International Bears Week Sitges 2026

International Bears Week (IBW) Sitges is Europe's most beloved bear festival, transforming the charming Catalan seaside town each September into a bear paradise. Thousands of bears, cubs and their admirers from across Europe, the Americas and Australia descend on Sitges for ten days of beach gatherings, pool parties, and bar events in one of the world's most beautiful gay-friendly destinations.

Sitges — a compact beach town 35km from Barcelona — has been a gay travel haven since the 1960s. During IBW, the bear community completely takes over: the beach, the pool parties at Hotel Calipolis and other venues, the bars along Sitges's beautiful seafront promenade. The combination of Mediterranean September sunshine, the town's elegant turn-of-century architecture, and the warmth of the bear community makes this one of the most beloved events in the calendar.

IBW Sitges draws 6,000-8,000 bears annually and is organized by the team behind United Bears Barcelona. It's the culmination of Sitges's long gay season that runs from June's Sitges Gay Pride through the September bear events.