Sitges has been one of Spain’s main LGBTQ destinations for decades, and Bear Week is the year’s biggest expression of it. The first Friday in September, the town changes shape: Calle Bonaire fills with leather, plaid and an unreasonable amount of body hair, hotel rates double, and the seafront grows a temporary outdoor club. Sitges Bear Week 2026 runs 4–13 September. If it’s your first time, here’s what’s actually happening and how to plan around it.
When and where Sitges Bear Week 2026 happens
The official dates are Friday 4 September to Sunday 13 September. The Bear Village, the main outdoor hub on the seafront at the bottom of Calle Bonaire (on Passeig de la Ribera), opens later: from Monday 7 September through to Sunday 13 September. It runs 9pm to 3am Sunday to Thursday, and 9pm to 3:30am on Friday and Saturday.
Bear Week is the largest of the Sitges gay events on the official calendar; there’s also a smaller May edition over the bank holiday at the end of April. The town fills up from mid-week in September. By the weekend the bars are loud, the beaches are full, and you’ll struggle to get a table for dinner without booking ahead. For a sense of what else is open in the town that month, our full Sitges travel guide is a useful starting point.
Getting to Sitges for Bear Week
Sitges sits 35 km south of Barcelona on the coast. Most people fly into Barcelona–El Prat (BCN) and head straight down. A few options:
- Train (R2 Sud line): the cheapest and most reliable. Direct from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia to Sitges in roughly 35–45 minutes. Trains run every 20–30 minutes during the day. About €4.60 one way.
- Private transfer: a pre-booked driver costs €60–80 from the airport. Worth it after a long flight, and faster than wrestling luggage onto the train.
- Taxi: roughly €70 from the airport. Same price as a transfer without the meet-and-greet.
- Car: the C-32 motorway gets you there in 30 minutes from the airport, but parking in central Sitges during Bear Week is genuinely difficult. If you’re staying in town, skip the car.
A useful detail: Sitges train station is a flat 10-minute walk from the gay quarter and the seafront. You can roll your suitcase straight to most central hotels without needing a taxi.
What’s on during the week
The Bear Village is the centre of the action. Live stage, guest DJs, outdoor bar, a different theme each night. The whole thing happens with the sea behind you. Entry is generally free; drinks are paid at the bar.
Beyond the Village, the events most people plan around:
- Mr Bear Sitges contest on the Saturday: the headline daytime event. Spectate or, if you’re so inclined, enter.
- The Bear Pool Party at Clos de La Plana, a villa about ten minutes outside town, runs Friday 11 September in 2026. Buffet, DJs, drag, sunbeds you have to book. Shuttle from Sitges included.
- Bears Bar acts as the official HQ. Sunday underwear parties, Friday leather meet-ups, and a steady pull through the week.
- Scandal on Calle Bonaire takes the after-parties from around 1am.
- Balmins beach is the daytime cove, east of the centre, below the cliffs. Clothing-optional and busy from late morning.
The full programme normally goes live on the official Bears Sitges site a few weeks before the start.
Where to stay, eat & drink
Sitges hotels book out months ahead for Bear Week. The closer to the seafront, the faster they go. A few that come up consistently:
- Hotel MiM: central, ten minutes’ walk to the Bear Village, rooftop pool that gets used in the daytime.
- Hotel Sabatic (Marriott): quieter, ten minutes from the beach, removed from the late-night noise.
- Dolce Sitges: the only five-star, just outside the centre. €10 taxi each way. Refurbished recently.
- Hotel Medium: central, mid-range, popular with returning visitors.
For food, book ahead. The strip around Carrer Joan Tarrida, locally nicknamed Bear Alley during the week, is where most people eat before going out. Carrer 1 de Maig and Carrer del Marquès de Montroig also stay busy late.
How to spend the daytime (the easy way)
Between the late nights and the September heat, daylight can get vague. Most guests use the time between parties to pace themselves, sometimes in town, sometimes out in the hills.
A few options that fit the week well:
- My Big Gay History Tour is a walking tour through Sitges covering the town’s long, layered LGBTQ history. Slow pace, lots of stops, easy to fit in before the Bear Village opens.
- The Sitges Cava & Brunch Experience is a half-morning at a family winery for cava and a long Catalan brunch. A solid gear-down activity after a heavy Saturday night.
- The Essence of the Penedès is our most-booked wine tour: sommelier-led, three cellars, lunch at a masia. Back in Sitges in time to clean up before the Village.
All include hotel pick-up. If you want an unfiltered take, what our riders say covers previous September groups.
Sitges Bear Week FAQs
When is Sitges Bear Week 2026?
Sitges Bear Week 2026 runs from Friday 4 September to Sunday 13 September. The Bear Village on the seafront opens later, from Monday 7 September through to Sunday 13 September.
How do I get from Barcelona to Sitges for Bear Week?
The easiest option is the R2 Sud train from Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia, which takes 35–45 minutes and runs every 20–30 minutes. A taxi or pre-booked transfer from Barcelona–El Prat airport costs around €60–80.
Do I need to book a hotel in advance for Bear Week?
Yes. Sitges has roughly 15,000 hotel rooms and they fill up months ahead for Bear Week. If you’re booking less than three months out, expect limited availability and higher rates. Private apartments and villas can be a useful backup.
What is there to do in Sitges during the daytime?
Most guests spend the daytime pacing themselves. Popular options include Balmins beach (the bear-friendly cove east of the centre), a walking history tour of Sitges, a cava and brunch morning in the Penedès, or a half-day Penedès wine tour. All easy half-days that get you back in time for the Bear Village.
Is the Bear Village free to enter?
Yes. Entry to the Bear Village is generally free and you pay for drinks at the outdoor bar. Some side events, like the Bear Pool Party at Clos de La Plana or the Mr Bear Sitges contest, sell tickets separately and are worth booking ahead.
For more practical answers on tours, fitness levels, kids, and group bookings, see our full FAQs.
Plan early, book light
If your Bear Week dates are locked in, book your daytime activity early — September fills up fast on our side too. Drop us a line at hola@easycyclingsitges.com or +34 658 02 52 42, and we’ll build a half-day around your group, big or small.
