Carnaval
February/March
Build up to the climactic “burial of the sardine” by gorging on food and drink as this pre-Lent celebration. Expect colourful costumes, musical parades and bars packed to the rafters as Barcelona gets into the party spirit.
Sant Joan
June 23rd
Prepare for the Sant Joan festival with days of revelry, making sure you join in with the locals by partaking in the tradition of supping on cava. Beach bonfires and firecrackers illuminate the night sky on June 23rd each year.
Festival del Grec
June-August
The Teatre Grec on Montjuïc lends its name to this sizeable highbrow festival of culture. The theatre is one of the key venues as dance, music, circus and theatre performances are put on.
Sónar
June
Billed as an “International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art”, this three-day extravaganza hosts creative professionals by their thousands, and is the setting for some serious partying at the hands of its electronic-spinning DJs.
Festes de la Mercè
September
This is quite literally Barcelona’s biggest annual festival, as giants parade the streets in honour of the city’s patron saint. A week of celebration sees concerts and firework displays bringing the streets to life.