This year’s Sant Jordi’s Day celebrations will be local and free of crowds, to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Book and flower establishments in Barcelona will be able to sell their products out on the street from 21 to 23 April, and ten outdoor sites will be set up around the city, with controlled access, on Sant Jordi (St George's Day).
Stalls outside shops
This year’s Sant Jordi has a broader calendar and more sales points for books and roses in the neighbourhoods, to avoid build-ups of people. On 21, 22 and 23 April, there will be 490 sales points around the ten districts for bookstores and florists to sell their products in the streets between 9 am and 8 pm. Where possible, tables should be placed right in front of the establishment, ensuring there is enough space for pedestrians, and adhering to distancing rules with regard to nearby establishments. For three days, you’ll be able to buy books and roses from the stalls set up by your local shops!
Designated festival venues
In addition, there will be ten outdoor display areas all around the city on 23 April, run by book and flower guilds and offering 180 stalls and 31 book-signing points. The aim is to avoid non-essential journeys, and to ensure a safe and crowd-free Sant Jordi’s Day celebration close to home. These festival venues will be open until two hours before curfew.
Capacity will be limited, there will be separate entrances and exits, and all the protocols stipulated by the health authorities will be adhered to.
Unlike previous years, and to avoid build-ups of people, only professionals will be permitted to set up stalls. There will be no stalls for associations, organisations, political parties or other organisations.
Location festival venues:
- Passeig de Gràcia (From Ronda Sant Pere to Aragó; Eixample)
- Plaça de la Universitat (Ciutat Vella)
- Jardins d’Agustí Centelles (Eixample)
- Jardinets de Gràcia (Gràcia)
- Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia (Gràcia)
- Passeig de Lluís Companys (Ciutat Vella)
- Plaça Reial (Ciutat Vella)
- Plaça de Valdivia (Les Corts)
- Plaça de Sarrià (Sarrià – Sant Gervasi)
- City-block interior in Poblenou (between Rambla del Poblenou and C/ Pallars, C/ Llacuna and C/ Pujades; Sant Martí)
- Plaça d’Orfila (Sant Andreu).
Opening speech on reading 2021
The opening speaker for this year’s Sant Jordi is the writer Irene Vallejo. Since the publication of her work L’infinit dins d’un jonc, which won her the National Essay Prize 2020, Vallejo has won over readers and critics. Journalist Xavi Ayén will also be taking part in the speech on 22 April, which will be broadcast live on the Sant Jordi website from 6 pm.