Castellers de Vilafranca wins historic human tower competition in Tarragona

The Castellers de Vilafranca won the 30th Concurs de Castells in Tarragona, Spain, marking a historic achievement in the tradition of Catalan human towers. The team secured victory by successfully building and dismantling a ‘9 de 9 amb folre’ (9d9f), a structure consisting of nine levels with nine people per level and a reinforced base. This feat marked the first time such a formation was fully completed in this competition.

The event, held at the Tarraco Arena, featured 12 of Catalonia’s top groups and attracted thousands of spectators. The tradition of castells, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, dates back to the 18th century and emphasizes values such as teamwork and discipline.

Adding to the international scope of the event, the V Diada Castellera Internacional saw participation from groups outside of Catalonia, including a debut by a Chilean delegation led by Castellers de Lo Prado. Other international participants included groups from Madrid, Paris, London, Andorra, and Copenhagen.