arts-culture
European Balloon Festival
The European Balloon Festival turns Igualada into a sky full of colour
miniguide
The best things to do in Barcelona, curated by locals. Events, restaurants, nightlife and the spots worth knowing – updated weekly.
Barcelona
miniguide
The best things to do in Barcelona, curated by locals. Events, restaurants, nightlife and the spots worth knowing – updated weekly.
Events
Sunday, Jul 12
arts-culture
Light Filtered Through the Cracks
MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention
lgbt
Pride BCN 2026
Pride is back, and the city is ready to turn the volume, colour and fun all the way up
arts-culture
Echoes: Videos from the Han Nefkens Foundatio4n Donation
An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation
arts-culture
Joaquim Gomis Transatlantic
An exhibition on the photography of Catalan photographer, Joaquim Gomis
arts-culture
Patrim’25: Look in Silence. That Blues Look
A snapshot of emerging artistic talent from the Universitat de Barcelona’s Faculty of Fine Art
arts-culture
Joaquín Tusquets de Cabirol. Eloquent Form
An exhibition on the work of the Catalan photographer whose images capture postwar life
arts-culture
“Small, Middle and Big” Family Space
A family space for children to play, rest, read, draw and imagine together
arts-culture
Minor White
An exhibition on one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American photography
food-drink
Poblenou Craft Beer Festival 2026
Barcelona’s big neighbourhood celebration of craft-beer
arts-culture
Grec Festival de Barcelona 2026
Grec Festival returns as Barcelona’s great summer celebration of performing arts
arts-culture
Solitudes
The silent, mask-based theatre piece is a bittersweet comedy about loneliness
music
Les Nits de Barcelona 2026
Turning the gardens of the Palau de Pedralbes into the most elegant summer stage
arts-culture
Shakespeare in the Park
Parking Shakespeare returns to the Parc de l'Estació del Nord
music
BARTS Festival
Bringing the spirit of one of Barcelona’s biggest venues into a new festival format
film
Fury 2026
Fritz Lang's searing first American film
film
When Harry Met Sally
Rob Reiner's timeless romantic comedy
film
Cinema Lliure a la Platja 2026
This cinema cycle brings free open-air screenings to the beach
Monday, Jul 13
film
Cineclub 113
A film to get you in the mood, then a DJ set to carry the feeling into the night
music
BACHcelona Festival 2026
Bringing Johann Sebastian Bach into dialogue with performances across the city
film
Sala Montjuic 2026
Open-air cinema, live music and picnics under the starry night sky
Tuesday, Jul 14
fitness-wellness
80's Step Dance
A rooftop workout with leg warmers energy and some high-intensity cardio.
Wednesday, Jul 15
arts-culture
Anna Moreno. The Third Twist
MACBA welcomes a new exhibition on the work of Anna Moreno
music
Nou Barris Flamenco Festival 2026
The neighbourhood becomes a summer meeting point for flamenco lovers
Thursday, Jul 16
film
Open-Air Cinema at L’illa Diagonal 2026
Open-air cinema at L’Illa Diagonal brings an easy feel to our summer calendar
music
Baiuca + Júlia Colom
Baiuca and Júlia Colom share the stage for the first time at Parallel 62
Saturday, Jul 18
fitness-wellness
Outdoor Fitness Workout
An energising group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront
Ongoing
arts-culture
Like a Dance of Starlings
Reflecting on MACBA’s 30-year journey through a metaphor of starling murmuration
arts-culture
Chez Matisse
CaixaForum's deep dive into Henri Matisse
arts-culture
The Last Days of Pompeii 2026
An immersive exhibition turning ancient history into an incredible spectacle
Places
food-drink
Xiringuito Escribà
The Escribà family’s beachfront paella house on Bogatell, cooking rice over wood fires since 1992 – the pastry dynasty’s savory venture.
food-drink
La Balmesina
Fellow Italophiles rejoice – we can now enjoy authentic sourdough pizzas right here in Barcelona.
food-drink
Betlem
A gastrobar based out of a locale with a history going to back to 1892.
lgbt
Bar Rufián
Charming couple Deryck and Oliver organize pre-parties before queer events at Apolo and Plataforma, located right down the very same street.
nightlife
Apolo
Founded in 1943, this is one of the city’s premier live music venues and nightclubs.
food-drink
Cacho
Homemade food, great music, local beers and what they bill as “the best terrace of the @22 district.”
food-drink
Chivuo’s
They have gained a following for their “slow” street food and craft beer.
romance
H Regàs
A sleek and modern love hotel in Sant Gervasi.
food-drink
Cera 23
Traditional Spanish fare with creative touches.
food-drink
Avocado
This cool restaurant serves up some of the classics from Latin American street cuisine (burritos, arepas, tacos…) all made with high-quality ingredients and many containing – you guessed it – avocado.
food-drink
Can Codina
Long one of Gràcia’s stalwarts, this “old man” bar has been brought up-to-date by the founders’ grandkids…
nightlife
Old Fashioned
This tiny cocktail bar was inspired by the American tradition of Kentucky bourbon and rye whiskey.
food-drink
Els Sortidors del Parlament
A mechanic’s workshop has been transformed into a very modern bodega.
nightlife
BrewDog Barcelona
The young Scottish brewery is making waves with its American-style craft beer.
food-drink
Luzuria
Luzuria is about simple food made with passion.
nightlife
Marsella
This charmingly grimy Raval bar is famous for its absinthe, and said to be Barcelona’s oldest.
nightlife
B Lounge
This sleek hotel lounge serves up tapas and fusion cuisine.
food-drink
Abissínia
Take a journey to Ethiopia without leaving Barcelona.
food-drink
Albé
This gastrobar offering Catalan dishes with a genuine Lebanese touch.
food-drink
Martínez
Perched on one of Montjuïc’s cactus-clad cliffs, this is one of the finest tapas bars in town.
nightlife
Paradiso
Paradiso serves up unusual and creative cocktails. Cocktails that smoke, cocktails that fly and the emblematic Mediterranean Treasure, which won mixologist Giacomo Giannotti a World Class award.
food-drink
Azimuth
Perched atop the glitzy Almanac (5* grand luxury), this is one of the sexiest hotel rooftops in Barcelona.
food-drink
Jaqueline
Mediterranean restaurant, jazz club, Japanese bar and clandestine cocktail bar in one
nightlife
La Casa de la Pradera
A dive bar with cheap drinks and a mixed crowd of locals.
food-drink
7 Portes
The 1836 institution where paella was invented for a dandy who wouldn't peel shrimp.
food-drink
Fismuler
After opening their first location in Madrid, elBulli alumni Nino Redruello and Patxi Zumárraga decided to open their second location in Barcelona.
food-drink
Pizza Circus
This unassuming little pizza takeout is one of those places you get dragged to by “that foodie friend” after tipping back one too many cold ones.
food-drink
Batea
A modern seafood bistro that reimagines the traditional marisquería concept
food-drink
Baby Jalebi
The offering is billed as Punjabi street food but includes familiar plates like chicken tikka masala and saag paneer alongside more unusual dishes like fried okra.
lgbt
Casa Jaime
Casa Jaime is big enough to keep the action at the bar and terrace interesting (no need for gay hookup apps here), but with enough romantic corners you can find a quiet moment with that special one – gay, straight, whatever.