arts-culture
Light Filtered Through the Cracks
MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention
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
Friday, Jul 17
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
Minor White
An exhibition on one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American photography
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
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
Echoes: Videos from the Han Nefkens Foundatio4n Donation
An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation
music
SOUNDIT Festival 2026
Two days of open-air electronic music and big sound systems
arts-culture
Grec Festival de Barcelona 2026
Grec Festival returns as Barcelona’s great summer celebration of performing arts
music
Heels & Souls On The Beach Palestine fundraiser
Heels & Souls and Les Enfants beach party in aid of Palestine Red Cresent Society
arts-culture
Festa Major del Poble Sec 2026
Poble Sec’s streets and squares coming to life with 10 days of music, food and more
arts-culture
Shakespeare in the Park
Parking Shakespeare returns to the Parc de l'Estació del Nord
music
Les Nits de Barcelona 2026
Turning the gardens of the Palau de Pedralbes into the most elegant summer stage
arts-culture
Solitudes
The silent, mask-based theatre piece is a bittersweet comedy about loneliness
music
BARTS Festival
Bringing the spirit of one of Barcelona’s biggest venues into a new festival format
film
Barcelona 2026
Whit Stillman's witty comedy explores friendship, politics and culture in early-80s Barcelona
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
music
Nou Barris Flamenco Festival 2026
The neighbourhood becomes a summer meeting point for flamenco lovers
film
Mecal Air Barcelona 2026
Mecal Air turns summer nights into relaxed open-air short-film cinema sessions
Saturday, Jul 18
fitness-wellness
Outdoor Fitness Workout
An energising group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront
music
Zero Castigo + Mark Allen Soul
Oviedo artist Zero Castigo plays live with Dutch collaborator Nora Korra
film
Cinema Lliure a la Platja 2026
This cinema cycle brings free open-air screenings to the beach
Sunday, Jul 19
arts-culture
The Last Days of Pompeii 2026
An immersive exhibition turning ancient history into an incredible spectacle
film
Fury 2026
Fritz Lang's searing first American film
music
Rebel Drag Pride Edition
Rebel Drag returns to Razzmatazz with a special Pride edition
Monday, Jul 20
film
Cineclub 113
A film to get you in the mood, then a DJ set to carry the feeling into the night
Thursday, Jul 23
film
Open-Air Cinema at L’illa Diagonal 2026
Open-air cinema at L’Illa Diagonal brings an easy feel to our summer calendar
Ongoing
arts-culture
The Cult of Beauty
The CCCB’s latest exhibition delves into one of the most loaded ideas in culture
arts-culture
Out of Focus, another Vision of Art
CaixaForum’s latest exhibition exploring blur and visual imprecision
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
Cal Trapella
Opened by three friends, Cal Trapella offers a cosy refuge in which to devour the homemade tapas on offer.
arts-culture
El Call
Visit Europe's oldest synagogue.
food-drink
L'Òstia
This restaurant pays tribute to fishermens’ favorite tapas.
food-drink
Cyclic Beer Farm
A factory and bar specialising in beer fermentation and natural wine making.
food-drink
Contracorrent Bar
A local wine bar attracting a Catalan-speaking,natural wine-loving crowd
food-drink
Salut Wine Studio
Hone your palate during the lockdown with wine delivery from Salut’s online shop, including two or three-bottle subscription wine boxes for €39 and €59 monthly, respectively.
food-drink
Jaqueline
Mediterranean restaurant, jazz club, Japanese bar and clandestine cocktail bar in one
lgbt
La Chapelle
This is probably one of the thinnest gay bars you’ll ever visit, but also one with the most charm and atmosphere. La Chapelle is in the heart of Barcelona’s gay district and is a great place for a few drinks as part of your night out.
food-drink
Fat Barbies
The three guys behind the restaurant take inspiration from American BBQ, but equally, they are inspired by a Mexican mole or Argentinian provoleta.
food-drink
La Xarxa
On the corner of Plaça Molina you’ll find the traditional Catalan restaurant, La Xarxa.
food-drink
Chennai Masala Dosa
Chef Selva hails from the South Indian city of Chennai, aka Madras.
nightlife
Big Bang Bar
Big Bang Bar has long been a mecca for local musicians and traveling tunesmiths looking to share music on an intimate stage.
film
Phenomena
This is one of the biggest, most beautiful-looking and sounding cinemas in Europe.
food-drink
Kobuta Ramen i Mes
A contender for the best ramen shop in Barcelona has cropped up in the unlikely neighborhood of Sants.
food-drink
Ninot Cuina
This restaurant in Mercat del Ninot is like Cuines Santa Caterina, except without the tourists.
food-drink
Abissínia
Take a journey to Ethiopia without leaving Barcelona.
food-drink
Bacaro
A low-key trattoria that balances warmth and charm in a way that only Italians can.
food-drink
Martínez
Perched on one of Montjuïc’s cactus-clad cliffs, this is one of the finest tapas bars in town.
food-drink
Can ros
A classic Catalan seafood restaurant in La Barceloneta.
food-drink
Contraban
The stylish signature restaurant of the Wittmore Hotel
nightlife
Collage
A place to appreciate cocktails, art and the finer things in life.
nightlife
Cabaret
The five-star Barcelona Edition hotel’s downstairs Cabaret is Barcelona’s answer to a supper club, where all the senses are teased.
food-drink
Betlem
A gastrobar based out of a locale with a history going to back to 1892.
food-drink
La Poderosa
With a selection of different Venezuelan delicacies, including cakes and pastries, you might be mistaken for believing it’s just your average takeaway joint.
nightlife
Input
Friday nights feature forward-thinking electronic music…
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
Anita Gelato
Anita’s handmade gelato runs past 150 flavors, from pistachio to halva, scooped fresh all day.
romance
La Paloma
A perfect short-term Raval retreat with that special someone.
food-drink
Gallo Santo
Spain’s first fully plant-based Mexican eatery