Fête de la Saint-Jean de Collioure

Nit de la Sant Joan 2026 in Collioure

On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Collioure celebrates the Nit de la Sant Joan, a festival of fraternity and peace in pure Catalan tradition. The Canigou flame, rekindled each year at the summit of the Pic, descends from the mountain to light the bonfires of Catalan villages, on both sides of the border. In Collioure, the event is one of the most spectacular on the Côte Vermeille: between the illuminated bell tower, the beaches of Faubourg and Boramar, and the Catalan boats parading in the bay, the night of Saint John offers a unique spectacle of fire, music, and tradition.

A festival rooted in Catalan tradition

The Sant Joan festival symbolizes light, renewal, and sharing. The Canigou flame, which has been burning continuously since 1964 at the summit of Mont Canigou (then watched over at the Castillet de Perpignan until June 23), is carried by relay runners to each Catalan village where it is used to light the traditional bonfires. In Collioure, its arrival is welcomed by the traditional songs of the Campanar Sardanista choir on Place du 18 Juin.

A magical evening between sea and mountain

The evening truly comes alive at nightfall, when the two bonfires are lit on the plages de Faubourg and de Boramar, separated by Collioure's emblematic bell tower. The parade of illuminated Catalan boats in the bay, the reflections of the flames on the water, and the sardanes danced on the quay create an atmosphere that locals and visitors come to experience every year. The correfoc, a fire run animated by fire-breathing devils and dragons, concludes the most spectacular part of the evening before the second bonfire is lit.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 — Nit de la Sant Joan

Afternoon — Place du 18 Juin & Le Mondial cinema

• 3:00 PM — Official reception of the Canigou flame by the Mayor of Collioure · Traditional songs by the Campanar Sardanista choir · Place du 18 Juin
• 4:00 PM — 5:30 PM — Screening of the documentary film « La guerre des feux » by Guy Lochard · Le Mondial municipal cinema
• 7:00 PM — Second screening of the film « La guerre des feux » · Le Mondial municipal cinema

Evening — Port, Esplanade Bernadi and beaches

• 9:00 PM — Departure of the passe-ville from the port towards Esplanade Bernadi
• 9:15 PM — Arrival at Port d'Avall · Cobla Mil·lenària · three sardanes danced
• 10:15 PM — Lighting of the first bonfire on Faubourg beach with the Canigou flame
• 10:20 PM — Parade of illuminated Catalan boats and llaguts in the bay
• 10:40 PM — Correfoc on Boramar beach · fire-breathing devils and dragons
• 11:10 PM — Lighting of the second bonfire on Boramar beach
• 11:15 PM — Sardanes with the Cobla Mil·lenària · Quai de l'Amirauté

Program communicated by the Collioure Tourist Office and the Collioure Town Hall. Times may be slightly adjusted depending on weather conditions and safety.

• Reception of the Canigou flame by the Mayor — Place du 18 Juin (3 PM)
• Sardanes danced with the Cobla Mil·lenària at Port d'Avall then Quai de l'Amirauté
• Lighting of two bonfires on the beaches of Faubourg and Boramar
• Parade of illuminated Catalan boats in Collioure bay (10:20 PM)
• Correfoc on Boramar beach: fire-breathing devils and dragons (10:40 PM)
• Screening of the documentary film « La guerre des feux » by Guy Lochard at Le Mondial cinema
• Free admission — festival organized by Collioure Town Hall

Practical Information

Access

By car: Collioure is located 27 km south of Perpignan via the D914. Paid parking on the outskirts (the town center is pedestrianized in the evening).

By train: Collioure SNCF station (Perpignan-Cerbère line), a 5-minute walk from the center.

Date

June 23rd each year, from 3 PM until late at night.

Prices

Free entry.

Contact

Collioure Tourist Office: www.tourisme-collioure.com

Collioure Town Hall: collioure.fr