The Junii Parade in Brașov: Date, Route and Where to Watch

When is the next Junii parade?

The parade, known locally as Coborârea Junilor în Cetate (“the Junii come down into the citadel”), always takes place on Duminica Tomii (Thomas Sunday), one week after Orthodox Easter, which falls on 2 May 2027. According to Brașov City Hall in 2026, it is a tradition held “every year, on Duminica Tomii”.

The seven groups ride through the Old Town and Piața Sfatului and finish in the early afternoon at Pietrele lui Solomon, where the celebrations go on until evening.

Year	Orthodox Easter	Junii parade	Status
2026	12 April	Sunday 19 April 2026	Took place (RAT Brașov)
2027	2 May (Digi24)	Sunday 9 May 2027	Expected: date follows from Easter, programme not yet published
2028	16 April	Sunday 23 April 2028	Expected

The parade also closes Zilele Brașovului (Brașov Days), a weekend of concerts and fairs in Piața Sfatului from Friday to Sunday. In 2026 that ran from 17 to 19 April, according to a City Hall press release. City Hall usually publishes the full programme, traffic restrictions and bus changes a few days before; the What’s on in Brașov calendar lists the date too.

Route and timings

This is the 2026 route and timetable. It has followed the same pattern for years, so expect something very similar in 2027.

Time (2026)	What happens	Where
Morning	The groups gather with their horses; the Junii Bătrâni were blessed at Sfânta Treime church in Șchei	Piața Unirii, Șchei
11:00	The parade sets off	Piața Unirii
11:00–13:00	The riders go through the city centre and back into Șchei	Str. Constantin Brâncoveanu, Str. Gheorghe Barițiu, Str. Mureșenilor, Bd. Eroilor, Str. Republicii, Piața Sfatului, Str. Apollonia Hirscher, Poarta Șchei, Str. Prundului, Str. Pe Tocile, Str. Căpitan Ilie Birț, Podul Crețului
From about 13:00	Arrival, mace-throwing (aruncarea buzduganului) and the Hora Junilor dance; folk music and a fair until evening	Pietrele lui Solomon (“Între Chetri”)
From 13:00	Folk music concert	Piața Sfatului

Sources: route and the events at Pietrele lui Solomon from BizBrașov; start time, arrival and concert times from Monitorul Expres. The fair at Pietrele lui Solomon ran 10:00–20:00, and spirits were not allowed, according to Piețe Publice Brașov.

Source: Unsplash

Where to watch

• Piața Unirii, before 11:00. This is the best place to see the groups up close while they line up, check their horses and pose for photos. The square is in front of St Nicholas Church and the First Romanian School museum.
• Bd. Eroilor and Str. Republicii. These streets are wide, so there is more room along them than in the narrow lanes of Șchei.
• Piața Sfatului. The square fills up quickly. It is the place to be if you also want the folk concert that starts there at 13:00.
• Poarta Șchei and Str. Prundului. These are good spots for photos of riders against the old gate and the houses of Șchei.
• Pietrele lui Solomon, in the afternoon. Go here for the mace-throwing, the Hora and the picnic atmosphere. It sits at the top of Șchei, below the forest. It is also on our list of walks in Brașov.

Source: Unsplash

The seven groups

The Junii are organised in seven groups (cete). Six come from Șchei, the old Romanian quarter outside the Saxon walls. The seventh, the Brașovecheni, comes from Brașovul Vechi. In 2026 they rode in this order, according to BizBrașov:

1. Junii Tineri (the young Junii)
2. Junii Bătrâni (the old Junii)
3. Curcani
4. Dorobanți
5. Brașovecheni
6. Roșiori
7. Albiori

Each group has its own costume, flag and leader. The oldest written record of the Junii is dated 26 March 1728, according to Zile și Nopți. The custom is tied to spring and to the young men of Șchei.

Getting around on parade day

• Cars: the route is closed to traffic, and parked cars had to be off it from 06:00. Full traffic was back at around 18:00 (Brașov.net). Don’t plan to drive into Șchei or the centre that day.
• Buses: in 2026, RAT Brașov ran a special timetable from 09:00 to 18:00, with 60 buses on 13 reinforced lines (RAT Brașov). Check RAT Brașov’s notice a few days before the parade for that year’s lines. For tickets and lines, see our guide to transport in Brașov.
• On foot: from Piața Sfatului, Piața Unirii is a short walk through Poarta Șchei or along Str. Prundului.

Tips

• Book your accommodation early. The parade falls on the same weekend as Zilele Brașovului.
• Keep your distance from the horses. They pass close to the crowd in narrow streets, so keep children behind the line of spectators.
• Bring layers. Late April and early May can be warm at midday and cold in the shade of Șchei. See Brașov’s weather by season.
• Eat at the fair or bring a picnic. At Pietrele lui Solomon most families do one or the other, and the fair sells food and drink.

FAQ

When is the Junii parade in 2027?

It is expected on Sunday 9 May 2027, the Sunday after Orthodox Easter on 2 May 2027. City Hall publishes the exact programme in the spring.

Is the Junii parade free?

Yes. It takes place on public streets and at Pietrele lui Solomon, with no ticketed areas.

What time does it start?

In 2026 the parade left Piața Unirii at 11:00. The groups gather there earlier in the morning.

How long does it last?

The ride through the city takes about two hours. The celebrations at Pietrele lui Solomon run through the afternoon.

Can I see the Junii on another day?

The ride through the city happens only once a year, on Duminica Tomii. If you are in Brașov at another time, the museums guide covers the First Romanian School in Șchei, where the parade begins.

Sources

• Brașov City Hall: Junii Brașovului au coborât în Cetate (2026) and the Zilele Brașovului programme
• RAT Brașov: public transport on parade day (2026)
• BizBrașov: route and groups (19 April 2026)
• Monitorul Expres: programme and timings (19 April 2026)