🎉 The Three Kings in Perpignan: What’s Happening on January 3, 2026

Perpignan is continuing its holiday season with a festive celebration of the Three Kings (Les Rois Mages) — a traditional event tied to the Christian feast of Epiphany, which commemorates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. 

📅 Event Overview

Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
Location: Place Gambetta, Perpignan city centre
Activity: “Caravane des Rois Mages” (Three Kings’ Parade)
Times:
First departure: 16:00 (4:00 PM)
Second departure: 18:00 (6:00 PM) 

The event invites families and visitors to follow Melchior, Gaspard and Balthazar — the traditional names of the Three Kings — as they make their way through the streets of Perpignan in a magical procession filled with lights and festive cheer. This parade traditionally brings delight to children and adults alike as part of Perpignan’s Christmas and New Year festivities. 

This parade is one of the highlights that cap the city’s month-long holiday program, which runs from late November through early January and includes markets, concerts, exhibitions, and cultural tours. 

📌 Symbolism of the Three Kings

The story of the Three Kings comes from the Gospel of Matthew, which describes distinguished wise men (or mages) coming from the East to pay homage to the newborn Jesus, guided by a star — traditionally called the Star of Bethlehem. The names and number “three” (Melchior, Gaspard, Balthazar) are part of later Christian tradition, not the biblical text itself. 

Each figure has come to represent offerings of gold, incense and myrrh, symbolizing royalty, worship, and prophecy — themes that are often reflected in Epiphany celebrations. 

❗ Reported Controversy: What’s Being Discussed?

In the lead-up to this year’s event, a local event poster has attracted attention and questions on social media and in community conversation. The central point of discussion appears to be that the poster depicts Melchior, Gaspard, and Balthazar without the traditional guiding star that typically symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem — an important emblem in Epiphany iconography. Critics say this could diminish or misrepresent an important element of the Epiphany story.

There also appear to be symbol errors related to traditional royal or cultural attributes on the poster (such as clothing or iconography that some locals expect to see depicted more faithfully). While this has sparked discussion online and among families familiar with the story’s symbolism, the official city program documents themselves do not comment on any error or correction, and the event is still scheduled as planned. (As of now, there’s no official announcement of changes to the poster.) 

This kind of debate reflects a broader cultural conversation: while the story of the Three Kings is rooted in Christian tradition, many people are now aware that the Bible itself does not prescribe specific appearances or precise identities for the Magi, and that much of what we think of as “traditional” imagery has evolved over centuries of artistic and cultural interpretation. 

🎁 What to Expect If You Go

👍 Family-friendly: The procession is designed for all ages — children especially enjoy following the Kings and the festive atmosphere.

🎵 Festive ambiance: Expect music, lights, and enthusiastic crowds moving through the city centre.

🗺️ Easy to access: Place Gambetta is in the heart of Perpignan’s pedestrian district.

📱 Check local resources: The Perpignan La Rayonnante app or the town’s website usually post updates for events like this.