Rupit living nativity

What it is and what you see

The Pessebre Vivent Vila de Rupit is a living nativity that fills the old town over two Christmas afternoons. More than a hundred villagers act out the birth of Jesus in more than twenty scenes spread over the cobbled streets, stone houses and corners of the village, with costumes and sets that improve every year. You walk from scene to scene, with the village in darkness and lit by the performances.

The setting does a lot: Rupit is a medieval village hanging over the stream, with the hanging bridge and carrer del Fossar, in the heart of the Collsacabra. At night and in winter, in the cold and sometimes fog, the nativity looks like it does in few places.

When

The 38th edition will be on 2 and 3 January, as announced by the Town Council on 10 November 2026; the announcement does not repeat the year, but it refers to the coming January, that of 2027. The Town Council has said it will give details later, so check its website before you go.

As a reference, in the previous edition performances began at 18:00 and the deadline to enter the route was 19:00. That edition had been planned for 27 and 28 December 2025, was suspended because of rain and moved to 3 and 4 January 2026: the weather rules.

Tickets and price

In the last edition the ticket cost €5 for adults and was free for children up to 9, with no discounts. There was no advance sale: tickets were bought on the day at the tourist office, from 10:00 to 18:30, in cash or by card. Keep your ticket throughout the route: anyone without one has to pay at one of the points along the way. The maximum capacity was 1,300 people per day, so it is not wise to arrive at the last minute.

Getting there and where to park

Rupit is in the Collsacabra: from Barcelona you get there in a little under two hours via the C-17 and the C-153. If you drive, leave the vehicle in the municipal car park at the entrance to the village: the historic centre only admits vehicles with a permit. In the last edition, parking was free on showing the nativity ticket on leaving; the rest of the year it costs €6 a day, with 45 minutes free.

Without a car, the Sagalés bus links Barcelona, Vic and Rupit, but with few services: check whether there is a return after the performance before counting on it.

Practical tips

Go early to the tourist office: buy your ticket in the mid-afternoon and use the light to climb the Sant Miquel bell tower or stroll round the village before it starts.

Wrap up properly. The route is outdoors, at night, in midwinter and in the Collsacabra, and you walk it standing and slowly. Wear shoes with grip, because the streets are stone and sloping, and bring a small torch for the stretches between scenes.

It works well with children: they go from scene to scene and, in the last edition, got in free up to age 9. With a pushchair, the cobbles and steps make it harder; a baby carrier is better. With a dog, think about the narrow, crowded streets.

If it rains, the performance may be suspended or moved to another date, as happened in 2025. Before leaving home, check the Town Council website or call the tourist office on 610 24 24 42.