Castellers de Vilafranca Achieve First Complete 9 de 9 amb Folre at 30th Concurs de Castells

At the 30th Concurs de Castells in Tarragona, Spain, the Castellers de Vilafranca became the first team ever to both build and successfully dismantle a 9 de 9 amb folre (9d9f), a nine-level human tower with nine people per main level and a reinforced base called a folre. The feat occurred on October 4, prompting cheers and green confetti across the stadium. The team, founded in 1948 and recognizable by their green shirts, secured their 14th victory in the biennial competition. Teams earn points based on tower difficulty and the ability to both construct and dismantle them. The tradition of castells, human towers, has been practiced in Catalonia for over 200 years, originating from the Ball de Valencians folk dance of the 18th century, where participants formed small human structures as a finale. Castells are intergenerational, with people of various ages, sizes, and strengths participating in each colla. The 2026 Concurs de Castells marked a momentous edition, drawing teams from across Spain to compete over the last week.