The first edition of the Gathering of Accordion Players of the Pyrenees was held in 1976 (Alt Urgell - Spain). It is the longest standing traditional music festival in Catalonia and is now also considered the most important diatonic accordion festival in Europe. In 1999, the Gathering was included in the European Route of Traditional Music Festivals, endorsed by the European Union.

Throughout these 31 years, the Gathering has been organised by the Arsèguel Association and the Accordion Players of the Pyrenees. For the last four years the festival has also enjoyed the support of the Diputació de Lleida Lleida (Provincial Administration of Lleida), the Consell Comarcal de l’Alt Urgell (Local District Council), the Ajuntament d’Arsèguel (Local Council of Arsèguel) and the Centre Artesà Tradicionàrius (Centre for Traditional Arts and Crafts). The organisers have now consolidated The Gathering as a reference point for all styles and genres of accordion music at the European level.