Festivals and cultural events Barcelona

A must-see event for electronic and experimental music since 1994, it is a reference for lovers of this genre. The biggest names on the international electronic scene impose their style every year for three days, in front of more than 100,000 festivalgoers gathered for the occasion. The Sónar de día (daytime) takes place in the facilities of Fira Barcelona, at the foot of Montjuïc. In the evening, very big evenings with internationally renowned DJs and concerts until the end of the night in the Fira Gran Via, in Hospitalet.

Every weekend in summer, the roof of La Pedrera hosts jazz concerts at nightfall. A wonderful setting to enjoy quality music programming that showcases young local talent. With a glass of cava in hand, you can enjoy sublime views of the city in the moonlight, with the Sagrada Familia, the Glòries tower and the Tibidabo illuminated in the distance. The entrance also includes a visit to the attic of the building, where models, furniture and various elements that inspire Gaudí are presented.

This guitar festival is one of the most important in the country. Each year, it offers an eclectic program of national and international artists, ranging from the young promises of the guitar to dedicated stars. The concerts last several months in the most emblematic venues of the city: Palau de la Música Catalana, Razzmatazz, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Sala Apolo, Luz de Gas... The program, always varied, offers the best of classical guitar, flamenco, but also jazz, blues and rock!

Barcelona, renowned for its great openness and strong support of the LGBT community, celebrates the Pride every year with a large parade through the city's streets and many parallel activities: conferences, concerts, workshops, sports activities, etc. This event welcomes a very diverse audience in an always very joyful atmosphere. In addition to the traditional parade of tanks in a tide of rainbow flags, don't miss the traditional high heel race and drag queen competition!

Concerts throughout the summer on the terrace Casa Batlló.

Regularly, in the spring and summer, electronic music sessions in the Poble Espanyol. A whole space is suitable for families, with games and activities for children. 

International music festival celebrated as part of the Pedralbes Gardens. Designed by Nicolau Rubió i Tudurí in 1927, these beautiful gardens feature a wide variety of bougainvilleas, pines, cypresses and Himalayan cedars. You can also see two works by Gaudí: a wrought iron pergola drowned under the vegetation, and a fountain bench dedicated to Hercules. It is in this magnificent setting that the festival's outdoor concerts take place, whose eclectic programming attracts a very diverse audience. Many international artists!

International short film and animation festival. With more than 5,000 short films submitted each year, Mecal has become one of the most important festivals in its field in Spain. For about a month, screening sessions are organized in various areas of the city, including the French Institute, Macba and the Arts Santa Mònica artistic centre. Every Saturday in summer, Mecal Air offers film screenings in the open air in the Elisava gardens, behind the Museu del Disseny in Barcelona.

A major music festival celebrated in the Parc del Fòrum, each year welcoming big names from the international scene. The program is eclectic, with a wide variety of artists and musical styles, including pop, world music, electro, reggae and rock. Cruïlla means "crossroads" in Catalan, a name that perfectly illustrates the spirit of the festival and its desire to be open to all styles and cultures of the world. Some 80,000 people attend its open-air concerts on the Fòrum esplanade, with the sea as a backdrop.

Parallel to La Mercè, free concerts of national and international artists in the different areas of the city centre.

A music festival in several rooms of the city: Palau de la musica, L'Auditori and Gran Teatre del Liceu. Peaks of the bill jazz, flamenco and song author. Read more

International festival of musical documentary. Excellent programming in several rooms of Barcelona. 

International demonstration exclusively dedicated to video art. Many bars, shops and galleries take part in the festival exposing works by artists.

A few days after the Sainte-Eulalie celebrations, the Llum BCN festival takes over with a program dedicated to light. For three days, the lighting installations, mapping (video projection on facades) and other artistic creations transform the city into a laboratory for experimentation in the open air. Since 2018, the festival has been celebrated in the Poblenou district, where the old factories, wastelands and chimneys of the industrial era are a wonderful playground for artists!