Sitges is THE destination for a sun and beach vacation, but for a few days in October it transforms into a city where you will live your most terrifying #CampStories. Every autumn, for 59 editions, the city of Sitges hosts the International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, hosting more than 130,000 spectators, a number that only grows every year.
What is the Sitges Festival and when is it celebrated
The International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is the oldest fantastic film festival in the world, besides being the one with the most media and industry impact. It is held in Sitges, and where you can find the latest trends in the fantasy and horror genres, and the new technologies applied to the genre.
This year the Sitges Film Festival will be held October 8 to 18 of 2026.
Main venues and how to move between them
The Festival is not only experienced inside movie theaters, during those 10 days, Sitges is transformed into its most cinematic and spooky version, and you can enjoy the atmosphere in many parts of the city. We leave you a list of the main ones, but you can discover them all in the official website of the Sitges Film Festival.
- Melià Sitges Auditorium — Here is the main hall of the festival, also used for press screenings.
- Meeting (Avinguda Balmins, 21) — Outside of movie theaters, this is the place to be. Meeting is the space dedicated to outdoor leisure. Its relaxed chill-out atmosphere, live music, projections, podcasts, photocalls and much more make it the reference meeting point for both fans and festival guests.
- Foodtastic — The most terrifyingly delicious area of the festival. In the Foodtruck area you will find food prepared at the moment with quality ingredients and you will try everything from national cuisine to surprising international dishes.
- Prado Cinema — You'll come to this space if you prefer to attend night sessions or marathons. It also hosts some of the festival's sections.
- Miramar — Cultural Center — If you come with children, this will be your reference space. Here you will find activities and workshops for the little ones, such as gastronomy workshops for them to experiment with flavors and textures or makeup and mask creation workshops, ideal for awakening the imagination and settling in the world of the festival.
- Mercat Vell — The Sitges Family and Fantastic Teens films are screened at the Mercat Vell. It's the ideal place to introduce your little ones to the genre. This same space also hosts some of the night passes
To get around the festival spaces, we recommend that you go on foot, as the good atmosphere of the festival can be felt all over the city. In addition, from the Melià Auditorium to the Prado Cinema (the spaces farther from eachother) there are only 18 minutes walking, and in between you can stop at Foodtastic for a snack, in Miramar, at the Meeting or at the Mercat Vell.
But don't worry, if you have just enough time between sessions, with the SL3 bus line you can get from the Auditorium to the Cinema in just 7 minutes.
One of the most anticipated and attended events at the Sitges Film Festival is the Zombie Walk: free makeup, the most terrifying march in the world, music, performances and lots and lots and lots of partying, will you miss it?
Tickets: where to buy them and how to choose sessions
We know that, with all the sessions and spaces, it can be a little difficult to decide which screenings to attend. Since we want you to not have to worry about anything during your stay, we leave you this mini-guide to the different sections offered by the festival so that you can find your ideal match:
- Fantastic Official: Outstanding genre films and established authors. The films in this category are those that are submitted to competition.
- Sitges Classics/Seven Chances: Classic or cult fantasy cinema.
- Anima't: Animated movies in the fantasy and horror genre.
- Panorama: Experimental feature films, which play with new languages, formats and hybridization of genres.
- Midnight X-Treme: More intense horror movies, gore or series B. We recommend you come only if you're a super fan of the genre and nlothing scares you at all.
- Sitges Coming Soon: Exclusive selection of imminent release productions from around the world
- Sitges Family: The best option to introduce your kids to the genre. Films of the lighter genre in a curated selection for the youngest members of the house.
In addition to the screenings of each section, you can also attend opening or closing galas, special sessions (tributes, special invitations...) or, for the most indecisive and willing to do anything, surprise sessions.
If you want to ensure that you will live terrifying #CampStories watching your next favorite movie, we recommend buying online in advance through the website because the theaters fill up, and quickly. But if you are more of an improviser, or if you decide to sign up once there, you will also find a physical box office at the Meliá Sitges Auditorium.
You can buy tickets for individual sessions or, for movie lovers, packs are also offered. You can choose between: the fan pack (10 tickets), the super fan pack (20 tickets), the carnet jove pack and the anima't pack.
Tips for organizing your trip (transport and times)
Now that you have your custom-made billboard, you only need the logistical details of your getaway, fortunately, we can help with that too. The most important thing is the transportation to the film festival.
If you are coming by car, getting to Sitges is very easy. Just take exit 30 of the C-32 in the direction of Sitges and follow the signs to Sitges.
Coming by train from Barcelona is not a loss either. You can take the R2S line to Sitges station. In addition, usually and on the occasion of the festival, there is an additional direct train to Barcelona in the early morning.
And if you come to Sitges from the airport, don't worry, because a bus Garraf leaves from T1 to Sitges. If you arrive at Terminal 2, you must first transfer to Terminal 1 with the free airport shuttle.
As with tickets, we also recommend that you book your accommodation in advance, since Sitges always fills up on these dates. Choosing a good place to sleep is crucial for your trip to be enjoyable, so we believe that your best option will be a campsite, which will give you both the flexibility to organize yourself at your own pace and the comfort you need to rest after a few days of movies.
This year the festival is held from October 8 to 18, but if you only have time for a weekend getaway, the best thing is to find out when the activities or screenings that interest you the most and choose the best weekend to go to are taking place.
What to do in Sitges between screenings
Between shock and shock, if you have some time left over, we recommend that you complement your trip to the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival with a little sightseeing around the charming coastal city. To make it easier for you, we share with you some of our favorite places:
Walk along the waterfront
Stroll along the enchanting beaches of Sitges while enjoying the breathtaking views and admiring its most emblematic monuments such as the Baroque Parish of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla and the famous statue of the Mermaid. And, if you have time, enjoying the sunset in front of the sea is a must. Thanks to Sitges' wonderful Mediterranean climate, the bravest can also take the opportunity to take one of the last baths of the year.
Visit the Palau Maricel
If you want something quieter to rest from the hustle and bustle of the festival, the Palau Maricel is ideal. You can book a guided tour or simply admire its beautiful white and blue façade.
Stroll through the historic center
Stroll leisurely through the white streets steeped in history in downtown Sitges.
Between modernist architecture and old fishermen's houses, you'll discover charming corners.
Take part in the activities
Both in HolaCamp Sitges Garrofer as in HolaCamp Sitges Relax we offer you guided activities, as well as children's entertainment, so that you and your kids can make the most of your trip.
You can check our schedule of activities from the HolaCamp app.
Discover the nightlife
If the festival films have taken your sleep away, don't worry, it's the perfect excuse to get to know Sitges's bustling nightlife. Whether in bars with terraces facing the sea or in venues with live music, here you'll find the perfect way to end the day.
Where to sleep to really rest
HolaCamp Sitges Garrofer
If at your accommodation in Sitges for the festival you are looking for a more lively and fun environment to experience an unforgettable getaway with the kids, HolaCamp Sitges Garrofer it's your campsite.
Here you will find glamping tents that will make you fall in love with, well-equipped bungalows to make you feel at home and plots between trees where shade is part of the plan.
For you to experience film-worthy #CampStories with your loved ones, our pool area, which is a small water park with slides, hot tubs and waterfalls, where you can enjoy and relax like never before, after spending the day discovering movies. And if you don't like to stand still, our padel courts, skatepark, multi-sport and volleyball courts will be your favorite place to play sports surrounded by nature.
And since going from movie to movie makes you hungry, the food here has its own name: El Chiringuito, next to the pool, for something quick and fresh; Camping Pizza, with authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas; and La Sinia, the restaurant where you can sit back in time and eat for real.
HolaCamp Sitges Relax
HolaCamp Sitges Relax it is a quiet corner on the coast of Sitges, surrounded by nature, but without sacrificing comfort. Our campsite, close to the center of Sitges and the festival activity, is perfect for a real rest after a day of movies.
We have accommodations for all types of travelers. If you come with a camper, van, caravan or motorhome we have large plots. If your priority is comfort, our bungalows are waiting for you. And, of course, if you want a mix, we also have glamping accommodations.
With a swimming pool, petanque court, bike rental and guided activities, here you will find your oasis to relax and recharge your batteries without getting bored for a minute.
In addition, it also has a restaurant and supermarket so that you can regain strength between projection and projection. And the youngest members of the house can also enjoy our entertainment or play at their own pace in the children's playground.
This is your sign to start planning your getaway with family, friends, as a couple, or alone and come to Sitges to live your #CampStories more cinematic.
.jpg)
%20(1).webp)
.webp)
