Valls Calçotada Festival 2026 | Catalonia’s Onion Feast

Name: Valls Calçotada Festival 2026 | Catalonia’s Onion Feast
Start: 2026-01-25T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-01-25T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Valls Calçotada Festival 2026 | Catalonia’s Onion Feast

About the Valls Calçotada Festival

Every year on the last Sunday of January, the town of Valls — just two hours by train from Barcelona — becomes the epicentre of one of Catalonia’s most beloved food traditions: the Gran Festa de la Calçotada. This lively street festival celebrates over a century of calçot culture, with open-fire cooking, artisan markets, and competitions to crown the best calçot growers and sauce makers in the region.

As the first major event of the year in the Catalan gastronomic calendar, the Calçotada in Valls is more than just a food fair — it’s a celebration of local identity, seasonal eating, and culinary pride. And while you can find calçots in Barcelona, the ones served here are in a league of their own: thicker, sweeter, and flame-grilled to perfection just metres from where they were harvested.

What Are Calçots?

Calçots are a unique variety of green onion, milder and more delicate than their bulbous cousins. Grown using a traditional method that involves repeatedly covering the shoots with soil to encourage length, they develop a tender white stem that caramelises beautifully when grilled over wood embers.

Originating in Valls, calçots are harvested between November and April and served at gatherings known as calçotades across Catalonia. But if you want the real deal — the thickest, juiciest calçots with the most flavour — you’ll need to come to the source. Valls calçots are protected by a Geographical Indication (IGP), much like Champagne or Roquefort, and are prized for their quality and sweetness.

At the festival, you’ll also find the region’s famous salvitxada sauce — a rich, nutty blend of almonds, garlic, tomatoes, and olive oil — made fresh by local women who compete for the title of best sauce maker. Together, the calçot and its sauce are a perfect pairing, and a point of pride for the people of Valls.

How to Eat a Calçot (and Why It’s Half the Fun)

Eating a calçot is a hands-on ritual. First, peel away the charred outer layers to reveal the soft, sweet core. Then dip it generously into the romesco-style salvitxada sauce, tilt your head back, and lower the dripping calçot into your mouth in one long, satisfying bite. It’s messy, theatrical, and surprisingly addictive — which is why you’ll be handed a bib, gloves, and wet wipes before you even start.

Whether you’re a curious foodie, a culture-seeker, or just in it for the Instagram moment, the Calçotada is a uniquely Catalan experience that’s worth the journey. And if you’re coming from Barcelona, it’s an easy and unforgettable day trip that ends with a full belly and a smoky smile.

Valls Calçotada Festival Homepage

Image Gallery For Valls Valls Calçotada Festival

Click on any of the 48 images to open full screen gallery player. Note that viewing images is subject to our Fair Use Policy.

Visiting the Valls Calçotada Festival

If you’re ready to embrace the smoky, saucy spectacle of a true Calçotada, head to Valls on the last Sunday of January. The historic Barri Vell (Old Quarter) transforms into a vibrant street fair filled with fire pits, food stalls, and cultural performances. Here are the must-visit spots:

Plaça del Quarter: Artisan market with local cheeses, cured meats, honey, olive oil, and other Catalan delicacies.
El Pati Plaça: is where the prizes for the best Calçots growers and sauce makers are awarded in a ceremony at 2pm. Surrounding the stage are stalls and street food vendors offering local products and wines. This is also where I found one of the most memorable bites of the day — a hot pastry stuffed with tender pork and grilled calçots, served fresh from a street stall. Smoky and savory, it’s the kind of snack that makes you wish you’d bought two.
Plaça del Blat: A medieval square where the winning calçots are displayed and local women prepare salvitxada sauce for sampling with bread.
Carrer de Santa Úrsula: Streets lined with open fire pits where calçots are grilled by traditionally dressed locals.
Cooperativa Agrícola de Valls: Communal dining area with long tables and fire pits serving calçots and Catalan meats like butifarra sausage.
Plaça de l'Oli: A charming square with bars offering local food and drinks.
Cistelleria Roca: Traditional wicker and textile shop open for the festival — perfect for picking up a basket to carry your calçots, sauce, and wine home.

Calçotada Meal Package

For the full experience, book a Calçotada meal ticket in advance or purchase on the day at Plaça del Pati, Valls City Hall, or the Institut d'Estudis Vallencs. Queues can be long, so online booking is recommended. Meals are served at the Cooperativa Agrícola de Valls.

12 grilled calçots (IGP Calçot de Valls)
375 ml bottle of Castell d'Or cava
Salvitxada sauce from Salses Fruits
Portion of Cristallino bread
Bottle of water
Fresh orange
Dessert from Fleca Cal Cesc bakery
Commemorative bib for eating calçots
2×1 ticket promotion for the Casteller Museum

Good to know: Calçots and salvitxada sauce are 100% vegan, making this one of the few traditional Catalan food experiences that’s completely plant-based.

Calçotada Menu Tickets

What to Take With You for the Valls Calçots Festival

Visiting the Fiesta de la Calçotada in Valls is a full-day outdoor experience, so it’s best to come prepared. Here’s what to bring for a comfortable and enjoyable trip:

Warm jacket: Late January can be chilly, especially in the morning and evening.
Comfortable shoes: Expect to walk on uneven cobbled streets and stand for long periods.
Small tote or backpack: Handy for carrying calçots, sauce, wine, or artisan goods back to Barcelona.
Cash: Some vendors and the bus service only accept cash — bring small bills and coins.
Wet wipes or napkins: Eating calçots is messy — even with the bib and gloves provided.
Reusable water bottle: Stay hydrated while exploring the town and tasting local products.
Phone or camera: Capture the fire pits, sauce-making, and your first calçot bite — it’s a moment worth remembering.

Valls Calçotada Festival Prices Summary

Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Adult € 16.00 FREE Child € 16.00 FREE Notes The calçotada festival is free. A calçot menu costs €15

Getting to Valls from Barcelona

Address: Plaça El Pati, Valls, 43800

Valls is an easy day trip from Barcelona, located about two hours away by public transport. Whether you prefer train, bus, or car, here’s how to get there:

By Train

Take the Renfe REGIONAL R13 line from Estació de França, Passeig de Gràcia, or Barcelona Sants to Valls.
Train tickets cost approximately €8.00 each way.

By Bus

MonBus offers a direct service from Barcelona Sants Bus Terminal to Valls.
Tickets cost around €10.50 and must be paid in cash when boarding — exact change required, as drivers do not carry change.

Note: Due to occasional engineering works on the regional train network affecting routes to Tarragona, it may be more reliable to take the bus in the morning and return by train in the afternoon — as I did during my visit.

By Car

If you’re driving, check the Fiesta Calçotada de Valls map in the PDF documents section for designated parking areas around the town centre. Parking fills up quickly on festival day, so arrive early.

Documents for Valls Calçotada Festival

Map for Valls Calçotada Festival

Weather for Valls Calçotada Festival

Where to stay overnight near Valls

What Else to See and Do in Valls

If you're arriving in Valls around 10:30 AM, start your day with a visit to the Museu de Valls, a quiet and well-curated art museum featuring medieval works and contemporary pieces by Catalan artists — perfect for a relaxed hour before the festival crowds build. Afterward, take time to wander the Barri Vell, the historic town center, where you’ll see locals preparing fire pits and calçots slowly beginning to roast over open flames. It’s a great moment to soak in the atmosphere, snap photos, and browse artisan stalls before the lunchtime rush.

Just before 2:00 PM, head to the Museu Casteller de Catalunya, an engaging and family-friendly museum that celebrates the Catalan tradition of human towers. With interactive exhibits and audiovisual displays, it’s a fun and culturally rich stop that pairs perfectly with the Calçotada experience. By the time you step out, the town will be buzzing with the scent of grilled calçots and the clink of cava glasses — ready for lunch.