Catalanité Festival of Canet-en-Roussillon
Festival of Catalan traditions with gegants, sardanes, and gastronomy in Canet-en-Roussillon
About Catalanité Festival
Canet-en-Roussillon Celebrates its Catalan Roots
Every year at the end of August, Canet-en-Roussillon organizes the Catalanité Festival (Festa Catalana), a weekend dedicated to celebrating Catalan identity. This festival brings together the most emblematic traditions of Roussillon's Catalan culture in a festive and popular atmosphere.
Trobada de Gegants
The highlight of the festival is the Trobada de Gegants (gathering of giants). The two giants of the town, Guillem and Gueralda, welcome the colles geganteres (giant groups) from all over the department: Elne, Le Soler, Tautavel, Saint-Hippolyte, and other towns. The parade of giants, accompanied by traditional music groups including Els Salanc'aires, winds through the streets of the village of Canet in a festive and colorful atmosphere.
Sardanes, Folklore, and Gastronomy
The Catalanité Festival program combines traditions and conviviality:
- Sardanes with the Cobla Sol de Banyuls on the village square
- La Juventud folk group and traditional dancers
- La Llevantina Association and its sardane dancers
- Free tasting of Catalan snails and aioli
- Local Catalan products: wines, cured meats, pastries
A Strong Identity Event
The Catalanité Festival is a strong identity event for the inhabitants of Canet-en-Roussillon and more broadly for all Catalans of Roussillon. It testifies to the vitality of Catalan culture in France and the attachment of the municipalities to their ancestral traditions.
Catalanité Festival — edition 2026
2026 edition of the Festival of Catalan Identity (Festa Catalana) in Canet-en-Roussillon, on August 29th and 30th, in the village and at the port. Two days of Catalan culture: gathering of gegants (giants), sardanes with cobla, castellers, folklore, mass in Catalan, and tastings of local products. Free admission.
Festival of Catalan Identity 2026 in Canet-en-Roussillon
On the last weekend of August 2026, Canet-en-Roussillon celebrates its Catalan roots during the Festa Catalana (Festival of Catalan Identity), in the heart of the village and at the port. Organized by the City, this popular and free festival honors the traditions of Roussillon: giants, sardanes, castellers, folklore, and Catalan gastronomy.
On Saturday, the day opens in the morning with a sea trip departing from the port with the association of old rigging boats of Canet. In the afternoon in Canet-Village, the gathering of gegants (giants) accompanied by musical entertainment brings together groups from Perpignan, Thuir, Elne, Le Soler, and Saint-Hippolyte, followed by a demonstration of castellers (human castles), a folk ballet with traditional dances, then sardanes danced to the sound of the Cobla Sol de Banyuls. The evening continues with a ball, free tastings of snails (prepared by the Team Cargols) and aioli (by the Confrérie de l'Aïoli), and ends with a correfocs (fire run) show.
On Sunday morning, a mass in Catalan is celebrated in Saint-Jacques church with the Cobla Principal del Rosselló and La Llevantina, followed by an official ball in the town hall square. Free admission to all activities; catering on site.
Highlights Catalanité Festival 2026
- Trobada de gegants
- Sardanes with cobla
- Catalan folklore
- Tastings of Catalan products
Prices Catalanité Festival 2026
Practical information — Catalanité Festival
Practical Information
Access
By car: Canet-en-Roussillon is located 12 km east of Perpignan via the D617. Free and paid parking available.
By bus: Bus line from Perpignan (Sankéo network).
Location
Village of Canet (Canet-Village) and port of Canet-en-Roussillon.
Prices
Free admission for all activities. Free tasting of snails and aioli.
Contact
Canet-en-Roussillon Tourist Office: www.canet-tourisme.com
Canet-en-Roussillon Town Hall: www.canetenroussillon.fr
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Where does it take place — Catalanité Festival
Village et port de Canet-en-Roussillon
Canet-Village, 66140 Canet-en-Roussillon