What is the 12 grapes tradition?

At midnight on December 31, people in Spain eat one grape on each of the 12 chimes of the clock, aiming to finish before the last one for a lucky year. For little kids, use seedless grapes cut in halves or quarters, since whole grapes are a choking risk for under-4s.

Only for Trinitat Vella's party, through ccivics.bcn.cat/trinitatvella or at Centre Cívic Trinitat Vella, Carrer de la Foradada 36. The Barceloneta market party and the Port Olímpic show were free, drop-in events in 2025.

Are the December 31 ones happening in 2026?

Not confirmed yet. Trinitat Vella's is listed for December 30, 2026. Mercat de la Barceloneta and Port Olímpic held theirs on December 31, 2025, and their 2026 plans usually come out in December. This page gets updated when they do.

What about the midnight fireworks?

The city's big show on Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, with fireworks, drones and the Magic Fountain, starts around 10pm and peaks at midnight. It is free but packed, with long waits for the metro afterward, so many families with small kids watch it on betevé, the city's TV channel, instead.

Is there an indoor option?

The Festival de la Infància, the big kids' festival at Fira Montjuïc, also rings in the new year at noon on December 31. It needs a festival ticket and has its own page with dates and prices.

Noon New Year's Countdowns for Kids in Barcelona

Name: Noon New Year's Countdowns for Kids in Barcelona
Start: 2026-12-30
End: 2026-12-31T23:59:59

Featured inChristmas with Kids in Barcelona 2026

Noon New Year's Countdowns for Kids in Barcelona photo 1

Noon New Year's Countdowns for Kids in Barcelona photo 2

Noon New Year's Countdowns for Kids in Barcelona photo 3

FestivalSant AndreuCiutat VellaSant Martí

Where

Cap d'any infantil, Plaça de la Trinitat (Wed Dec 30, 12pm, booking), Grapes at noon, Mercat de la Barceloneta (2025: Wed Dec 31, 11am to 2pm, chimes at 12pm) and Balambambú kids' New Year show, Port Olímpic (2025: Wed Dec 31, 12:30pm to 2pm)

Ages

All ages

Duration

1-2h

Setting

Outdoors

Plan for

A late morning

Spots

3 across the city

Tradition

12 grapes, one for each chime

What you need to know

Trinitat Vella's kids' party is confirmed for Wednesday, December 30 at noon on Plaça de la Trinitat, free with booking (open since September 3)
Mercat de la Barceloneta eats the grapes at noon, with music from 11am (2025: Dec 31, 11am to 2pm), an easy stop before a walk on the beach
Port Olímpic's Balambambú is a free New Year's show for kids by the company El Gat on the Moll de Mestral stage (2025: Dec 31, 12:30pm)

About

In Spain, the new year starts with 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock at midnight. Midnight is late for small kids, so several spots around the city hold kids' countdowns at noon instead. These midday parties bring music, dancing and a big countdown, with grapes or other treats handed around. Kids feel part of the biggest night of the year and are still in bed on time.

Schedule

Wed, Dec 30

12pm
Cap d'any infantil
Music, games and a noon countdown to 2027 on the square. Free; booking required.
Plaça de la TrinitatMaps ↗

Free

Dates & times

Wed 30 – Thu 31 Dec

Trinitat Vella's party is confirmed for Wednesday, December 30 at noon. The December 31 countdowns at Mercat de la Barceloneta and Port Olímpic show 2025 times until their 2026 programs come out, usually in December.

Share with another parent

WhatsApp Email

Where it is

Cap d'any infantil, Plaça de la Trinitat (Wed Dec 30, 12pm, booking)
Pl. de la Trinitat, 1, Sant Andreu, 08033 Barcelona, Spain
Directions ↗
Grapes at noon, Mercat de la Barceloneta (2025: Wed Dec 31, 11am to 2pm, chimes at 12pm)
Mercal de la Barceloneta, Pl. del Poeta Boscà, 1, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Directions ↗
Balambambú kids' New Year show, Port Olímpic (2025: Wed Dec 31, 12:30pm to 2pm)
Moll de Mestral, Sant Martí, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
Directions ↗