Overview

• Las Fiestas de Sants run August 23–31, and the Calle Finlandia commission shared images showing decor vandalized shortly after installation along with a statement calling for respect and empathy.
• The incidents echo problems seen days earlier in Gràcia, where mass attendance and misconduct were reported and a fire destroyed the Verdi street entrance feature.
• Recent downpours pose an ongoing risk to the fragile, handcrafted decorations for the remainder of the festival.
• This year only 11 streets are decorated, a noticeable decline from years when the total was more than double.
• Street themes include a Sagunt tribute to the metro’s centenary with accessibility appeals and signage condemning the war in Gaza, while opening speakers Esther López and Júlia Truyol praised the neighborhood’s resilience and flagged housing costs that hinder youth independence.