Salou bids farewell to the Festa al Cel with its sights set on 2026
Salou has successfully concluded Festa al Cel 2025, the most prominent aeronautical event in Europe this year, attracting more than 300,000 attendees. During two intense days, the beaches of Llevant and Ponent were the scene of exciting air shows that transformed the municipality into a giant open-air amphitheatre.
The closing ceremony took place on Sunday 21 September in the auditorium of the Club Nàutic de Salou. This event was attended by prominent civil and military authorities, including the Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force, Francisco Braco Carbó, and representatives from various defence delegations and local governments.
Awards
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the awards ceremony. Adriano Camps, professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, received the Cristòfol Juandó Award for his outstanding career in Earth observation and the development of nanosatellites, consolidating his status as an international reference. The Air Force and Space Force's Patrulla Águila aerobatic team was awarded the Josep Canudas Prize, celebrating its 40-year history and its impact in inspiring new generations.
Daniel Ventura González Alonso, director of the festival, highlighted the importance of Salou in the success of the event: "Salou has risen to the challenge of this festival, which is very complex to organise. The City Council has contributed professionalism and dedication to ensure that everything went well."
Close collaboration
During the ceremony, Pere Joan Nogueroles, president of the Barcelona-Sabadell Aeroclub, made a symbolic gesture by presenting a replica of the aeroplane piloted by Lucien de Mazel in 1913 to Pere Granados, mayor of Salou. This action highlighted the historic link between the city and aviation.
Francisco Braco Carbó, JEMAE, expressed his gratitude and commitment: "Thank you, Salou, for giving us the opportunity to show society what we do in the Air Force. For a soldier, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing the warmth and recognition of the people, and here in Salou, we have experienced that. I have felt the affection of the people of this city up close, and that fills us with satisfaction.‘ He added that ’tomorrow is the first day to prepare for next year's festival. We have set the bar very high, but we will exceed it."
Commitment for 2026
In his closing speech, Pere Granados expressed Salou's gratitude to all the institutions and entities that made the event possible. Special thanks were given to the Armed Forces, security forces, Generalitat Fire Brigade, ENAIRE, Reus Airport, Sabadell-Barcelona Aeroclub and production company TARGA Iberia, among other key collaborators.
Granados emphasised that the pilots were the real stars of the festival, highlighting their talent and passion for making thousands of spectators dream. He recalled Salou's historic relationship with aviation, mentioning the first Reus-Salou flight in 1913. ‘With the Festa al Cel, we are expanding the tourist offer of our municipality,’ he said, emphasising the positive impact of the event for aviation enthusiasts and families who enjoy unique shows.
Aviation Event
Salou was once again established as the capital of aviation on Sunday 21 September 2025, bringing together thousands of people on the beaches of Llevant and Ponent. Despite the forecast of rain in the morning, the weather allowed the event to take place in a festive atmosphere. The performances began at eleven o'clock, filling the sky with colours, acrobatics and impressive formations.
The audience enjoyed the smoke and pyrotechnic manoeuvres of the Aerosparx team, the light aircraft carousels of the Aeroclub de Barcelona Sabadell and the Fundación Parc Aeronàutic de Catalunya, as well as the precision jumps of the PAPEA of the Air and Space Force. Also noteworthy were the Velis Elektro, the world's first certified electric aircraft, the AW139 rescue helicopter from Salvamento Marítimo, and the historical recreations of the FPAC.
Media
The festival was covered by around a hundred photographers and fifty media outlets, consolidating its position as one of the most important aeronautical events in the country. Safety was guaranteed by a robust land and sea coordination system, preventing any significant incidents. However, there was one minor incident when a spectator on the beach went into labour and was quickly attended to and transferred to a nearby hospital.
Mayor Pere Granados visited the land and sea CECOR to congratulate those responsible for security. He then met with Francisco Braco Carbó, who thanked the Salou City Council for its invaluable collaboration, recognising the success of the festival both in terms of attendance and organisation.
Granados reiterated Salou's commitment to bringing the Festa al Cel back in 2026, consolidating the municipality as an important venue for international air shows. ‘What we have experienced today is only the beginning of something that will become even bigger,’ he concluded, recalling the motto of this edition: ‘From Salou to the sky’.
