Sa Rua (Main Carnival Parade) 2026

Sa Rua (Main Carnival Parade) 2026 Mallorca takes over Palma on Sunday, February 15, 2026 with the parade starting at 17:00, filling the city center with floats, costumes, music, and friendly competition just before Lent begins. If you want a true winter island experience in the Balearics, Sa Rua is the Carnival moment where Palma feels most local, most playful, and most alive.

Sa Rua (Main Carnival Parade) 2026 Mallorca overview

Sa Rua is Palma de Mallorca’s biggest Carnival parade, and it’s widely treated as the main event of Carnival weekend on the island. Mallorca Carnival is celebrated across many towns, but Palma’s Sa Rua stands out for its scale, its city-center route, and the way groups compete with themes, choreography, and standout costume design. Travel guides describe the parade as a riot of color and merry-making with bands, floats, masks, and lots of dancing, and they place the main Palma parade on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

For visitors, Sa Rua is a refreshing reminder that Mallorca is not only beaches and summer nightlife. In February, the island switches into community festival mode, and Palma becomes a stage for creativity, humor, and neighborhood pride.

Confirmed 2026 date and start time

A Mallorca Carnival event listing states: “Sunday, Feb 15th 2026” and specifies that “in Palma, the Sa Rua takes place on Sunday from 17:00.” Another Mallorca Carnival guide also places Palma’s main Carnival festivities on Sunday 15 February 2026. These sources confirm the core planning details visitors need: date and the late-afternoon start time that lets you explore Palma earlier in the day before claiming a viewing spot.

A separate guide describes the date as “likely” for 2026, so it’s best used for context, while the listing that states Feb 15 at 17:00 is the clearer confirmation available here.

The route through Palma’s city center (what’s known)

One event listing provides a route description for Mallorca’s Carnival procession: down La Rambla, Carrer de La Riera, Carrer de la Unió, ending at Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I and Avinguda de Jaume III. This route matters for travelers because it places Sa Rua in Palma’s most central, walkable shopping and promenade area, close to cafés, restaurants, and landmark streets. It also suggests excellent viewing options: La Rambla for the first wave of parade energy, or Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I for the “finale” atmosphere where crowds often feel densest.

Because municipal routes can change slightly year to year, treat this route as a strong planning guide, then confirm final details closer to the event through Palma’s local announcements.

What makes Sa Rua special on a Balearic island

Sa Rua is more than a parade. It’s Mallorca’s city-scale costume competition, where groups create elaborate themes and aim to impress the crowd and judges. The same listing notes that the most creative teams are awarded prizes at the end of the parade, reinforcing the competitive but friendly nature of the event. That competitive element is what gives Sa Rua its big payoff: it pushes costume quality higher, encourages dance routines, and turns the parade into a moving show rather than a simple walk-by procession.

Mallorca Carnival is sometimes described as a smaller version of Rio-style Carnival because of the performance energy, singing, and dancing. Even if you’ve been to major Carnivals elsewhere, Sa Rua feels uniquely Mallorcan because it plays out in Palma’s elegant city streets rather than a purpose-built parade ground.

Highlights and experiences to expect at Sa Rua 2026

Sa Rua is designed for spectators and participants alike, so the best plan is to arrive ready to watch, but also ready to join the mood. You can expect:

• Themed groups in costumes ranging from funny and satirical to highly artistic.
• Music and movement, with parade sections featuring dancing and singing.
• Floats and large props, depending on the group’s concept and budget.
• A festive finishing area around Palma’s central squares where the parade energy lingers.

Because Sa Rua starts at 17:00, you get a beautiful “golden hour” into early evening experience in winter Palma. That timing also makes Sa Rua easy to combine with dinner plans, especially in the city center near Avinguda de Jaume III and the Old Town edges.

Local relevance: landmarks and neighborhoods near the parade

The listed route includes La Rambla and ends near Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I and Avinguda de Jaume III, which places you close to Palma’s main urban heart. This is a great base area for travelers because it’s also where Palma’s winter city life is strongest: shopping streets, historic architecture, and a walkable connection to the Old Town. If you want to build a full day around Sa Rua, spend the morning in Palma’s historic center, then drift toward La Rambla mid-afternoon to claim a comfortable viewing spot.

Many visitors also pair Sa Rua weekend with Palma’s seasonal funfair tradition, Fira del Ram, which some guides note kicks off during Carnival and lasts through Easter. If your goal is an island trip with a festival atmosphere beyond the parade itself, that’s a natural add-on in the Palma area.

Travel tips for attending Sa Rua 2026

Plan Sa Rua like a major city event even though Mallorca is an island. Palma gets busy during the parade, and central streets can feel crowded. Practical tips:

• Arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes before 17:00 to secure a good sightline.
• Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light layer, since February evenings can cool down after sunset.
• Choose a meeting point with your group in case the crowd separates you.

If you are staying outside Palma, plan transport ahead of time. A late-afternoon parade start can make it easier to arrive by bus or car, but post-parade departures may be slower due to crowd movement and road closures.

Pricing and access

The sources describing Sa Rua present it as a public street parade in Palma and do not list any ticket price, which aligns with a free-to-watch city parade format. As a visitor, budget mainly for food, drinks, transportation, and optional nightlife afterward rather than entry fees. If any reserved seating or special viewing areas appear closer to the date, those are typically optional add-ons, not the core Sa Rua experience.

Plan your Mallorca Carnival weekend around Sa Rua

Sa Rua is the reason many winter travelers choose Palma in mid-February. With a confirmed parade day of Sunday, February 15, 2026 and a 17:00 start time, you can easily plan a full island weekend: markets and Old Town walks in the daytime, Sa Rua in the afternoon, and a relaxed Palma dinner after the parade. Whether you come for photography, local culture, or simply to feel Mallorca’s community spirit in the streets, Sa Rua delivers a vibrant side of the island that summer visitors often miss. Pick your spot along La Rambla, let the costumes and music pull you in, and experience Mallorca the way it celebrates best: out loud, in the open air, and together.

Verified Information at glance

Event Name: Sa Rua (Main Carnival Parade)

Event Category: Carnival parade / street procession

Island/Region: Mallorca (Majorca), Balearic Islands, Spain

City: Palma de Mallorca

Confirmed Date (2026): Sunday, February 15, 2026

Confirmed Start Time: 17:00

Route (listed in source): La Rambla → c. de La Riera → c. de la Unió → ending at Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I and Avinguda de Jaume III

Pricing: No ticket price listed in cited sources (public street parade format)