Wat er het hele jaar speelt in Barcelona, Spanje

Rustig — de rustige maand volgens de redactie, Three Kings parade

• Festival

  Three Kings parade

  5–6 janKerst & nieuwjaarDruk

  The kings arrive by sea on the evening of 5 January and process through the city throwing sweets, which closes the Christmas season. The 6th is the holiday and the day Catalan children actually get presents. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Calçot season (1 dec – 5 apr (meestal))

Rustig — de rustige maand volgens de redactie, schoolvakanties in 3 van de markten die de plek vullen

• Festival

  Santa Eulàlia

  12–15 febCarnaval

  The winter festa major: giants, castellers and free concerts through the old town over four days, aimed squarely at residents. In 2026 it lands on the same dates as Carnival, orange-throwing included. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Calçot season (1 dec – 5 apr (meestal))

Druk — tussen de pieken in, Semana Santa

• Feestdag

  Semana Santa

  29 mrt – 6 aprPasen & Goede WeekDrukBoek vroegSluitingen

  Good Friday is a national holiday and every region adds Holy Thursday or Easter Monday. Spain travels in large numbers, so trains, flights and hotels book up at higher rates, and processions of some size close streets in almost every town. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Calçot season (1 dec – 5 apr (meestal))

Druk — tussen de pieken in, Semana Santa

• Festival

  Sant Jordi

  23 aprGroot festivalDruk

  Every street becomes a stall of books and roses and the whole city walks around buying both. The single best day of the year to be here, and it is a working day, not a holiday. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Semana Santa (29 mrt – 6 apr), Calçot season (1 dec – 5 apr (meestal))

Tussenseizoen — tussen de pieken in, schoolvakanties in 4 van de markten die de plek vullen

In mei begint er niets nieuws.

Topdrukte — de drukste maand volgens de redactie, Sant Joan

• Seizoen

  Sea warm enough to swim

  20 jun – 20 okt · meestal

  The Barceloneta water is genuinely cold until late June and at its warmest in September, which is why locals swim well into October and laugh at May bathers.

• Festival

  Sant Joan

  23–24 junLicht & vuurDrukRisico

  Bonfires, firecrackers and fireworks on the beach from dusk until dawn on the night of the 23rd, followed by a public holiday to sleep it off. Loud in every neighbourhood, not just at the water. Bron ↗

Topdrukte — de drukste maand volgens de redactie, Summer holidays in Spanje

In juli begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Sea warm enough to swim (20 jun – 20 okt (meestal))

Topdrukte — de drukste maand volgens de redactie, Festa Major de Gràcia

• Sluiting

  The August closures

  1 aug – 5 sep

  Neighbourhood restaurants, bakeries and small shops shut for the holidays from the start of August into the first week of September. The tourist core stays open; the places locals send you to often do not, so check before crossing town. Bron ↗

• Festival

  Festa Major de Gràcia

  15–21 augGroot festivalDruk

  Gràcia's streets are decorated by their own residents and judged against each other, and the neighbourhood holds a week of concerts under them. Free, packed, and the reason to be in the city in mid-August. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Sea warm enough to swim (20 jun – 20 okt (meestal))

Topdrukte — La Mercè, Summer holidays in Spanje

• Festival

  La Mercè

  23–27 sepReligieus feestDruk

  The city's own festa major: human towers on Plaça Sant Jaume, the correfoc fire run, and free concerts across several stages. The 24th is a local public holiday. Bron ↗

• Natuur

  Wild mushroom season

  20 sep – 30 nov · meestalPlukseizoen

  Rovellons and other bolets come down from the Catalan hills after the first autumn rain and take over the market stalls and the menus for a couple of months.

Nog steeds bezig: Sea warm enough to swim (20 jun – 20 okt (meestal)), The August closures (1 aug – 5 sep)

Tussenseizoen — tussen de pieken in, schoolvakanties in 4 van de markten die de plek vullen

In oktober begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Sea warm enough to swim (20 jun – 20 okt (meestal)), Wild mushroom season (20 sep – 30 nov (meestal))

Rustig — de rustige maand volgens de redactie, Fira de Santa Llúcia

• Festival

  Fira de Santa Llúcia

  26 nov – 23 decKerst & nieuwjaarDruk

  The oldest Christmas market in the city, set up beside the cathedral from the end of November: nativity figures, mistletoe, and the caganer stalls that visitors take a while to understand. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Wild mushroom season (20 sep – 30 nov (meestal))

Rustig — de rustige maand volgens de redactie, Fira de Santa Llúcia

• Natuur

  Calçot season

  1 dec – 5 apr · meestalPlukseizoen

  Grilled spring onions eaten with the fingers over romesco, at farm restaurants in the countryside inland. City places do a version, but the calçotada is a day out of Barcelona rather than a dinner in it.

Nog steeds bezig: Fira de Santa Llúcia (26 nov – 23 dec)