Barcelona hosts an incredible variety of events throughout the year, from major festivals and concerts to sporting events and exhibitions. Here are my top picks for the best things to see and do.
Festivals
La Mercè Barcelona’s biggest annual festival, with free concerts, castellers, giant parades, traditional Catalan celebrations, spectacular correfocs and events across the city. 23–27 September 2026.
Festa Major de Sarrià One of Barcelona’s traditional neighborhood festivals, with concerts, gegants, castellers, parades, correfocs and other Catalan cultural celebrations. 2–12 October 2026.
Oktoberfest Barcelona Bavarian-style beer festival with German food, live music and large beer tents. Runs Thursday to Sunday across three weekends. 24 September–11 October 2026.
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Exhibitions
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The Cult of Beauty at CCCB. A thought-provoking exhibition exploring how ideals of beauty have evolved through history, and how art, society, medicine and commerce shape what we consider attractive. Running until 8 November 2026.
The Sand House at MEAM. A major solo exhibition by Guillermo Lorca spanning a decade of the artist’s work. 28 May to 27 September 2026.
Prisoners of Love: Until the Sun of Freedom at MACBA. A contemporary multimedia exhibition by Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme exploring memory, resistance, and displacement through film, sound, and installation art. Running until 28 September 2026.
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Concerts
Pau Casals Tribute at Palau de la Música Catalana. The Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès and Orfeó Català join forces for a special concert celebrating the life and musical legacy of legendary Catalan cellist and conductor Pau Casals. September 28th.
Zucchero at Palau de la Música Catalana Italian blues-rock legend Zucchero brings his distinctive mix of blues, soul, rock and pop to one of Barcelona’s most spectacular concert halls, performing highlights from a career spanning more than four decades. September 29th.
Vanessa Paradis at Sala Apolo. The iconic French singer and actress comes to Barcelona as part of Festival Mil·lenni, bringing her distinctive blend of French pop and chanson to one of the city’s best-known live music venues. October 8th.
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Shows and Performances
Cirque du Soleil: KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities Cirque du Soleil brings its spectacular steampunk-inspired production to Barcelona, following an eccentric inventor who discovers a hidden world filled with breathtaking acrobatics, imaginative characters and fantastical mechanical creations. September 3rd–October 18th.
Aida Verdi’s monumental opera opens the Liceu season with a story of forbidden love, loyalty and conflict set against the grandeur of ancient Egypt. September 23rd–October 3rd and continuing.
Mamma Mia! The internationally successful musical tells a sunny story of family and identity through ABBA classics including “Dancing Queen” and “The Winner Takes It All.” At Teatre Tívoli. From September 26th.
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Sports Events
CSIO Barcelona Major international show-jumping event at the Reial Club de Polo de Barcelona, featuring the prestigious Longines League of Nations Final. 1–4 October.
Festival de la Velocidad de Barcelona One of Barcelona’s biggest motorsport weekends, featuring the GT World Challenge and high-performance GT cars competing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 2–4 October.
Metropolitan Sky Run Barcelona A challenging vertical race up the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower, with runners climbing 569 steps to reach the top. 3 October.
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Conferences
Liber – International Book Fair Spain’s largest publishing industry event, bringing together publishers, booksellers, literary agents, authors, and media professionals from around the world to showcase the latest trends in publishing, rights, and digital innovation. September 29 – October 1.
Tomorrow Tastes Mediterranean International gastronomy event exploring Mediterranean food, culinary innovation, health and sustainability, bringing together chefs, researchers and food-industry professionals. 19–20 October.
AI Congress Barcelona Conference focused on artificial intelligence, bringing together technology experts, companies and industry leaders to explore the latest AI developments and real-world applications. 20–22 October.