Castanyada celebrations, Halloween parties and haunted sites: 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.

Celebrate Castanyada | All weekend | Across Catalonia 

Despite Halloween seeming to take over, La Castanyada, Catalonia’s own autumn celebration, has been gaining more fans than ever in the last few years. It will be celebrated this weekend across the region, with two main stars: castanyes (roasted chestnuts) and panellets (sweet marzipan treats). In Barcelona, 57 street stalls have been set up, an increase of 128% in just a few years (see the full map here). The panellets will also take center stage, filling bakeries and pastry shops throughout the city. Learn more about them here. 

Visit cemeteries | All weekend | Across Catalonia 

If you visit a cemetery in Catalonia after Halloween you will see a lot of fresh flowers that loved ones have brought to pay respects.  However, that may not be the only thing to catch your attention, as cemeteries in Barcelona and Catalonia are quite different to those in other places. Cemeteries in Catalonia are like small cities, we could say 'cities of the dead'. The two most iconic cemeteries in Barcelona are Poblenou's cemetery and the Montjuïc one, with various sculptures and forms of art. 

Visit haunted places | All weekend | Barcelona 

Some of Barcelona’s most intriguing history lies in its urban legends and chilling tales. From the Mercat de Sant Antoni, once a site for public executions in the Middle Ages, to Rocafort L1 metro station, linked to several mysterious deaths in the 1960s — the city has no shortage of ghostly stories. You can even join one of the haunted tours that explore the darker corners of the Catalan capital, uncovering what life and punishment were like during the Spanish Inquisition. Discover them all here. 

Day of the Dead parade | November 2 | Parade | Barcelona 

The Mexican community in Catalonia is organizing a Catrina parade in Barcelona on November 2, as well as a contest for the best costume. The celebration will start at 10.45 am in front of the Poliorama Theatre, and at 12pm, the Catrinas will begin their procession down La Rambla, making stops  at key locations such as Plaça Reial, and ending  in front of Arts Santa Mònica around 1pm. 

Halloween parties 

La Terrrazza | October 31 – November 1 | Halloween party | Poble Espanyol, Barcelona 

La Terrrazza, Barcelona’s renowned open-air electronic music club, wraps up its 30th season with a double closing party on Friday, October 31, and Saturday, November 1, at Poble Espanyol. Headlining the finale is Canadian DJ and producer Tiga, joined by  fka.m4a, John Heaven, Baldo, La Feria Prim and Andrea Zarco.  

Glove | October 31 | Halloween party | La Paloma, Barcelona 

La Paloma, one of Barcelona’s most iconic dance halls and the oldest in Europe, celebrates Halloween with its Glove Party, now in its 11th edition. The event will be a disco night with a themed show, featuring LOUD-E, a leading figure in the Dutch underground disco scene. He will be joined by the resident DJs of Glove, along with a special Halloween-themed atmosphere throughout the venue.

Boca Festival | October 31 | Halloween party | Paral·lel 62, Barcelona 

The iconic Paral·lel 62 venue will host a Halloween party this weekend, designed by and for young people aged 15 to 19, a group often underrepresented in the city’s cultural scene. The lineup features popular figures for this generation, including Virtual Diva, That Kid, ELAN., Ven’nus, Relda, Ruru, DJ Kles, and the dance crew Vandalz. 

More things to do 

Asian Film Festival Barcelona | October 29 - November 9 | Film festival | Across Barcelona

Casa Asia hosts the Asian Film Festival of Barcelona from October 29 to November 9. Over ten days, more than 100 independent films will be screened at a variety of cinemas, including Casa Seat, Cinemes Girona, CaixaForum, Zumzeig, Institut Français, and ECIB. The festival will also be available online via the Catalan streaming platform Filmin. This year’s highlights include acclaimed films such as Drive My Car and Shoplifters, alongside a diverse selection of new releases and lesser-known gems.

All Those Food Market Autumn | November 1 - 2 | Food market | Moll de la Fusta, Barcelona

The Autumn edition of All Those Food Market will take place on November 1 - 2 at Moll de la Fusta, at the end of La Rambla by the city’s port. The festival brings together artisan markets, street food from top local restaurants, workshops for all ages, and live music. Opening hours are on Saturday from 11 am to 10.30 pm and on Sunday from 11am to 8pm. Tickets cost €5 in advance and €6 at the venue.

Miramiralls for free | Every Sunday in November | Amusement Park | Tibidabo, Barcelona  

Tibidabo, Barcelona’s iconic amusement park perched atop the Collserola mountains, is opening the doors of its famous Miramiralls attraction for free and without prior booking every Sunday in November. Historically known as the Hall of Mirrors, the space features original visual effects, playful light displays, and optical illusions that create magical experiences for visitors of all ages.

Visit 50,000-year-old Siberian mammoth | Every day | Museum | CosmoCaixa, Barcelona 

Barcelona's CosmoCaixa Science Museum unveiled the latest addition to its exhibition: a large six-meter-long and 3.5-meter-tall Siberian mammoth. The mammoth is between 40,000 and 50,000 years old and will now be part of the permanent exposition. 

In-Edit | October 23 - November 2 | Film festival | Barcelona

In-Edit is Barcelona’s music documentary film festival, and until November 2, fans can choose among a stellar lineup of movies featuring the likes of Boy George & Culture Club, Cheech & Chong, Depeche Mode, James Brown, Jeff Buckley, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Sex Pistols, Sly Stone, Spinal Tap, and Suzanne Ciani. All screenings will be held in Mooby Aribau Cinemes.

Fira de Sant Narcís | October 24 - November 2 | Festival | Girona

Sant Narcís is the patron saint of the northern city of Girona, with the feast day and corresponding festivities enjoyed in late October. Music and culture will fill the streets of Girona as the weather turns cold, with stalls and free concerts of all kinds, as well as such as street theatre, castellers human towers, and fireworks shows.

Ciutat Flamenco | October 17-26 | Flamenco festival | Barcelona

Barcelona's leading contemporary flamenco festival, celebrates its 32nd edition this year.  The festival features performances from renowned artists and emerging talent in singing, guitar, and dance, exploring intersections with jazz, electronic music, and contemporary choreography. Highlights include Antonio Molina el Choro, Sara Jiménez, Vanesa Aibar, and choreographer Julio Ruiz, alongside new works by Aina Núñez. The festival also introduces the Ciutat Batalla competition, expanding its program of workshops, concerts, and shows across the city.

Miró and the United States | October 10 - February 22 | Art | Miró Foundation 

The links between Joan Miró and America take center stage in the Joan Miró Foundation's newest exhibition, 'Miró and the United States.' From October 10 to February 22, the museum will showcase 150 artworks by Miró and other influential artists who shaped or were shaped by this artistic dialogue. Icons such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Louise Bourgeois, and even Salvador Dalí will appear in conversation with Miró’s works.

Ink against Hitler | October 8 - January 11 | Exhibition | MNAC, Barcelona

The exhibition Ink against Hitler is the presentation in Barcelona of the discovery of the only Catalan and Spanish artist who worked for British and Allied propaganda during the Second World War. From 1941 to 1945, the Catalan Mario Armengol Torrella drew around 2,000 cartoons and caricatures in the service of the British Ministry of Information against the Third Reich and the Axis to publish them in newspapers and magazines in London's allied and neutral countries, from New Zealand to Haiti.

Escena | October 10 - December 20 | Performing arts | Various locations across Barcelona

Live Arts. A program of 31 theater, circus, music, and dance performances on 34 stages in the city's civic and cultural centers. From October 10 to December 20, Escena will schedule 173 theater and circus performances, concerts, and dance shows, always free of charge and with advance reservation. 

Festival Jazz Barcelona | October 10 - March 1, 2026 | Music | Various venues

A lineup packed with international artists, including Snarky Puppy, Laurie Anderson, Tigran Hamasyan, Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, Chris Thile, and Janis Siegel. From October 10, 2025, to March 1, 2026, the Barcelona Jazz Festival celebrates its 57th edition, offering a lineup that combines major international names, emerging voices, and special projects that celebrate the history and diversity of jazz. The program consists of 48 concerts spread across 10 venues, including Palau de la Música Catalana, Jamboree, Conservatori Liceu, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Paral·l 62, L'Auditori, Teatre Auditori Emma Vilarasau de Sant Cugat, and La Paloma. 

Leonardo versus Michelangelo | From September 17 | IDEAL Digital Arts Centre, Barcelona

The Mona Lisa, or The Sistine Chapel? The Last Supper, or Pietà? Vitruvian Man, or David? Impossible choices? Well, at IDEAL Digital Arts Centre in Barcelona, visitors are going to have to decide which Renaissance Man takes the crown. Leonardo versus Michelangelo takes a look at the lives, legacies, and rivalry between these two historic greats of art. These pair lived at the same time in Florence in the 15th and 16th centuries, and although they initially respected each other, they quickly developed a bitter rivalry.

Phantom of the Opera | September 23 - February 1 | Opera | Tivoli Theatre

The Phantom of the Opera is coming to Barcelona for the very first time. Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical runs at Teatre Tívoli from September 23 to February 1 as part of a Spain-wide tour. Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, and with lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, this production in Spanish is directed by Federico Bellone, with musical direction by Julio Awad.

Soundit | October 18, November 8, 22, December 13 | Live music | Monumental, Barcelona

One of Barcelona's best day festivals returns for its autumn lineup. This year's program features five Saturdays of live electronic music, featuring huge names in dance music, from 2manydjs, Ben UFO, Jayda G, Ben Klock, and plenty more. 

‘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.

'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.

‘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.