Stratospheric exhibition of Xiquets de Valls and first gamma extra of Jove de Tarragona

The Plaça del Blat in Valls has something that escapes any rational explanation. Call it magic, tradition, or simply the effect of bringing together the two groups of Xiquets de Valls at the kilometer zero of the casteller feat. Whatever it is, Sant Joan of 2026 is already part of history. The extreme heat has not prevented the square from once again becoming the stage for one of those days that, over the years, will be remembered.

Completes already announced a historic Sant Joan

The eve of Sant Joan had already presented itself as a candidate for a memorable day. The early start proved to be a success and allowed for a frantic pace and an impressive display of potential. La Colla Vella opened the performance with a solid 3d9f before showcasing the 4d9fp and the 9d8, two extra-gamma structures that already hinted at where things were heading. The rosats finished the day with the pd7f, which also hinted at much more ambitious goals. La Joves, for their part, completed the carro gros, the 3d9f, and an impeccable 2d8f that signaled bigger challenges for the next day. Francesc Inglès's team closed the day with a very hard-fought pd6, but one defended with skill.

The Plaça del Blat experiences a historic day

La Joves has opened Sant Joan with a textbook 3d9f, the fourth of the season. A perfect tower, without any complication, almost a necessary formality before facing the day's great challenge. Alongside it, La Vella has responded with an epic 5d9f. The pink ones had seen it only loaded in Vendrell and, after a dismantled attempt, they finally found the formula to complete it. It has been a titanic struggle, especially in the third and fourth levels.

The best was yet to come. And it is that the second round has elevated the day to another dimension. First, Joves. After dismantling a foot, the reds have attacked the 4d9sf. The conviction was there from the first moment. Also an extreme serenity and confidence. The result has been a true exhibition, and with it the earliest total castle in the history of castles has been unloaded in the Plaça del Blat.

The response from La Vella, however, was not long in coming. Also after a dismantled base, the "rosats" have replicated with another impeccable 4d9sf. It is the fourth "gamma extra" downloaded by the group in less than twenty-four hours and the seventh consecutive 4d9sf downloaded since the incident of the mythical performance of Sant Fèlix in 2024. Fast, safe, and dominated from start to finish. The Plaça del Blat has erupted in the face of a duel that is already part of the great pages of its history.

With the festival completely unleashed, the two teams still had more ammunition. La Joves has opted for the first 2d9fm of the year. The castle demanded a heroic defense. With the dosos in place, the structure became complicated and the manilles suffered greatly. The battle was constant until the end, but the reds managed to resist to complete an extraordinary performance that was crowned with a pd6 of enormous merit. La Vella, far from settling, has added a new gamma extra to its repertoire. The 7d9f, after a dismantled attempt, ended up unloaded for the third time in the team's history. Another castle of maximum demand that shows that at Portal Nou there are plenty of cards to choose from. Finally, the pinks put the cherry on top with the first pd8fm of the season, a castle that they had only unloaded once for Sant Joan, in 2023. With this, one of the most complete and ambitious performances ever seen in Plaça del Blat has been signed off.

A great Sant Joan in Tarragona too

As is customary every June 24, the four groups of the city have met in Plaça de la Font to celebrate the Sant Joan festival, one of the most emblematic events in the Tarragona human tower calendar. On an afternoon marked by high temperatures, the groups have brought some of the season's first major challenges to the square.

The Castellers de Sant Pere i Sant Pau have been in charge of opening the square. The starting tower has been the 3d8, which they have managed to execute without any difficulty. In the second round, they have completed a very well-resolved 2d7, with very fast and very fine children. Those from the cooperative neighborhood have closed the performance by unloading a 4d8, which confirms, once again, the solidity shown by the group in this start of the season.

Next to them, the Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona has chosen the 3d9f as their starting tower. A tower that the 'liles' already master, as with today's they have already unloaded four this season. In the second round came the main objective of the day: the 2d9fm. After a dismantled base, the Cós del Bou team have thrown it up. It was a hard-fought two, with some moments of nerves, but the experience and the good work done last season have allowed them to control it and unload it. In this way, Gina Fort's team has achieved the first 'gamma extra' of the season and the earliest in their history. In the third round, the 'liles' could not unload the 4d9f and recovered with the 'carro gros' (4d8). They closed the performance with a new 'espada' of 7.

For their part, the Xiquets de Tarragona began the performance with a 3d8, marked, it is true, by some nerves. In the second round and after dismantling two bases, Roger Budesca's team unloaded the first 7d8 of the season. A seven that presented very good measurements and at no time seemed like it was the first. The 'matalassers' completed the performance with the 4d8.

Finally, the Xiquets del Serrallo have made their debut with a dismantled attempt of 9d7. The structure presented good dimensions and worked with serenity, but the children did not quite see it clearly. In fact, one of the enxanetes even reached the top of the pom before it was decided to dismantle the castle. In the second round, they confidently unloaded the 5d7, followed by a well-executed 2d7. They concluded the performance with a 4d7.