February / March

The Barcelona Carnival is a major event that involves the usual carnival floats, dancers, music and costumes going on a procession through the streets. This event is celebrating the arrival of the Carnival King, and is celebrated across much of Barcelona in all the neighbourhoods.

March

The Barcelona Beer Festival is a 3 day affair in March and showcases various kinds of craft beer, wines, spirits, champagne and sparkling wine, but also delicatessen, oils & vinegars and so on.

March

Candy festival!

The unique Festa de Sant Medir largely involves the random distribution of around 6 tons of candy, in one evening.

Pack extra toothpaste.

May

The Barcelona Primavera is one of the most respected and high profile music festivals in Europe. Every year, the festival line up boasts many top acts across all genres and tastes and incorporating both new acts and music legends.

May

Motor racing (obviously)

Only two years old, and alongside actual racing, the Formula 1 Gran Premio de Espana Pirelli offers many unique experiences for F1 fans such as racing simulators, 200 metre zip line, Pit Stop Challenges and acts from both local DJ's and live music artists.

June

Sonar is Europe’s biggest dance music and new media festivals and alongside Glastonbury is one of the most well known festivals in Europe. This major event is huge with over 125,000 people and as you'd expect features many top name acts and DJ's. Also, being mid summer you needn't worry too much about the weather.

June

Barcelona Gay Pride is a huge all day event at the end of June with many stage shows, other events and activities.

July

Not quite as big as Primavera or Sonar, the Cruïlla is more suited to alternative music and indie with much smaller crowds and niche programme.

July

The Monegros Desert Festival is something else. Not dissimilar to Burning Man in the US, the MDF (formerly known as the Groove Parade) is a world-famous electronic music festival with 20 yrs of track record.

July

The Festival Internacional de Benicàssim is a multi-genre music festival held in the coastal Spanish town of Benicàssim. This one has been going since 1995.

August

The Circuit Festival is another 20yr internationally reputed festival celebrating Barcelona's status as the gay capital of Europe.

September

Back to the traditional street festival, Barcelona hosts the Fiesta De Barceloneta in late September and includes many activities such as Correfocs ("devil fire runs"), Sardanas auditions which are songs by habaneras, and Giant Parades with "Gegants" named Maria la Néta and Pep Barceló. This major festival is defined partly by the ornate streets and parade of cannons.

September

Huge week long street party!

La Mercè is THE annual festival of Barcelona as a City and celebrating their official status as one since 1871. With a program of special Roman Catholic activities this one has much deeper meaning than just the usual street party.

October

“Music Film” festival

Created back in 2003 and now with more than 30,000 people attending In-Edit, this is one of Barcelona's most popular film festivals and focuses on music documentaries, with productions covering all popular genres.