family-oriented experience. You could choose to make the Sant Jordi's bread following traditional recipes, read a good novel alongside the pool under the April sun and immerse yourself in literature, taking advantage of the natural surroundings, or even re-enact the legend of Sant Jordi with your children, fostering creativity and symbolic play. Walks and cultural and natural excursions allow you to discover the territory while celebrating the day in a relaxed manner. Ideal for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of big cities without giving up the tradition or charm of Sant Jordi's Day.
Sant Jordi's Day in Catalonia is much more than a day of roses and books: it's a moment of connection with culture, with history and with others. Sant Jordi's Day 2026 promises to be, as always, a memorable day: a perfect combination of tradition, innovation and romance that continues to captivate young and old year after year.
