Holidays & Events in Barcelona
Festivals and upcoming events in Barcelona 2024
Here is an overview of the main holidays, festivals and events in Barcelona Spain.
Holidays, Festivals & Events in Barcelona (2024)
| 5 January 2024 Epiphany | Epiphany is an important holiday in Spain. In the evening on January 5th, the three kings (Balthasar, Caspar and Melchior, representing Arabia, the Orient, and Africa) arrive on horseback, camel and elephant with a large parade. There will be lots of candy handed out in the city. 'Día de los Reyes Magos' on January 6, is celebrated with a lot of presents within the family circle. |
| 10, 11 and 12 February 2024 Feste de Santa Eulalia | The winter festival of Barcelona's second patron saint, Santa Eulalia. During the festivities, the focus is on the children with parades of giant puppets, concerts, castells (human towers), fireworks, and the BCN Light Festival. During this festival of lights, the façades of many important buildings are lit up with projections of visual stories. Many museums (including Picasso and Miro) offer free admittance. More info. |
| 3 March 2024 Festa di Sant Medir | During this festival, loads of sweets are handed out to the audience watching the parade. The parade starts at 8 PM at Carrer de Sant Salvador and ends in Jardinet de Gràcia |
| 10 March 2024 Marathon | The Marathon of Barcelona |
| 23 April 2020 Dia de Sant Jordi | Also known as Spanish Valentine's Day. The people celebrate that Barcelona's patron saint slew the dragon and then returned to his beloved with a rose. It's tradition for Spanish men to do the same on Dia de Sant Jordi. The woman receives a rose from her lover and the man a book. The rose symbolises love, referring to the legend of knight Jordi, who saved the King's daughter from the dragon, after which a rose bush grew where the dragon's blood had landed. You will find many stalls selling books and roses around the Ramblas. |
| Last week of April 2024 Feria de Abril de Cataluña | Big festival at metro stop El Maresme Forum. Fair, party tents, and lots of Spanish music, flamenco, and traditional dress. www.fecac.com |
| 1 May 2024 Labour Day | This is a bank holiday all over Spain. Please note that many shops and some attractions are closed. |
| 13 - 15 June 2024 Festival del Sonar | International music festival with progressive music. www.sonar.es |
| 23 - 24 June 2024 San Juan | Midsummer night's celebrations with spectacular fireworks and bonfires on the beach. There are processions everywhere. The start of summer is celebrated on the longest day of the year. Shops and museums will be open on that day. Make sure you get to the beach on time if you want to see the lighting of the bonfires. Open-air festivals at several places around the city, such as in Poble Espanyol. |
| Early August 2024 Sala Montjuïc | Open air film festival at the castle of Montjuïc. |
| 15 - 21 August 2024 La Fiesta de Gràcia | A street festival for all ages in the Gràcia quarter. The festival always begins on 15 August, Assumption of Mary. More info Gràcia festival. |
| 11 September 2024 Dia de Catalunya | Independence Day. Originally a day of mourning, later turned into a national holiday. It's a day of celebrations, demonstrations, and political statements. |
| 24 September 2024 Festes de la Mercè | Large and colourful four-day event. This holiday commemorates Barcelona's patron saint. The festival has many performances ranging from a parade of giants, constructing human towers ('castells') on Placa de Sant Jaume, concerts (Barcelona Acció Musical festival), food markets, and a fireworks show on the Montjuïc. Several historical buildings open their doors to the public on this day, such as city hall Palau de la Generalitat. More info. |
| 12 October 2024 Fiesta Nacional de España | This is a national holiday in Spain; the day Columbus arrived in America in 1492. Apart from the fact that many stores are closed, you will hardly notice this in Barcelona. |
| 6 December 2024 Día de la Constitución | The day of the constitution. This national holiday in Spain is mainly celebrated in the family circle. |
| 8 December 2024 La inmaculada | The Immaculate Conception is the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. National free holiday throughout Spain. Not a very special day in Barcelona and many Spaniards spend these days off for a long weekend. |
| 31 December 2024 La Noche Vieja | A show featuring music, light effects, and grand fireworks takes place at Palau Nacional and the Font Magica starting at 10:30 pm. If you plan to go clubbing, you should consider buying tickets in advance as many bars will be closed on New Year's Eve. In Poble Espanyol also often has a large New Year's Eve party. |
Castellers, a typical Catalan tradition
New Year's Eve with fireworks on Placa d'Espana
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