Barcelona has a rich culture and heritage, which means there are plenty of festivals and public holidays throughout the year where you can eat, drink, and be merry with the locals.
1st January – New Year’s Day
Like much of the world, Barcelona celebrates New Year’s Day with good food and oodles of alcohol. Family dinners tend to continue way beyond the midnight countdown, with partygoers popping out to clubs in the early hours of the morning.
5th and 6th January – Epiphany
Epiphany or Three Kings Day (Dia de los Reyes Magos in Spanish) is one of the most popular public celebrations in Spain. Essentially, it’s an alternative to Christmas, where the Three Wise Men bring presents to the whole family. Elaborate parades march through the streets with decorated trucks throwing out sweets from their windows.
April – Good Friday
Spain’s religious past means that Easter is an important time of year, with Good Friday forming part of the Semana Santa (the Holy Week). On this day, families get together to enjoy meals and the streets come alive with performances, music, and food. The dates vary from year to year.
April – Easter Monday
Like Good Friday, Easter Monday falls in the Semana Santa and is a hive of activity. Dates change from year to year.
23rd April – Feast of Sant Jordi
Seen as the Catalan version of St Valentines’ Day, this festival sees men giving roses to women and women giving books to men to celebrate Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalunya.
1st May – Labour Day
On this politically-fuelled day, there are usually countless peaceful protests and demonstrations that take place at the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona.
1st June – Segona Pascua
A local holiday celebrated throughout Barcelona with performances and festivities.
23rd and 24th June – St. John’s Day Festival
Known as Sant Joan in Barcelona, this festival is a flurry of fireworks, bonfires and beach parties in Catalunya’s version of Fireworks Night. Expect lots of colour, loud bangs, and general merriment into the early hours.
15th August – Assumption Day
A celebration of the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. On this day, Barcelona marks the death of the Virgin Mary with feasts and festivities.
11th September – National Day of Catalonia
This important date in the calendar is filled with parties, performances, and parades to celebrate Catalonia.
24th September – La Merce Festival
This is the largest and liveliest festival in Barcelona with tonnes of parties to get involved with, hundreds of festivities to enjoy, and performances to marvel at. Get ready to party!
12th October – Columbus Day
A festival to celebrate the anniversary of Columbus arriving in the Americas. Throughout the day there are big family feasts and street parties to enjoy.
6th December – Constitution Day
Constitution Day serves as a reminder of the referendum held in 1978 when a new constitution was approved. It marked a turning point in Spain’s political history as the country moved towards a constitutional monarchy and democracy.
8th December – Day of the Immaculate Conception
This important date in the religious calendar is a feast of the Roman Catholic Church, when Catholics celebrate the miraculous conception of Jesus. It’s also considered the start of the Christmas period in Barcelona.
25th December – Christmas Day
Christmas Day in Barcelona is a time to spend with friends and family, enjoying good food and drink, and relaxing.
26th December – Saint Stephen’s Day
Known as San Esteban or Sant Esteve, this festival is celebrated the day after Christmas Day and commemorates the first known Christian martyr.
