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Life in Barcelona can often feel like one long party — there’s hardly a week of the year without at least one celebration! The city offers a wide range of religious events, where each neighbourhood comes alive to celebrate its own patron saint’s day, as well as public holidays celebrated nationwide. Alongside the traditional street festivals, Barcelona is also home to a huge variety of world-famous music festivals. Primavera Sound is one of the biggest highlights on the calendar, attracting almost 300,000 people last year. The long-running experimental music showcase, Sónar Festival, is another must-attend event for any true music lover.

There’s so much to experience on a trip to Barcelona, no matter what time of year you visit. Keep reading to discover all the festivals and events in Barcelona you simply can’t miss!

January

Epiphany

Epiphany is marked by the famous Three Kings Parade, where Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar arrive by boat on the Santa Eulàlia at the end of La Rambla, before setting off on their colourful procession through the city. Acrobats, circus clowns and elf children join them along the route, with crowds of excited kids gathering to hand over their Christmas wish lists. The morning of the 6th is another public holiday, when children wake up hoping to find plenty of presents waiting for them!

February

Barcelona Carnival

Barcelona Carnival is one of the highlights of the annual Catalan calendar, celebrated as a final chance to go all out before Lent begins. Carnival lasts for a full week, packed with plenty of food and celebrations, and reaches its peak with La Gran Rua de Carnaval. You’ll see colourful costumes, impressive floats and fireworks as a large parade makes its way along one of the city’s main streets.

March

Holy Week

Holy Week is a week-long celebration that takes place in cities all across Spain in the lead-up to Easter. Thousands of people take part in impressive processions featuring ornate floats carrying religious statues, accompanied by marching bands and crowds that line the streets to watch. You can also enjoy plenty of traditional treats during Holy Week in Barcelona, such as the Mona de Pascua, Bunyols and Torrijas.

April

Sant Jordi’s Day

La Diada de Sant Jordi is Saint George’s Day, the patron saint of Catalonia. It’s Barcelona’s own take on Valentine’s Day, when people exchange books and roses to celebrate love and culture. How sweet! Head to Las Ramblas, where you’ll find stalls lining the entire avenue, selling books and flowers from end to end.

June

Primavera Sound

Primavera Sound is a five-day celebration of pop, rock and underground music, bringing together some of the biggest artists in the world. This year’s lineup features Doja Cat, Bad Gyal, Skrillex, Gorillaz and Rusowsky, among many others. It’s the city’s most popular music festival and usually takes place during the first week of June.

Sónar Festival

Another one of the city’s most important festivals is the Sónar Festival. Since 1994, it has drawn huge crowds with its cutting-edge electronic and experimental music. Sónar is split into two parts: Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night, each offering a different lineup of impressive artists.

Spanish Formula One Grand Prix

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has hosted the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix since 1991. Drivers and teams usually hit the track in May each year, making it an unmissable event for any motorsport fan.

Sant Joan

One of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Barcelona is the Sant Joan Festival, which not only marks the birthday of Saint John but also celebrates the start of summer. The official public holiday falls on 24th June, although most people choose to celebrate on the night of 23rd June with parties, fireworks and a feast. During this festival, many locals head to Barceloneta Beach, where spectacular firework displays light up the sky, food is shared and music fills the air. It’s truly an unforgettable celebration.

July

Cruïlla Festival

Music festivals keep rolling into Barcelona throughout the summer, and the next highlight on the annual calendar is the Cruïlla Festival in July. It offers a broad mix of musical styles from different countries, genres and eras, making it appealing to a wide and diverse audience. Like Primavera Sound, Cruïlla takes place at the Parc del Fòrum, just a short distance from the city centre.

Montjuïc by Night

Set on Montjuïc, this one-night free event is packed with creative entertainment. From film screenings and live concerts in an ancient Greek-style amphitheatre to free entry to Montjuïc’s museums and even DJs by the Olympic swimming pools, there’s no shortage of things to do at this truly unique event!

August

Festa Major de Gràcia

In mid-August, Barcelona’s biggest neighbourhood celebration kicks off with the Festa Major de Gràcia. The main highlight of the festival is the competition for the best-decorated street — something the local residents take very seriously!

There are also traditional dances and live music throughout the festival, as well as the wild Correfoc (fire run), where people dress up as devils and dance to the beat of drums while setting off fireworks from their pitchforks. It’s a great opportunity to experience some of Catalonia’s most unique traditions.

September

Festa de la Mercè

This exciting four-day festival has been taking place since 1902 and is Barcelona’s way of saying goodbye to the warmer months and wrapping up the summer season in style. This traditional celebration is held in the city centre every September in honour of one of Barcelona’s patron saints, La Mercè.

One of the highlights of La Mercè is the Gegants and Capgrossos (giants and big-headed figures), towering papier-mâché characters carried on people’s shoulders as they parade through the streets. Another must-see event is the Castellers, human towers where teams climb on top of one another to build structures that can reach up to eight levels high. The celebrations come to a spectacular close at the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, with laser lights and an impressive fireworks display — the perfect way to end the summer!

National Day of Catalonia

11th September marks one of the most important dates in the annual Catalan calendar: La Diada Nacional de Catalunya. It commemorates the fall of Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 and, despite marking a defeat, the day has evolved into a celebration of Catalan history and culture. Many museums host open-door events, and concerts are usually held throughout the city to mark La Diada.

October – November

In October, Barcelona celebrates La Castanyada, one of the most authentic autumn traditions in the city, held towards the end of the month. Families and friends gather to enjoy roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes and panellets — small marzipan treats made with pine nuts, almonds or coconut. The city fills with traditional chestnut stalls and bakery displays, creating a warm, local atmosphere that now coexists with more modern celebrations like Halloween.

On the other hand, All Saints’ Day, on 1st November, has a much calmer and more reflective feel. It’s common for people to visit cemeteries to remember loved ones and share family meals where panellets continue to take centre stage. Together, these dates blend tradition, food and reflection, offering a different way to experience Barcelona in autumn.

December

Fira de Santa Llúcia

This traditional Christmas market, dating back to 1786, features over 300 stalls selling handmade Christmas decorations and gifts. You’ll find figurines for nativity scenes, including the curious Catalan character known as the ‘caganer’, as well as children’s favourite, the ‘caga tió’, which they hope will bring them Christmas gifts.

If any — or all — of these fantastic events and festivals have caught your eye, let us help you find the perfect place to stay for your trip. AB Apartment Barcelona offers over 500 apartments available to rent across the city, so you can feel right at home while making the most of everything Barcelona has to offer. Get in touch with our customer service team for help or advice about your stay — we’ll be more than happy to assist you.