The fThis one from San Sebastián in Palma For years, it has coexisted with two clearly differentiated realities: the institutional and the popular. It's nothing new, but the evolution of recent years compels us to open a calm - and urgent - reflection on the direction the celebration has taken and, above all, how the needs demanded by each of the proposals that converge around the patron saint festivities are managed.

Palma will experience the climax of the San Sebastián festivities this Sunday, January 25th, with the correfoc, one of the most anticipated events of the program, which will bring to a close several days of intense and participatory celebrations. The day begins in the morning with family activities. From 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Les Voltes and Porta del Mar will host a workshop on building and launching stars, an activity designed for all ages that also includes a popular flight to Parc del Mar. As evening falls, fire will take center stage. Starting at 7:00 PM, Plaza de la Reina will be the setting for the lighting of the fire beasts and the simultaneous appearance of the demons, who will begin their procession through the city center.

A San Sebastián event in Palma was cancelled due to the Adamuz train accident.

Palma City Council will have to pay the full cost of the San Sebastián festival, scheduled for this Monday, January 19, despite having cancelled all official events as a sign of official mourning for the tragic event. Adamuz train accident (Cordoba). According to the City Council's administrative specifications, postponing the festival is impossible, and in the event of cancellation on the day itself, the costs must be paid in full. This represents a total outlay of €283,914, as this newspaper has learned. Canceling the activities and concerts with less than 24 hours' notice makes it completely impossible to use contractual clauses to modify the payments, so the Palma City Council will have to pay for the entire festival without holding it.

Neither the cancellation of the official program nor the rain deters the brotherhoods, who make their way to Plaza de la Reina accompanied by brass bands to meet up with the other groups from Palma. In fact, a member of the Queerferia brotherhood believes that with the cancellation of the concerts, "Cort has given the festival back to the people." It's cold and rainy, but the spirits of the citizens are unwavering. The shops around Carrer Oms and the Passeig del Born area are selling umbrellas and raincoats to everyone, and tourists, from inside the luxurious hotels in the narrow streets of the city center, wave to the participants with laughter.

The Palma City Council has decided to cancel all official events scheduled for the San Sebastián festivities as a sign of official mourning, remembrance and solidarity with the victims of the train accident that occurred this Sunday in Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba.

Palma is experiencing today, Monday, January 19th, the San Sebastián festivalThe most popular night of the patron saint festivities features the lighting of bonfires, the Drac de na Coca parade, free concerts in various squares in the town center until the early hours, and the parallel celebration of the alternative Ses Sant Kanuteres festival. Below you will find all the planned events, schedules, and special services.

Being from Palma doesn't It's not easy at all. The worst part is that I spent half my life I used to think that being from Palma was the easiest thing in the world behind closed doors and the most complicated outside (if your world is Mallorca, of course). Until, luckily, a moment came when I grew up and, above all, started surrounding myself with people who weren't from Palma. Then they showed me that 1) I was living in a parallel reality, and 2) Being from Palma is only easy if you never leave Palma.

Palma will experience one of the most emblematic moments of the San Sebastián festivities this Monday, January 19th. The city's patron saint's day celebration will once again fill the streets with music, fire, and a festive atmosphere. Among the most symbolic events of this year's celebrations is the ringing of the bells of Mallorca Cathedral at 7:00 PM to honor San Sebastián, reviving an ancient tradition that was resumed a few years ago at the request of the San Sebastián Works Association. The ringing of the bells, which will complement the popular events taking place throughout the city, aims to reinforce the solemn and identity-defining character of the festival, connecting the present-day San Sebastián with Palma's historical roots. With concerts, bonfires, and community gatherings, the city is preparing for a celebration marked by citizen participation and the revival of traditions that are part of Palma's festive heritage.

The percentage of female participation in the groups scheduled for this year's festival doesn't even reach 22%, a figure that, even so, slightly exceeds the 15.87% of last year's edition. These are figures that members of the MU.MA.RE (Revolutionary Mallorcan Women Musicians) collective have been analyzing since May 2024 and sharing on their Instagram profile. "It's true that there's a slight increase from one year to the next, but it doesn't seem to be a consequence of the Palma City Council implementing gender parity policies. Women's participation barely exceeds 20%, so the increase seems rather fortuitous," they told ARA Baleares. Regarding the issue of parity—and understanding female participation as that of women and gender non-conforming individuals—sources from the collective state that their assessment of the lineup is negative, "especially when we're talking about the city's most important popular festival and a cultural event in which a significant amount of public money is traditionally invested."

"When it comes time to think about the San Sebastián festival again, the prevailing feeling is that we're once again facing a problem we've been dragging along for some time," explains Miquel Àngel Sancho, head of the Blau record label. "And let it be known that we're happy, because we have bands performing this year. The problem isn't with the specific content of each year, but with the overall idea. It's as if the City Council isn't clear on what it's trying to achieve with the festival's program, and I think nobody knows anymore what the concept behind it is. But we're producing a model that just keeps going. We do it out of inertia, and because we haven't sufficiently explored the possible alternatives," he adds. Sancho's opinion is shared by numerous musicians, promoters, and cultural managers, as well as by a large part of the public who attend the Ciutat festival year after year. "Regardless of the political affiliation of the City Council, there hasn't been the courage to change course and hold only two or three major concerts, filling the rest with local festivities, or to complement the celebrations with a program in venues and theaters. And I know I'm shooting myself in the foot," says Àngel Pujol, head of management and music production. "But in San Sebastián, we always find ourselves in the same place, having the same conversations and arriving at the same diagnosis. It's time for a real, open, and constructive public debate to decide what model we want," he proposes.

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) forecasts cloudy and overcast skies for this Monday with rain that may occasionally be heavy and accompanied by thunderstorms, and, from the afternoon onwards, persistent mainly in the Pitiusas Islands, northeast of Mallorca and the Tramuntana mountain range.

More than 90 restaurants and bars will display a polychrome glazed clay plaque, crafted by ceramist Margalida Pastor, to identify them as headquarters of the San Sebastián brotherhoods. The CAEB (Confederation of Business Associations of Barcelona) and the San Sebastián Brotherhood signed a collaboration agreement this Thursday with the aim of strengthening civic responsibility, community spirit, and the smooth running of the San Sebastián festivities. The agreement, as reported by the business association in a statement, establishes a framework of shared responsibility, in which the restaurant sector commits to maintaining responsible and consistent practices throughout the day, while the brotherhoods commit to promoting civic responsibility, preventing antisocial behavior, and contributing to a positive atmosphere in public spaces. Hospitality establishments that host a brotherhood may display an identifying plaque made of clay and polychrome enamel that refers to the historical origin of the festival, linked to the plague epidemic that devastated Palma in the 16th century.

The San Sebastián "horabauxa" (a large, informal open-air dance party) this Saturday in Plaza Juan Carlos I will finally feature DJs Ángel Olivero, Aina Losange, and Sideways, as well as the group Tardeo Palma DJ's. According to the City Council, due to circumstances beyond its control and following the bidding process, the artists scheduled for this plaza have been awarded to Deejaysgrup, as the initially selected company did not submit the required documentation correctly. The City Council also announced that the "horabauxa" will take place in Plaza Mayor, which will host musical acts such as Gintonics Band, La Canción del Verano (The Song of the Summer), and Madison. The San Sebastián concerts will kick off this Friday in Plaza de España with the official start of the musical program and a headline performance by Crystal Fighters. Aemet weather forecast.

However, it should be noted that the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) forecasts rain for this Saturday, January 17th, the day of the San Sebastián festivities in Palma, including the "horabauxes" (fireworks displays) and the blessings of Saint Anthony, among other events such as bonfires and traditional dances. Specifically, the Agency indicates that this Friday the sky will be cloudy, although the probability of rain is low. Temperatures will range between a low of 8 and 11 degrees Celsius and a high of 15 and 16 degrees Celsius. Winds will generally be light, from the west and southwest. The sky will remain overcast on Saturday, with rain highly likely or even guaranteed, according to Aemet. The rain will become more frequent and intense from midday onwards, and thunderstorms are possible. Temperatures will be similar to Friday's, although the highs could drop slightly, to around 14 degrees Celsius. The wind will be light to moderate from the south. The Palma City Council has indicated that, despite the possibility of showers, the program remains unchanged and any updates will be announced as soon as possible.

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To mark the San Antonio and San Sebastián festivities, Mallorca Railway Services (SFM) has announced an extensive schedule of night trains and additional services to facilitate travel by public transport during these celebrations, which will last until January 20. The measure aims to reduce pressure on the roads and promote more sustainable mobility during the holidays.

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Mallorcan actress Clara Ingold will deliver the opening address for the San Sebastián festivities, organized by the Orgull Llonguet collective, which has prepared a program of activities to celebrate Palma's patron saint independently of the official events. The celebrations will kick off on Sunday with three days of festivities, including the traditional "longuetadas" (a type of street party) at various locations throughout the city and the appearance of the giant papier-mâché figures Pep Toni Rubio, Bel Rotlet, and Miquel de sa Pelleteria, accompanied by traditional Mallorcan musicians. According to a statement released by the collective, the Revolta Llongueta (Llongueta Uprising) will begin on Monday at 11:00 PM with Ingold's address in front of the Bellver Winery, followed by a parade of the giant figures and the dragon from Na Coca, with music provided by the brass band 1ronda+. The party will continue along La Rambla to Plaça Weyler, with a DJ set by Jaume Colombás until 3:00 AM. On Tuesday at noon, in Plaça de París, there will be a vermouth gathering with DJ Random Nancy.

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Palma will implement traffic restrictions in the city center this Saturday, January 10, to mark the start of the San Sebastián 2026 festivities. The closures will affect several streets around the Plaza de Cort, where the traditional opening ceremony of the festivities will take place, with the aim of ensuring the safety of attendees.

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The San Sebastián festivities will once again transform Palma into a giant open-air stage. Indie band Crystal Fighters will headline the first major concert of the celebrations on January 16th in Plaça d'Espanya, kicking off a musical program that combines internationally renowned names with a strong commitment to Mallorcan talent. This year's lineup includes artists and bands such as José de Rico, Guille & The Waves, Pitxorines, Toque de Llamada, Pelo de Gallo, Burning, Tennessee, and Héroes Tribut Band, among others, spread across different squares throughout the city and encompassing a variety of musical styles. "The San Sebastián festivities are part of our identity and our culture," remarked Lourdes Roca, Councilor for Education and Citizen Participation, during the program's presentation. A kickoff with a local flavor.

On January 16, Plaça d'Espanya will host the first major concert, featuring Teballs, Guille & The Waves, Temaso, and headlining the event, Crystal Fighters, an Anglo-Spanish indie band that will get Palma dancing with their festive and eclectic live show. The City Council emphasizes that the lineup strengthens the presence of local groups and combines formats and styles to appeal to all audiences.

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