The Festa Major of Sitges incorporates as a novelty reserved spaces at the parades for wheelchair users and vibrating backpacks for deaf individuals. The Tram en calma is also consolidated.
People with reduced mobility who wish to follow the parades of the Festa Major of Sitges will have a reserved place starting this year. The Sitges Town Council and the Municipal Commission of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla have announced a pilot test of exclusive spaces for wheelchair users during the civic and religious processions on August 24 and September 23.
The measure, one of the main novelties of this year's accessibility program, arises to respond to a historical demand. Until now, people who move in wheelchairs did not have a specific place to view the central events of the Festa Major. With the pilot test, the aim is to evaluate the implementation to expand it in future editions to all people with reduced mobility, with or without a wheelchair.
The intention is for this experience to allow evolution towards spaces intended for people with reduced mobility, thus broadening the range of people who can benefit from it, municipal sources have explained.
Where the reserved spaces will be
During the Civic Procession of Sant Bartomeu (August 24), the reserved spaces will be located at Aragó Street with the corraló of Can Pau Xic and at Francesc Gumà Street with Jesús Street. For the Civic Procession of Santa Tecla (September 23), the designated space will be at Rafael Llopart Street with Joan Maragall.
The religious processions of both saints will have reserved areas at Francesc Gumà Street with Jesús Street and at the Passeig de la Ribera, next to the cobla. Each user can be accompanied by up to three companions, although these will not have reserved seating to prioritise space.
To facilitate organisation, a registration form has been made available on the website sitgesfestamajor.cat. The form includes a question to determine if the person is willing to be exposed to pyrotechnics during the passage of the fire beasts and the devil groups, to assign them the most appropriate location.
Vibrating backpacks to feel the gralles
Another of the highlighted novelties is the incorporation, for the first time, of vibrating backpacks during the Entrance of Grallers at the Town Hall Square. This device transforms audio into vibrations synchronised with the music, allowing deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals to physically and immersively perceive the rhythm and intensity of the gralles.
The initiative is made possible thanks to the collaboration of Canal Blau TV and the specialised company EnBucle, a leader in auditory accessibility solutions. The measure is part of the Municipal Commission's commitment to incorporate new resources to make the Festa Major increasingly inclusive.
More events with sign language interpretation
Auditory accessibility is also reinforced with the expansion of events that will feature simultaneous interpretation in Catalan Sign Language (LSC). Until now, only the Festa Major proclamation had this service; this year, it will extend to various activities at La Plaça and to performances of the spoken dances of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla.
The official programme, which will be presented on July 30, will identify all events with LSC interpretation services and the rest of the accessibility measures, so attendees can plan their participation in advance.
The Tram en calma is consolidated
The Festa Major maintains the Tram en calma, an initiative that is consolidated after the positive reception of recent editions. During the Procession of Sant Bartomeu (August 24) and the Procession of Santa Tecla (September 23), Sant Gaudenci Street becomes an adapted space for individuals with sensory hypersensitivity, autism spectrum disorder, or any other condition that makes it difficult to enjoy an environment with intense stimuli.
This is not a silent or isolated space from the festival, but a temporary adaptation to experience the processions more comfortably. The Tram en calma is open to anyone who needs it and aims to reduce sensory overload without giving up the festive experience.
Those interested in knowing all the details can consult the official programme starting July 30, when the complete schedule for the Festa Major of Sitges 2026 will be presented.
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