Concurs de Castells de Tarragona 2026: the world's greatest human-tower competition
Every two years, the country's top colles battle for the title in the Tarraco Arena Plaça by building the toughest castells of all. The 30th edition takes place over the weekend of 3 and 4 October 2026.
Updated: 2026-06-03
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The Concurs de Castells in Tarragona is the world's biggest human-tower competition. It is held every two years (in even years) at the Tarraco Arena Plaça, the city's former covered bullring. The 30th edition takes place over the weekend of 3 and 4 October 2026, with a warm-up session in Torredembarra in late September. It began in 1932, championed by Pau Casals, and castells have been recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.
Why the Concurs de Castells is unlike anything else in the world
The ultimate casteller showdown
This is the most prestigious and fiercely contested event in the casteller world. Here the colles attempt their hardest, most daring constructions to rack up points, in a single weekend that defines the entire season.
The country's best colles
Only the 42 top-ranked colles take part, based on their standings going in. The best 12 perform on Sunday in Tarragona, the next 18 on Saturday, and the rest during the Torredembarra session.
Heritage of Humanity
Castells were inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. Watching a tower of up to ten levels rise, hold and come safely down is an experience you won't find anywhere else.
The setting: Tarraco Arena Plaça
Tarragona's former bullring, now a covered arena, channels all the roar, tension and emotion into stands that wrap completely around the ring. Around 6,000 spectators fill it to capacity each edition.
Dates, format and history of the 2026 Concurs
Dates of the 30th edition (2026)
The main weekend in Tarragona is Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026 at the Tarraco Arena Plaça. The competition kicks off with a warm-up session in the Plaça del Castell in Torredembarra in late September. Saturday hosts the afternoon session and Sunday the morning one, featuring the top-ranked colles. It's worth confirming the final timings on the official website, as the programme is finalised over the summer.
How the competition works
Each colla aims to complete its best castells according to a scoring table: the harder and taller the castell (from six to ten levels) and the cleaner the execution, the more points it earns. Whoever amasses the most points by the end of the weekend wins. Sunday's session, with the top 12 colles, usually runs several hours and showcases the most spectacular constructions. The Castellers de Vilafranca are the reigning champions after winning in 2024 and 2022.
Nearly a century of history since 1932
The competition was born in 1932, driven by the musician Pau Casals, a passionate fan of castells, with the first edition held in Tarragona's bullring and four colles in contention. Since then it has been staged in even years and, without interruption since 1980, at what is today the Tarraco Arena Plaça. Tarragona is its natural heart: the historic birthplace of the casteller tradition of the Camp de Tarragona and the Penedès, the city has turned this event into its most international cultural occasion.
Practical information for visiting the Concurs
Dates and times Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026 at the Tarraco Arena Plaça (Tarragona), plus a warm-up session in Torredembarra in late September. Saturday hosts the afternoon session and Sunday the morning one. Doors usually open around an hour and fifteen minutes before the start.
Tickets Tickets are sold online through the official Concurs portal (concurscastells.tarragona.cat) and usually go on sale during the summer. Sunday's session, the most in demand, sells out fast, so buy early. You can enter with a printed ticket or one on your phone.
How to get there The Tarraco Arena Plaça sits right in the centre of Tarragona, next to the Rambla Nova. You can reach the venue from Carrer Mallorca and Carrer Jaume I. Tarragona has a direct train link (Renfe) from Barcelona and a high-speed station (Camp de Tarragona); from the city centre it's just a few minutes on foot.
Frequently asked questions about the Concurs de Castells
When is the Concurs de Castells 2026?
The 30th edition takes place over the weekend of Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026 at the Tarraco Arena Plaça in Tarragona, with a warm-up session in Torredembarra in late September. It's a biennial event, held only in even years.
How do I get tickets for the Concurs?
Tickets are bought online on the official Concurs portal (concurscastells.tarragona.cat), normally going on sale in summer. Sunday's session sells out quickly, so it's wise to book as soon as sales open. You enter by showing your ticket, printed or on your phone.
Why is it held in Tarragona?
Tarragona is the historic heart of the casteller world. The competition began there in 1932, driven by Pau Casals, in the former bullring, and has been held in even years without interruption since 1980 at what is today the Tarraco Arena Plaça.
What are castells and why are they so special?
Castells are multi-level human towers built by the colles castelleres. UNESCO recognised them as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. At the Concurs you'll see the year's most difficult constructions, rising up to ten levels high.
Make the most of your visit to the Costa Daurada and discover more of the area: Hotels in Tarragona, Beaches in Tarragona, What to do in Tarragona, How to get to Tarragona.
Experience the casteller spirit to the fullest
Tours and experiences in Tarragona and around
If you're travelling for the Concurs, round out your weekend with a guided tour of Roman Tarragona (a World Heritage Site), a getaway along the Costa Daurada or a trip to the Penedès wineries, home to many casteller colles.
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