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
Guitar BCN Festival A long-running music festival featuring guitar concerts spanning genres from flamenco and jazz to rock and acoustic. Many performances take place in iconic venues across the city. January 17th to mid-September.
Festa Major del Poblenou Poblenou’s main annual neighborhood festival, with concerts, castellers, giant parades, children’s activities, a lively correfoc and closing fireworks on Bogatell beach. 10–20 September 2026.
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.
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Exhibitions
Steve McCurry Henan Province, China, 2004 70x100cm ©Steve McCurry All rights reserved
ICONS at Palau Martorell. The most comprehensive retrospective of Steve McCurry ever presented in Barcelona, featuring more than 150 iconic photographs including the legendary “Afghan Girl.” May 15 to September 6 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
The Weeknd at Palau Sant Jordi. One of the year’s biggest stadium concerts, featuring hits from across his career. September 1.
Aitana at Palau Sant Jordi. One of Spain’s biggest pop stars brings her highly anticipated tour to Barcelona for four nights, performing chart-topping hits and fan favorites in a spectacular arena show. September 4th, 5th, 7th & 8th.
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.
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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
Extreme Barcelona One of Europe’s largest urban sports festivals with skateboarding, BMX, scooter, breaking, freestyle competitions. 4-6 September.
24H de Barcelona de Automobilismo One of Spain’s premier endurance motor racing events, featuring GT and touring cars battling around the clock at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. 19–20 September.
Cursa Popular de Montbau A community running event in Barcelona’s Montbau neighborhood held in support of AFANOC, the Catalan association for families and friends of children with cancer. 20 September.
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Conferences
European Blockchain Convention A two-day conference bringing together blockchain leaders, investors, financial institutions, startups, and digital asset innovators to explore the latest developments in Web3, cryptocurrencies, tokenization, and institutional adoption. September 16–17.
AI Summit Barcelona A two-day conference bringing together AI founders, developers, investors, enterprise leaders, and innovators to explore the latest advances in artificial intelligence through keynotes, workshops, networking, and live demonstrations. September 22–23.
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.