Taco Fest, SoundIt, DocsBarcelona, museums open day: what's on this weekend in Barcelona and Catalonia

From concerts to cultural festivals, events and nightlife, there are countless things to do in Barcelona and around Catalonia this weekend.

Here's a selection of some of the best plans and what's on this weekend.

Museums open day | May 5 | Exhibitions | Everywhere 

On the first Sunday of every month, many museums across Catalonia open their doors for free. Some allow free entry all day while others are open only at specific times. MNAC, MUHBA, CCCB, the Picasso Museum, the Design Museum, the Music Museum, and the Botanic Gardens are just a few of the cultural centres that open for free each first Sunday of the month in Barcelona. In Girona, the History Museum, Jewish History Museum, and Cinema Museum are some examples that can be visited free; while Tarragona's National Archaeology Museum also has open doors. 

Andalusian Feria de Abril festivity | Until May 5 | Festival | Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona  

Celebrating Andalusian heritage until May 5, the 51st edition of the 'Feria de Abril' in Catalonia organized by Andalusians living in the territory, is a homage to the traditions of the southern Spanish region. Visitors will be able to taste Andalusian dishes, dance 'Sevillanas', and even go on rides.

L'Auditori Jazz Marathon | May 4, May 10 | Jazz concerts | L'Auditori, Barcelona

This Saturday and next Friday, L'Auditori concert hall is hosting two days of free jazz concerts. Anyone interested in attending does not need to book tickets in advance, but capacity is limited for the shows. 

Taco Fest Barcelona | May 3-5 | Food, culture | INEFC, Montjuïc, Barcelona

Celebrate Mexican culture this cinco de mayo with Taco Fest Barcelona, which goes far beyond tacos. The event will also include Lucha Libre shows, tequila tastings, and Mariachi bands, as well as tacos from 14 kitchens. Entry price is just €2. 

Comic Barcelona | May 3-5 | Fair | Fira de MontjUïc, Barcelona 

Fans of graphic novels of all types will want to make their way to Fira Montjuïc this weekend for one of the world's biggest comic book fairs. Thousands of visitors are expected at the 42nd edition of Comic Barcelona where hundreds exhibitors will be present, as well as dozens of roundtable talks, meet and greets with artists, and publisher presentations. 

Poble Nou Open Day | May 4 | Fair, festival | Poblenou neighborhood, Barcelona

On Saturday, Poblenou celebrates its Open Day, a day when the creative community of the Poblenou Urban District open more than seventy spaces offering varied programming, in which the public is invited to discover the offer of the cultural and creative district of Barcelona. During ten uninterrupted hours you can enjoy exclusive programming of exhibitions, talks, workshops, guided tours and gastronomy.

DocsBarcelona | May 2-12 | Documentary Film Festival | Various cinemas throughout the city

DocsBarcelona reaches its 27th edition with the most vibrant, authentic and committed proposals of the last year. The colonial gaze, memory and dignity; artificial intelligence, and the different forms and expressions of love are some of the thematic axes of this edition, which will also bring to Barcelona great masters of documentary, such as filmmakers Raymond Depardon and Claudine Nougaret. 

SoundIt | May 4 | Electronic music | Plaça Monumental

One of Barcelona's best day festivals returns this weekend to Plaça Monumental with huge international names from the world of electronic music making us dance. One the lineup this weekend are Peach b2b Shanti Celeste, Paula Tape, Clap Kent, REPE. 

Circ d'Ara Mateix | April 27 – May 11 | Contemporary circus | Montjuïc, Barcelona 

The Circ d'Ara Mateix is offering a cycle from April 27 until May 11. They combine desire and pleasure with the diversity of contemporary art. Local artists with international influences offer unique new circus languages and perspectives that engage in a dialogue with the audience. 

Biergarten Barcelona | April 26-May 5 | Gastronomy festival | Poble Espanyol, Barcelona 

The 13th edition of Biergarten Barcelona will be held in Poble Espanyol from April 26 to May 5. Visitors will get the chance to try a wide variety of beers and enjoy German cuisine, music and activities. The festival will be open from Fridays until Sundays and also on April 30 and May 1. 

51st April Fair of Catalonia | April 26 – May 5 | Folklore fair | Parc del Fòrum park, Barcelona 

The 51st edition of the April Fair of Catalonia, organized by the Federation of Andalusian Cultural Groups in Catalonia (FECAC), will once again be occupying all the available space in the Parc del Fòrum Park. There will be around 100 stalls with food and merch and around 125 amusements for all kinds of audiences.  

One of the most anticipated events is the lighting of the portico at the entrance to officially open the Fair. This will take place on Friday April 26 at 9 pm. 

Festival Enfocats | April 25 – May 16 | Environmental festival | Cetre Cívic Pati Llimona, Barcelona 

The 14th Festival Enfocats focuses on the environmental crisis. There will be exhibitions, talks, workshops, screenings and activities in the Pati Llimona community center, in the gothic quarters of Barcelona.  

The program runs until May 16, but the exhibitions will stay open until June 15. 

Bubble Planet | April 19 – August 31 | Immersive experience | Espai Immersa, La Plata quarter, Barcelona 

Bubble is an immersive experience where visitors will be surrounded by bubbles. The experience includes virtual reality technology, 11 themed rooms, fantastical landscapes and a hot air balloon flight simulator.  

With oversized bubbles, balloons, soap and more, visitors will have the opportunity to see the worlds in a different way in this bubbly universe. 

Suzanne Valadon. A modern epic | April 19-September 1 |Exhibition | MNAC, Barcelona 

Catalonia's National Art Museum (MNAC) is presenting French painter Suzanna Valadon's work and story for the first time in Spain. Starting on April 19 until September 1 visitors can see the exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou-Metz and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes. The exhibition features a total of 109 works by Valadon and painters close to her, around 30 of which are exclusive to the Barcelona show. 

Choral Spring 2024 | April 18-May 10 | Choral singing | Pere Pruna Civic Centre, Barcelona 

The 18th edition of Choral Spring (Primavera Coral) presents eight free concerts between April 18 and May 10. The central theme is a tribute to Catalan Nobel-nominated writer and poet Àngel Guimerà for the 110th anniversary of his death.  

'The Pirates' Anthem' has been chosen as the song that will be performed at every concert. The song was created for a play celebrating the 50th anniversary of the play 'Mar i Cel', written by Guimerà. 

Cirque du Soleil's Alegria | Circus show | March 20 – May 19 | Hospitalet de Llobregat 

Cirque du Soleil, the world's largest producer of contemporary circus, has returned to Barcelona with its acclaimed show 'Alegria', following its previous successes in the city over a decade ago. After a makeover to attract new audiences while maintaining the essence of the original production, the two hours long show 'Alegria will premiere in Barcelona on March 21 and run for 80 performances until May 19. 'Alegria' premiered globally 30 years ago and has captivated more than 14 million viewers during its original 19-year tour.

Suburbia. Building the American Dream | Exhibition | March 20 – September 8 | CCCB (Barcelona) 

The museum CCCB in Barcelona presents the exhibition "Suburbia. Building the American Dream". It explores the cultural history of the American Dream by inviting visitors into the imaginary of the idyllic family home and analyses the model's controversies, such as the social, ethnic and gender segregation. Another part of the exhibition shows how the idea of the American Dream impacted Catalonia. The exhibition will run until September 8. 

Tim Burton's Labyrinth | Immersive exhibition | March 8 - June 16 | Barcelona

A new immersive exhibition into the mind of legendary American filmmaker Tim Burton has just landed in Barcelona. Famous for films such as Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton's creative universe will be on display at the Palau de Victòria Eugènia in Montjuïc from March 8. The immersive experience consists of an hour-long labyrinth-like route that allows visitors to choose their own path through themed rooms filled with lights, music, projections, sculptures and meticulous details that bring Burton's cinematic gems to life. 

From the Border | Exhibition | March 13 - June 24 | Barcelona

As the world watches wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and with other less-reported but equally deadly conflicts in places like Myanmar and Sudan, borders have become more relevant than ever. A new exhibition, 'From the Border', which opens today at Barcelona's CaixaForum, explores the complexities of borders. The show features eight contemporary artworks that aim to demonstrate that we live in a world with more borders than ever: some physical, others invisible through politics, technology, or social discourse.

BarnaSants 2024 | Music Festival | January 26 - May 19 | Across Catalonia

Barnasants 2024, Barcelona's international singer-songwriter festival, will take place from January 26 to May 19. Since its creation in 1996, the festival has become the most important event of the genre. Featuring established icons and emerging talents alike, Barnasants invites you to experience the essence of singer-songwriter magic in various locations throughout Catalonia.

The Lost Mirror - Jews and "Conversos" in the Middle Ages | Exhibition | February 23 – May 26 | MNAC (Barcelona) 

A look at the relationship between Christians, Jews, and converts in the Middle Ages. The construction of identity, the definition of otherness, intolerance, and the power of images are the central themes. The exhibition portrays the view that Christians had of Jews and converts between 1285 and 1492 through almost seventy works of art.  

Revered and Feared: Feminine Power in Art and Beliefs | Exhibition | February 21 – June 16 | CaixaForum (Barcelona) 

Through sculptures, sacred objects, and works from all the world's continents, the exhibition takes museumgoers on a 5,000-year journey through different cultural expressions of female spiritual power around the world. The exhibition invites the visitor to reflect on the stereotypes of feminine power and femininity through more than 150 pieces, including the iconic figure of the ancient Egyptian deity Sekhmet, as well as works by Marina Abramović, Anna Mendieta, and Niki de Saint Phalle. 

Tàpies Year | Until December 2024 | Exhibition | Antoni Tàpies Foundation, Barcelona 

The Antoni Tàpies Foundation kicked off its Tàpies Year on December 13, marking the centenary of the celebrated Catalan artist's birth. Two new exhibitions opened at the museum in Barcelona. 'Tàpies: The Zen Imprint,' curated by Núria Homs, looks at how the artist incorporated Zen Buddhism into his work, while 'A=A, B=B,' curated by Pep Vidal, is based on a book of lectures on science and philosophy, 'A New Vision of the World,' that provided inspiration for many of Tàpies' works.

'Dinosaurs of Patagonia' | October 26 - June 2, 2024 | Exhibition | CosmoCaixa Science museum

From the gigantic 38-meter-long Patagotitan mayorum to the diminutive Manidens condorensis weighing just 1kg, dinosaurs from Patagonia have descended on Barcelona's CosmoCaixa science museum. 

Running until June 2, 2024, 'Dinosaurs of Patagonia' is a journey back in time from the Mesozoic Era to modern-day Patagonia in South America.  The star of the show is the 38-meter-long reproduction of the Patagotitan mayorum, the largest dinosaur known. Visitors will be able to walk between the dinosaur's legs and imagine what it would have been like to witness this giant reptile up close, one that could weigh up to 77 tonnes, equal to 14 African elephants. 

The remains of this titanosaur were found just 11 years ago in the Argentine province of Chubut, one of the most significant paleontological discoveries made in Patagonia this century.