Catalonia prepares for Sant Joan: 470k cars leave Barcelona, police on alert, and fire risk

Catalonia is getting ready for Sant Joan, celebrated on June 23 with street parties, bonfires, and fireworks.

This year, the holiday falls on a Monday night, and with Tuesday being a public holiday, many people are expected to take advantage of the long weekend for a four-day getaway.

As a result, thousands of Catalans are expected to leave the cities and head to beach destinations or rural areas to celebrate with friends and family.

Traffic operation 

The traffic operation will begin at noon on Friday. Between then and Saturday, the Catalan Traffic Service estimates that 470,000 vehicles will exit the Barcelona metropolitan area.

The AP-7 motorway, which runs the length of Catalonia from north to south, is expected to bear the brunt of the traffic.

To ease congestion, additional lanes will be opened on the AP-7 during peak hours. Temporary speed limit reductions and restrictions for heavy vehicles will also be implemented in the most affected areas.

The Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, will conduct alcohol and drug checks throughout the region, particularly at night and in the early morning hours—considered high-risk times.

The return traffic is expected to peak on Tuesday, with the heaviest flow anticipated between midday and midnight.

Police on high alert 

One of the hotspots of the Sant Joan celebration is the beaches of Barcelona, known for their fireworks, bonfires, and festive atmosphere.

Every year, thousands of people flock to the coast of the Catalan capital, requiring the police to increase their resources.

The Barcelona City Council will activate a special deployment to reinforce police presence.

The Guàrdia Urbana, the city’s local police, will deploy an additional 400 officers to ensure public safety throughout the night. Alcohol and drug controls will also be intensified.

In Girona, police will pay particular attention to the Font de la Pólvora neighborhood, one year after a shooting incident there left two people dead and two others seriously injured.

Firefighters and bonfires 

Barcelona’s fire department will also increase its resources to respond to incidents typically associated with the night, such as burning containers or the occasional tree fire.

This year, nearly 50 authorized bonfires will be set up across the city. Only these permitted bonfires will be allowed; any unregistered or informal ones are prohibited.

It is strictly forbidden to light any fires within 500 meters of forested areas, with special attention being paid to Montjuïc and the Collserola mountain range.

Cleanup operations 

Once the festivities wind down, beach eviction will begin at 6.30 am, with cleaning crews moving in to restore the area.

Nearly 1,000 cleaning staff will be on duty that morning to ensure the beaches are returned to a clean and safe state.

Other coastal cities, such as Mataró, will also double their cleaning efforts to make sure Catalonia’s beaches are spotless after the night’s celebrations.