arts-culture
Pere Portabella
A program of screenings drawn from this Catalan filmmaker’s repertoire.
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, Sep 27
arts-culture
Light Filtered Through the Cracks
MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention.
arts-culture
Echoes: Videos from the Han Nefkens Foundation Donation
An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation.
arts-culture
Catalan book week 2026
The city celebrates Catalan literature across one whole week
arts-culture
Picasso Cyprus
An exhibition exploring how ancient Cypriot art influenced Picasso’s art
arts-culture
Out of Focus, another Vision of Art
CaixaForum’s latest exhibition exploring blur and visual imprecision.
arts-culture
Sagrada Família Free Entry La Mercè
As part of La Mercè festivities, the Sagrada Familia opens its doors for free
arts-culture
Josep Maria de Sucre, Activist and Visionary Artist
A new exhibition on the work of Catalan visionary artist Josep Maria de Sucre
arts-culture
La Mercè 2026
One of the biggest cultural events on the calendar, La Mercè 2026 arrives
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
Elisava
A sun-soaked photography project capturing the Poblenou coastline.
arts-culture
Declaration of Love to Lenin, Juana Dolores Romero Casanova
This incredible artist’s first exhibition held at La Virreina.
arts-culture
Colecta Solidaria
A community-driven event that aims to give back to the local community
food-drink
Barcelona Hotel Bar Week 2026
Explore Barcelona’s grandest hotel bars and taste some signature cocktails
arts-culture
Diada Històrica Castellera
Some of the region’s best castellers teams descend on Plaça Sant Jaume
food-drink
Sustainable Food Festival 2026
Terra i Gust - the sustainable food festival - returns as part of La Mercè
food-drink
San Miguel Biergarten
This annual beer festival descends upon Poble Espanyol’s Plaza Mayor
music
BAM festival 2026
BAM is the part of La Mercè that offers us a free programme of music across Barcelona
arts-culture
Art & Coffee Oil Painting Workshop
Slow down, get creative and enjoy something a bit off the beaten track
film
Festival u22 2026
Festival U22 returns as Barcelona’s young cinema festival
music
Fat Freddy’s Drop
Wellington’s Fat Freddy’s Drop bring their hi-tek soul to Razzmatazz
film
Transhumant Film Festival 2026
The socially committed film and photojournalism festival returns
film
Hard Eight (Sydney)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s coolly controlled debut feature
film
What's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich’s classic screwball comedy
film
True Romance
Tony Scott's cult pulp-romance from 1993
Monday, Sep 28
arts-culture
Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme
An exhibition led by two Palestinian artists featuring songs, poetry, installations and more.
arts-culture
Like a Dance of Starlings
Reflecting on MACBA’s 30-year journey through a metaphor of starling murmuration.
Tuesday, Sep 29
arts-culture
Backstory Talks: Daisuke Yosumi
Practical ideas from Japanese minimalism
Wednesday, Sep 30
music
La Mercabanda 2026
Casa Batlló’s Magic Nights brings this quartet to its Dragon rooftop
film
Hard Truths
Mike Leigh’s prickly, darkly funny family drama
Places
film
Phenomena
This is one of the biggest, most beautiful-looking and sounding cinemas in Europe.
nightlife
The Barcelona Edition
Ian Schrager’s Born hotel, where the leafy rooftop bar draws the sunset crowd.
food-drink
Nobu Hotel
Twenty-three floors above Sants – a rooftop pool and terrace open to non-guests, plus Japanese-Peruvian cooking from Nobu Matsuhisa.
food-drink
Can Codina
Long one of Gràcia’s stalwarts, this “old man” bar has been brought up-to-date by the founders’ grandkids.
lgbt
Madame Jasmine
A Raval gay bar that embodies the neighborhood’s charms, queerness and eccentricities.
food-drink
Costa Pacífico
Costa Pacífico brings Mexican varieties of ceviche to Barcelona, plus other national favorites that aren’t so well-known here.
nightlife
Negroni
A tiny Raval cocktail bar with no menu – tell Javier and Eduard what you like.
food-drink
Koh-i-noor
This family-run restaurant has set itself up as a jewel in the Barcelona curry scene.
food-drink
Santamasa
Enjoy good food with a local feel at Santamasa in Sarrià.
nightlife
El Diset
Named for the 17°C wine is best served at – Catalan bottles by the glass, in Born.
food-drink
La Dentellière
This French-owned restaurant is perfect for romantic meals, group celebrations and those times when you need somewhere “nice but affordable.”
food-drink
Chi Nanit
Head to Chi Nanit for Shanghai-style Chinese food from the same people that owned the popular Nanit on Balmes.
nightlife
Coco Vail Beer Hall
The space is an embodiment of the founders’ passion for American craft beer and food.
food-drink
GiGi Von Tapas
Opened by the trailblazing team behind Milk and Firebug, GiGi’s is one of those places where every day feels like Sunday.
food-drink
Casa Lolea
Artisan sangría and tapas near the Palau de la Música, far from the Ramblas pitchers.
food-drink
Lateral
This glitzy tapas joint is the result of a €1.3 million investment.
food-drink
El Nacional
A sprawling food hall in a converted garage just off Passeig de Gràcia.
food-drink
Dr. Beer & Mr. Fried
A champion of craft beer and fried food, the new arrival draws inspiration from US-style cajun and creole cuisine.
food-drink
Monopol
One of the city’s most exciting places to eat, drink and watch football.
food-drink
El Magraner Boig
Authentic Greek dishes and atmosphere at this laid-back yet animated Raval restaurant.
food-drink
Mina
An intimate Italian-inspired restaurant serving up small plates and natural wines.
food-drink
Tacos Tacos
This restaurant pays tribute to fishermens’ favorite tapas.
nightlife
Bloody Mary Cocktail Lounge
They serve no less than 10 versions of the much-loved drink.
nightlife
Guzzo
Urban art, a soul kitchen plus live concerts and DJs.
nightlife
La Llibreria
This self-dubbed “cocktail bar and book collection” is the latest gem to appear in Les Corts.
food-drink
Anita Gelato
Anita’s handmade gelato runs past 150 flavors, from pistachio to halva, scooped fresh all day.
food-drink
Ocaña
Four spaces in one, including the new D.F. Mexican restaurant.
nightlife
Libertine
Casa Bonay’s lobby bar – gothic flowers, Eric Stephenson cocktails, vinyl DJs.
food-drink
Isabella’s
If you’re a lover of Italian cuisine, you’re in for a treat at Isabella’s.
nightlife
Penny Banger
This expat-owned bar sits in part of a 450-year-old Modernist palace.