The Gran Festa de la Calçotada in Valls

The festival, year by year

Programmes, people and moments from the Gran Festa's history. Each page identifies the year and the documents available for that edition.

The memory of Calsotada.com

Photographs, videos and stories published at the time of each festival.

• Video of the Gran Festa de la Calçotada in Valls · Published in 2011
• The Great Calçotada de Valls 2011 · Published in 2011
• Panorama Photo of Calçotada de Valls. · Published in 2010
• Gran Festa de la Calçotada in Valls. · Published in 2009

What is the Calçotada de Valls Festival

It is the popular celebration dedicated to calçot and calçotada that Valls traditionally organizes on the last Sunday of January. It combines gastronomy and popular culture: cooking demonstrations, competitions, parades and tastings allow you to approach tradition from different perspectives.

The route is distributed through the streets and squares of the city. It is advisable to consult the map of each edition: the places of the competitions and the tasting may be different. The annual programme is also the reference for schedules, ticket sales and complementary activities.

Documentation: Valls Town Council: The Gran Festa de la Calçotada

From family meal to town-wide festival

The urban festival was born in 1982 with the participation of entities, restaurants, merchants and volunteers from Valls. The custom of gathering to eat calçots dates back before: the public celebration gave a new dimension to a tradition rooted in the families and farmhouses in the area.

Local tradition traces the calçotada back to Xat de Benaiges in the late 19th century. This is a story passed down over time, rather than a precisely documented invention date. During the 20th century, gatherings of the Penya Artística de l'Olla and the growth of restaurant dining helped spread the tradition beyond Valls.

Documentation: Valls Town Council: The Gran Festa de la Calçotada · Gran Festa: History and tradition

What to expect at the festival

The contests show three sides of the calçotada: the work of those who grow the calçots, the preparation of the sauce and the popular challenge of eating them. Cooking demonstrations and popular culture proposals are organised around it. The specific programming changes with each edition.

In 2026, the town's two human-tower groups, Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls and Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls, performed their single-column towers at the start of the eating contest. This belongs to that year's archive; check future programmes for confirmed appearances and times.

Documentation: Valls Town Council: The Gran Festa de la Calçotada · Official website: 44th Gran Festa de la Calçotada 2026

The calçots of Valls and the territory

The PGI Calçot de Valls links the product to its origin and quality requirements. Its production area includes Alt Camp, Baix Camp, Tarragonès and Baix Penedès. The name identifies a protected product, so it should not automatically apply to any calçot served in a restaurant.

Documentation: Valls Town Council: La Calçotada

How to prepare your visit

Start with the card for the year you are going to visit. Review the tasting pickup times and location before arranging your tour. If you are looking for a sit-down meal, also check out our selection of calçotada restaurants and directly confirm their menu and availability.

For a first visit, combine the activities that interest you most and leave room between them. The previous programmes serve to know the atmosphere and structure of the festival; their prices, locations and times should not be used to plan a future edition.

Who organises the Gran Festa?

The festival is organised by the Valls Chamber of Commerce and Valls Town Council. The 2026 edition's official sponsors were Salses Fruits, Domenio and Europastry. This site brings together editorial information and links to the organisers' sources so you can check the details of each edition.

Documentation: Official website: 44th Gran Festa de la Calçotada 2026