The Spring Bear Gathering — May Edition on Bear Alley
Bears Week Sitges — May Edition is the first of the two annual bear gatherings held in Sitges, Spain, with the second and much larger "Big Bear" week following every September. Where the September edition fills a purpose-built seafront Bear-Village with 8,000+ attendees, the May Edition is smaller and more intimate — roughly 2,500 bears, cubs, and admirers — with all the action concentrated around Bear Alley (Carrer de Joan Tarrida), Bears Bar, and Scandal Nightclub rather than a dedicated festival site. Think of it as the relaxed spring warm-up: fewer tickets to buy, shorter days, and a noticeably calmer pace than the big September week. Confirmed dates, projected program: the May Edition's official window — Thursday, April 29 through Monday, May 3, 2027 — is confirmed by event listings. The nightly program below is modeled on the 2025 and 2026 May Editions (Bears Bar, Scandal Nightclub, Sauna Sitges); exact 2027 night-by-night titles will be confirmed on Bears Bar's and Bears Sitges' own event pages closer to the date.
Bears Week Sitges 2027 — May Edition runs Thursday, April 29 through Monday, May 3, 2027, coinciding with Spain's April/May bank holiday weekend. Many attendees arrive the evening before to catch early Bear Alley activity, so the table below also includes a pre-arrival night. Unlike September, there's no seafront Bear-Village or ticketed Mr. Bear contest — the May Edition runs on a tighter rotation between Bears Bar (the official HQ) and Scandal Nightclub, with a few standing daily extras layered on top. Exact night-by-night titles are drawn from recent editions and will be confirmed once Bears Sitges/Bears Bar publish the 2027 program.
| Date | Time | Event Name | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Apr 28 | Evening | Early Arrivals | Bear Alley | No official programming yet, but Bear Alley bars start filling up a night ahead of the official opening. |
| Thu, Apr 29 | 9:00 PM | Bears Welcome Night | Bears Bar | The May Edition's opening night at the official HQ, followed by the Welcome Bears Party at Scandal Nightclub, 1–6 AM. |
| Fri, Apr 30 | 9:00 PM | Bears Bar Anniversary Celebration | Bears Bar | Cake and cava marking Bears Bar's anniversary as the official venue, followed by the Anniversary Party at Scandal Nightclub, 1–6 AM. |
| Sat, May 1 | 9:00 PM | Leather & Fetish Meet-Up | Bears Bar | The weekend's leather and rubber social, followed by a themed Bear/Worker Party night at Scandal Nightclub. |
| Sun, May 2 | 9:00 PM | Farewell Night | Scandal Nightclub | The closing themed set at Scandal, winding the May Edition down before the Monday bank holiday. |
| Mon, May 3 | — | Closing / Departure Day | Sitges | Official end of the May Edition's dated window — many attendees use the bank holiday Monday to travel home. |
Sauna Sitges — discounted entry included in the Bears Sitges Pack. A calm daytime anchor before the evening's events begin.
Hotel MiM — complimentary glass of cava and an aperitif ticket for Pack holders. Central, stylish, and steps from the seafront.
Bears Bar — official Pack and merchandise sales with limited stock each day. Grab yours early in the week.
Fly into Barcelona–El Prat (BCN) on Wednesday, April 28, 2027, to catch the early Bear Alley buzz, and plan to fly home Tuesday, May 4 if you want the full bank-holiday Monday in Sitges rather than rushing for an evening flight.
| Date | Day Theme | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Apr 28 | Arrival Day | Land in Sitges | Arrive via BCN, check in, and ease into Bear Alley — Parrots Pub and El Horno are the natural first stops. |
| Thu, Apr 29 | Welcome Night | Bears Welcome Night | Bears Bar's opening night, followed by the Welcome Bears Party at Scandal Nightclub until 6 AM. |
| Fri, Apr 30 | Anniversary Night | Bears Bar Anniversary Celebration | Cake and cava at Bears Bar, followed by the Anniversary Party at Scandal. |
| Sat, May 1 | Leather & Fetish | Leather & Fetish Meet-Up | Daytime relaxation at Sauna Sitges, the evening Leather & Fetish Meet-Up at Bears Bar, then a themed night at Scandal. |
| Sun, May 2 | Farewell Weekend | Farewell Night | A quieter daytime — beach, brunch, or shopping on Bear Alley — before the closing set at Scandal Nightclub. |
| Mon, May 3 | Bank Holiday / Departure | Closing Day | Spain's bank holiday Monday — a relaxed last day in Sitges before departure or an evening flight home. |
| Tue, May 4 | Departure Day | Head Home | Check out and head back to BCN via taxi, the R2 Sud/R2 Nord train transfer, or the Bus Garraf. |
Pricing below reflects typical spring-season rates and is noticeably lower than Sitges' peak September Bear Week pricing; 2027 rates had not yet been published at the time of writing, so treat these as a planning baseline and confirm current rates before booking. The May Edition draws a smaller crowd than September, so hotel inventory is less of a scramble — but the handful of properties right on Bear Alley still fill up first.
| Hotel Name | Neighborhood | LGBTQ Info | Tier | Nightly Price | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurostar Sitges | Town Center | LGBTQ+ Friendly | Budget | $199/night | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hotel MiM Sitges | Beachfront | World Rainbow Hotels | Luxury | $420/night | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hotel Medium Sitges Park | Near Park | World Rainbow Hotels | Moderate | $289/night | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hotel Sitges | Town Center | LGBTQ+ Friendly | Moderate | $299/night | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hotel Medium Romantic | Town Center | LGBTQ+ Friendly | Moderate | $265/night | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hotel Port Sitges | Marina/Port | LGBTQ+ Friendly | Moderate | $309/night | ⭐⭐⭐ |
A comfortable, budget-friendly base in the heart of town, LGBTQ+ welcoming and just minutes from Bear Alley. Ideal for travelers who want central access without the luxury price tag. From $199/night.
A World Rainbow Hotels member and host of the May Edition's informal sunset rooftop gathering at its Sky Bar. Central, stylish, and steps from the seafront. From $420/night.
A World Rainbow Hotels member set beside Sitges' park, within easy walking distance of Bear Alley and the beaches. From $289/night.
Centrally located and LGBTQ+ welcoming, with easy reach of Bear Alley and the beach promenade. From $299/night.
LGBTQ+ friendly with a touch of romance, well suited to couples attending the May Edition. From $265/night.
Set near the marina, a quieter waterside stay with convenient access to the beach promenade. From $309/night.
The closest major airport is Barcelona–El Prat (BCN), roughly 20–23 km northeast of Sitges. Round-trip estimates into BCN for the late-April 2027 travel window (shoulder season, typically cheaper than September) are listed below. Prices are estimates based on typical seasonal routing and vary by date, airline, and booking site.
| Departure City | Est. Round-Trip Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $550–$850 |
| New York (JFK) | $500–$800 |
| Chicago | $600–$900 |
| Dallas | $650–$950 |
| Los Angeles | $700–$1,000 |
| London (LHR) | $120–$280 |
A taxi from Barcelona airport to Sitges costs approximately €60–€75 (about $65–$85) and takes 20–35 minutes. Taxi ranks sit directly outside both terminals' arrivals halls. Uber does not operate in Barcelona — Cabify is the most common rideshare alternative, priced similarly to a standard taxi.
Train (Rodalies R2 line): Roughly €4.60–€5 (about $5–$6), about 45 minutes. From Terminal 2's station, take the R2 Nord one stop to El Prat de Llobregat, then switch to the R2 Sud toward Sitges. From Terminal 1, take the free shuttle to T2 first. Bus (Bus Garraf): Approximately €8.30 (about $9), 30–50 minutes, departing from Bay 7 below Terminal 1 Arrivals direct to Sitges with no transfers.
Sitges is compact and walkable — Bear Alley (Carrer de Joan Tarrida), Bears Bar, Scandal Nightclub, and most hotels sit within a 10–15 minute walk of each other. A car is unnecessary unless you're exploring beyond town.
With no seafront village, the May Edition's energy runs almost entirely through a handful of Bear Alley venues.
A Sitges institution with an outdoor terrace built for people-watching — the natural starting point before the night gets going.
The official May Edition HQ — the Welcome Night, Anniversary Celebration, and Leather & Fetish Meet-Up all happen here.
A long-running bear bar with a cruising area, popular with the over-40s crowd — a reliable stop on Bear Alley any night of the week.
Sitges' main nightclub for a late dance-floor finish once the Bear Alley bars start winding down.
A cabaret-and-dinner show restaurant — a fun option for a sit-down evening before heading out.
Mediterranean and Swiss plates right on Bear Alley, next to the pub of the same name.
Garden-set fine dining a few minutes from the seafront — a good choice for a proper dinner out.
Fusion plates and a popular brunch spot steps from Bassa Rodona beach — ideal for the Sunday recovery day.
LGBTQ+ swimwear and apparel — useful even in spring for the sauna afternoons and any warm-weather days.
An LGBTQ+ fashion store carrying both daytime and going-out pieces for the week's nightly events.
Late April into early May in Sitges is mild rather than hot, with highs around 68°F (20°C) and lows near 52°F (11°C). The sea is still cool (around 57–63°F / 14–17°C) — pleasant for a walk along Bassa Rodona but not warm enough for most people to swim, which is part of why the Sauna Sitges afternoon sessions are a standing fixture of this edition rather than a beach day. Afternoon showers are more common in spring than in September, so a compact umbrella is worth including.
| Category | Budget Tier | Moderate Tier | Luxury Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel | $199/night | $265–$309/night | $420/night |
| Food | $15–$25/meal | $25–$50/meal | $50–$90+/meal |
| Transportation | Train/bus from airport | Mix of train, bus & taxi | Private airport transfer & taxis |
| Events | Bears Bar cover charges + free Bear Alley nights | Bears Sitges Pack (sauna + rooftop + merch) | VIP table service at Scandal |
| Nightlife | Bears Bar / Bear Alley cover | Scandal Nightclub themed nights | VIP bottle service |
Spain legalized same-sex marriage in 2005, becoming the third country in the world to do so, with full adoption and inheritance rights for same-sex couples. Nationwide anti-discrimination protections cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and services, and transgender individuals can change their legal gender without requiring surgery.
Sitges itself is one of Europe's most established LGBTQ+ resort towns and welcomes the bear community for both the May and September editions alike. The LGBTQ+ community centers on Carrer de Joan Tarrida (Bear Alley) in the town's Village Center — home to most of the bars, shops, and the social scene for both Bear Week editions.
Book your flight, pack your layers, and get ready for the spring bear gathering on Bear Alley. This guide blends confirmed 2027 dates with program details modeled on recent editions, so check back as Bears Sitges publishes the official 2027 schedule.