Palma is preparing to welcome its traditional celebration with floats, live music and a large-scale fancy-dress competition. Palma is dressing up to host one of the most eagerly anticipated cultural events in the island’s calendar: the Rua and the Rueta Carnival parades. On Sunday, 15 February, the streets of the historic centre will be transformed into a vibrant stage where creativity, art and music come together in a celebration that draws thousands of people: Sa Rua.
This event, now firmly established as one of Mallorca’s most important festivities, represents far more than a simple public party. It is a cultural expression deeply rooted in Mediterranean traditions and, year after year, it brings the community together around values such as civic participation, artistic expression and a shared sense of belonging to a territory with its own distinct identity.
The route
The Rua, which will begin at 5pm, will set off from La Rambla and pass along Carrer de la Riera, Carrer de la Unió and Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I, finishing on Avinguda de Jaume III. Once the parade has concluded, a concert and an awards ceremony will take place in Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I. Preparations for the event begin months in advance, when groups of artists, neighbourhood associations and individual residents start designing and creating their entries. The level of dedication and professionalism invested in each costume and float is extraordinary, turning the celebration into a genuine parade of ephemeral art that captivates all those in attendance.
Eve of lent
Palma’s Sa Rua Carnival is held annually on the eve of Lent, in keeping with the Catholic tradition that shapes the festive calendar across much of southern Europe. The celebration symbolises the farewell to winter and the anticipation of spring, a natural cycle that Mediterranean societies have marked since time immemorial.
During these days, the streets of Palma undergo a complete transformation. What are usually everyday thoroughfares become a catwalk for art and personal expression. Participants — including both professional groups and ordinary residents — devote entire months to creating their costumes and decorating their mobile platforms, turning them into true travelling works of art.
Floats
Each float tells its own story. Visitors may encounter political and social allegories, cultural and historical references, or fantastical worlds brought to life through movement and colour. This thematic diversity reflects the creative richness of a plural and participatory society, where freedom of expression is displayed in a colourful and festive manner.