Music festivals, outdoor cinema and hot air balloons: what's on this weekend

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.

Cruïlla Festival | July 9 - 12 | Music festival | Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona

Cruïlla Festival kicked off its 15th edition on Wednesday with headliner Gracie Abrams. This year, the festival is bringing 50 artists to Barcelona, including Sex Pistols, Alanis Morissette, St. Vincent, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Girl in Red, and more. This year’s Cruïlla opening day was the most attended in the festival’s history, drawing a record crowd of 18,000 people.

Alma Festival | June 26 – July 21 | Concerts | Poble Espanyol, Barcelona

Alma Festival Barcelona, formerly known as Festival Jardins Pedralbes, is an annual summer event held at the iconic Poble Espanyol. It brings together well-known national and international artists for several nights of live music in a unique setting. This weekend it's the turn of 70s British Madness on Friday, Spanish musicians Natalia Lacunza and Zahara on Saturday, and Conociendo Rusia and El Kuelge on Sunday.

Les Nits de Barcelona - Palau de Pedralbes | July 2 - 23 | Concerts | Pedralbes Gardens, Barcelona

The other major summer music festival in Barcelona, Les Nits de Barcelona, takes place at the Palau de Pedralbes gardens during July with performances from Ha*Ash, Rosario, Morcheeba, Ara Malikian, Lax’n’ Busto, God Save The Queen, Miki Núñez, Macaco, Fonseca and many more.

Eufònic  | July 10 - 13 | Arts festival | Terres de l'Ebre

Arts festival Eufònic returns this July with 70 artists spread across 35 venues in Terres de l'Ebre. The 14th edition will feature auditorium performances, as well as concerts, audiovisual installations, performances in the natural landscape, workshops, participatory activities, and more. Sound, visual, and digital-performing arts define Eufònic, all in the context of being deeply rooted in the landscape that surrounds it, the Terres de l’Ebre area, some 200km south of Barcelona. At the forefront of cutting-edge creativity and culture, the festival received the National Culture Award in 2023, one of the most important cultural distinctions in Catalonia.

Grangel Studio | July 8 - September 4 | Exhibition | Casa Seat, Barcelona

Grangel Studio has been designing some of the most characteristic animation movie characters, and now all are featured at the largest exhibition ever presented on the animation team. The entry is free and the show features characters from famous movies, such as Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Alex the lion from Madagascar, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and Spirit. Divided into two floors, the exposition featuring 300 objects starts with characters designed for 'stop motion' movies, such as Del Toro's Pinocchio and Burton's Corpse Bride. 

European Balloon Festival | July 10 - 13 | Hot air balloon festival | Igualada

The 29th edition of the European Balloon Festival kicked off on Thursday in Igualada, in central Catalonia. Over the course of four days, visitors will be treated to a spectacular display of some of the world’s finest hot air balloons. A highlight of this edition is a brand-new balloon designed specifically for children. It features a fully transparent basket that allows younger passengers to enjoy unobstructed views. On Saturday night, the festival will host its iconic 'Night Glow,' where illuminated balloons light up the sky in one of the most breathtaking scenes of the event.

Puig Vela Clàssica | July 9 - 12 | Yacht regatta | Barcelona

Barcelona’s coastline will once again be filled with historical and elegant classic yachts as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica regatta returns from Wednesday to Saturday. This event brings together some of the world’s most beautiful vessels from the 19th and 20th centuries. Held annually, it has become one of the "most important sailing events" in the Mediterranean.

Festival Castell Peralada | July 3 - 18 | Music festival | Peralada

Joyce DiDonato, Angel Blue, Elena Terrats, William Christie are just a few of the many international and national artists performing at this year's Festival de Pedralbes. The 39th edition of the event, held at the Perelada Castle in the Costa Brava, will see premieres of 'Hort/garden' show, a proposal by Elena Terrats and Helena Tornero. There are 12 shows linking "the fascinating world of the garden art with the different meanings of paradise," Oriol Aguilà, director of the festival, said during the presentation.

Pride Barcelona | June 28 – July 19 | Various events | Barcelona

Barcelona's big Pride parade and demonstration is on July 19, but from June 28, Pride-related events start popping up around the city. This year's theme is 'LGBTQIA+ culture: Universal culture'. Three weeks of free activities open to the public, from concerts, parties, and aperitifs to exhibitions, guided tours, talks, and workshops.

Sala Montjuïc | June 27 – August 6 | Outdoor cinema | Les Tres Xemeneies, Sant Adrià de Besòs

Open-air cinema, live music and gastronomy under the Barcelona sky. Despite the name, this summer Sala Montjuïc moves temporarily to a new location: Les Tres Xemeneies (Three Chimneys) in Sant Adrià de Besòs – an iconic spot with stunning sea views and industrial charm. Screenings include A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Blade Runner, All About My Mother, Oldboy, and many more. All films are screened in their original language, with subtitles (usually in Spanish).

Festa Major del Raval | July 10 - 13 | Local street celebration | Raval, Barcelona

Open-air concerts, traditional correfocs (fireworks parades)... The festes majors season is in full swing, and Raval is one of the first neighborhoods in the city to kick off the celebrations. The festivities begin on Thursday with the traditional opening speech and lively street parades. Traditional and popular culture events will play a prominent role in the festival.

Brunch Electronik | July 13 | Music festival | Barcelona

A Sunday of electronic music offering you the chance to enjoy good music, good food and a great atmosphere in the open air.

Grec Festival | June 29 – August 4 | Performing arts festival | Various venues, Barcelona 

The 49th edition of the Grec Festival includes 44 theatre productions, 24 music performances, 15 dance shows, 5 circus acts, and 3 film screenings, spread across 42 venues throughout Barcellona. Highlights include Milo Rau, Carolina Bianchi and Cara de Cavalo, Max Richter, William Kentridge and the Handspring Puppet Company, Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, Alessandro Sciarroni, Christos Papadopoulos, Mario Banushi, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Lisaboa Houbrechts.

Art Nou | June 25 – September 4 | Art exhibitions | L'Hospitalet and Barcelona

Art Nou (New Art) aims to support young artists, reaffirm the role of galleries as spaces for dialogue and exchange, and connect art professionals with the general public. The 14th edition of Art Nou features a program of around thirty exhibitions and over forty artists, along with a wide range of activities including guided tours, openings, artist talks, performances, screenings, and live actions in galleries, institutions, and independent venues.

'Se ha escrito un crimen' | July 8 - August 12 | Musical comedy | Teatre Apolo, Barcelona

The murder-mystery musical comedy, 'Se ha escrito un crimen' (A crime has been written, a literal translation), premiered on Tuesday at Barcelona's Apolo theater. The musical, written, composed and directed by Naim Thomas, follows seven strangers that are invited to a billionaire’s island mansion, where they must solve a murder  — or else all of their secrets will be exposed. But there’s a twist. The actors don’t know who the murderer is at the top of the show. There are seven different endings to ‘Se ha escrito un crimen,' that the audience votes on each night.

‘How to Design a Revolution: The Chilean Road to Design’ | July 2 - November 16 | Exhibition | Disseny Hub building, Barcelona

How to Design a Revolution: The Chilean Road to Design is a comprehensive exhibition on graphic and industrial design during Salvador Allende’s government in Chile (1970-1973). An exceptional case in the history of design, where the unprecedented act of choosing a revolution through the ballot box led to the first instance of a country to collectively designing through socialism and democracy.

The exhibition, which was on display in Santiago de Chile as part of the programme commemorating the 50th anniversary of the civilian-military coup, featured original pieces and design reproductions aimed at the democratisation of reading and music, the reduction of technological dependence and addressing child malnutrition, among other goals.

Nits d'Estiu del Museu Anís del Mono | July 4, 11, and 18 | Music and museum visit | Museu Anís del Mono, Badalona

The summer nights at the Museu Anís del Mono, in Badalona's shoreline, return for three Fridays this July. During the event, people will be able to visit the Anís del Mono beverages factory in the seaside city as well as enjoy live music while drinking to lemon juice with a touch of anís. On July 4, there will be 'Tardes americanes,' on July 11, 'Newgrass,' and on July 18, 'Fusion code.' Tickets are already on sale and start at €18.

Chocolate milkshake workshop | June 21 – August 31 | Workshop | Barcelona Chocolate Musuem

Cool off with a one-hour workshop making a milkshake with chocolate produced in the museum's Bean to Bar space, giving it a personal touch with different toppings. From €11 to €16 per person, depending on the workshop booked. The price also includes entry to the museum.

Miguel Milá. (Pre)industrial Designer | Until September 28 | Exhibition | Barcelona Disseny Hub

The exhibition Miguel Milá. (Pre) industrial designer celebrates the career of one of the pioneers of design in Spain, Miguel Milá Sagnier. Through more than 200 pieces, prototypes, maps and recent works, the exhibition offers a unique look at the life and work of this icon of Barcelona’s design and its modernisation. With a career spanning more than 70 years, Miguel Milá received some of the biggest awards in design, such as the Premi Nacional de Disseny and the Compasso d’Or Internazionale, consolidating him as a key figure in the history of industrial design. His perspective combines functionality, elegance and simplicity, guided by the conviction that good design must be useful and timeless.

Flemish Baroque works, including Rubens | Until September 21 | Art exposition | CaixaFòrum Barcelona

CaixaForum Barcelona premieres their new exhibition 'Rubens and the Artists of the Flemish Baroque,' exploring Peter Paul Rubens and other 17th century painters. The collaboration between La Caixa Foundation and Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid showcases 62 works. The exhibition also includes works from other Baroque artists like Anthony Van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens, and Pieter Brueghel the Elder. 

Pioneers: 125 Years of Catalan Football | May 23 - August 3 | Exhibition | IDEAL, Barcelona

There's no doubt that Catalan ingenuity has shaped football history, but past the game's top names are a foundation of the sport comprised of hundreds of clubsç, all ranging from amateur youth setups all the way to professional teams winning trophies and competing in Europe. Learn about and celebrate 125 years of Catalan football at the immersive IDEAL Digital Arts Centre in Poblenou, Barcelona.

Bowie x Sukita | May 23 - September 15 | Exhibition | FotoNostrum, Barcelona

Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita pictured his great friend, the international singer David Bowie, over 40 years. Years later, Barcelona's FotoNostrum exhibition hall presents 'Bowie X Sukita,' featuring around 70 iconic photos from the international artist.

Picasso Museum free entry | Thursdays to Saturdays, 7-9 pm | Art | Picasso Museum, Barcelona

With the arrival of the good weather again, the Picasso Museum is changing back to its summer opening hours, opening earlier and closing later. The summer hours and free admission will be accompanied by guided tours in Catalan, also free but with reservation, with the aim of bringing the museum closer to the locals.

Titanic: The Voyage Continues | April 17 - September 28 | Immersive experience | Espai Inmersa, Barcelona

The exhibition will anchor at Poblenou’s Espai Inmersa and promises visitors a "cutting-edge" immersive experience with “breathtaking” virtual reality that allows visitors to travel more than 3,000 km to the bottom of the ocean. Additionally, the exhibition will showcase 200 real artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck, as well as recreations of the most emblematic spaces of the ship as it takes visitors back to April of 1912, to the moment when the Titanic embarked on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

HOT WHEELS CITY EXPERIENCE | Until July 13 | Exhibition | La Maquinista Shopping Mall

Hot Wheels City Experience is the place to go for families and fans of the Hot Wheels toy. The experience includes creativity in the game, nostalgia, and avant-garde technology. Visitors will enjoy an immersive experience through Hot Wheels' world which starts with a video to learn about the history and the culture of the brand. The experience also includes fast-speed races and lab facilities with very interactive designs. Tickets start at €18 and it is open from Wednesday to Sunday. 

'Chris Ware. Drawing is Thinking' | April 3-November 9 | Exhibition | CCCB, Barcelona

Chris Ware will be present at the Comic Barcelona as he was in the city this week for the launch of the new exhibition on his work at the CCCB. The retrospective reviews the work and reflections of an author whose work has the power to move so many people as they touch on themes of human existence in great depth.

Fernando Botero. A Universal Master | February 14 – July 20 | Art exhibition | Palau Martorell

A little over a year after his death, the Palau Martorell is hosting the most comprehensive exhibition of paintings ever held in Spain, paying tribute to Fernando Botero (Medellín, Colombia, 1932 - Monaco, 2023), one of the most important artists of the 20th century who is already part of the History of Art. His original and innovative creative approach, through a language of monumental volumes and vibrant colour, gave rise to a style of his own, Boteroism, which has made his work immediately recognizable.

‘Extraterrestrials. Is there life beyond Earth?’ | February 26 - August 30, 2026 | Science exhibition | CosmoCaixa science museum

'Extraterrestrials - Is There Life Outside Earth?' delves into topics such as our place in the cosmos, the meaning of the concept of life, and how literature and cinema have shaped the collective imagination about what form alien life could take. Visitors begin by discovering Earth's place in the cosmos. The exhibition then explores, from a historical perspective, the great philosophical debate between those who argue that life is unique to our planet, and those who believe in the existence of other inhabited worlds.

Antoni Tàpies: The Imagination of the World | February 13 – January 25, 2026 | Art exhibition | Tàpies Museum

The solo exhibition The Imagination of the World proposes a revision of the work of Antoni Tàpies based on ideas found in his earliest period of production. With Tàpies as the centre of the project, the exhibition seeks to map out a network of relationships between active agents, discourses and practices, as related to two key areas: on the one hand, the complex assimilation of artistic tendencies—such as dada and surrealism—and currents of thought—psychoanalysis, Marxism—in Barcelona in that period; on the other hand, the dialogue of these movements with various forms of the vernacular tradition of popular culture.