Castells human towers, tattoo festival, Viu Montjuïc: what's on this weekend

With events ranging from music to cultural festivals, art, and celebration, there are countless things to do in Barcelona and around Catalonia. 

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

Castells human towers competition | October 3-4 | Culture | Tarragona

The Concurs de Castells, the cornerstone event celebrating Catalonia's iconic human towers, takes place this weekend in Tarragona. The event, which is held on the first weekend of October every two years at the local Tarraco Arena Plaça, is a unique 'castells' (human towers) performance and the only 'castells' day that has an explicitly competitive format. The competition pits the best teams of 'castells' against each other, with 42 'colles,' or groups, competing to build the tallest and most intricate structures.  

Viu Montjuïc | October 3-4 | Culture, family-friendly | Montjuïc

A weekend featuring over a hundred free activities for all audiences. More than 40 Montjuïc venues are offering their own activities as well as joint initiatives based on co-creation and collaboration. You can enjoy over 100 activities for all ages, including guided park tours , featuring interactive and theatrical elements, exhibition visits, family activities, concerts, theater and dance performances, and much more.

Dana Lixenberg and Flama’26 | October 1 - January 17 | Photography exhibitions | KBr

The photography of Dana Lixenberg has gained international recognition for its honest and committed approach to documentary portraiture. Over more than three decades, she has developed a deeply human body of work focused on the representation of marginalized communities, iconic figures in popular culture, and social landscapes imbued with memory. Meanwhile, the KBr Photography Center also presents the sixth edition of its annual showcase dedicated to emerging photographers who are beginning their professional careers after completing their training in Barcelona.

Museums open day | October 4 | Museums | Various locations

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. 

BAUM Festival 2026 | October 2-4 | Art and Urban Movement | Fira de Barcelona

Born in 1996 under the name Barcelona Tattoo Show, BAUM Festival has integrated other urban art trends such as graffiti and underground shows since its beginnings. 25 years later, under the name of BAUM Fest, more than 8,000 artists from all over the world have passed through the festival, tattooing, painting, dancing or competing in the different areas. 

Sitges Wine Fair | October 2-4 | Wine and gastronomy | Sitges

Every autumn, Sitges comes alive to celebrate one of its most iconic and eagerly awaited events: the Grape Harvest Festival and Wine Fair, a perfect blend of culture, gastronomy, and winemaking heritage.

Cavatast | October 2-4 | Cava fair | Sant Sadurní d'Anoia

Producers, locality, gastronomy, and wine culture come together in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia this weekend. Guided tastings, food and wine pairings, local cuisine, winery visits and tastings, live music, and activities for all audiences round out a weekend designed for discovering, tasting, and enjoying sparkling wines and the region with all the senses.

Mahou Bravas Fest | October 3-4 | Gastronomy | Poble Espanyol 

Live music, workshops, raffles, and the best restaurants competing to win the award for the best bravas in the city.

Palo Market Fest | October 3-4 | Market | Poblenou, Barcelona 

Palo Alto Market is perhaps Barcelona's most artistic and creative market experience. From boutique crafts to vintage clothing, with great music playing all the time in the background, Poblenou's Palo Alto Market is always worth checking out. 

Iniesta Experience | September 28-January 10 | Exhibition | Port Vell

A new exhibition is opening up in the old IMAX Port Vell theatre, taking a look at the career of legendary footballer Andrés Iniesta. An experience where football, personal experiences, and a champion's mindset merge into an inspiring journey that reveals the reality behind every great victory.

L’Hora del Jazz | September 12-October 17 | Live music | Barcelona and around Catalonia

The L’Hora del Jazz – Tete Montoliu Memorial Festival celebrates its 36th edition this year, cementing its status as a long-standing and essential event on the Catalan jazz calendar. Events in Barcelona take place every Sunday until September 27 in Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, while shows are held Saturdays and Sundays through to mid October in Tarragona, Sitges, Reus, Girona, Vilafranca del Penedès, and more.

Live music

Placebo | October 3 | Sant Jordi Club

Blood Red Shoes | October 3 | Razzmatazz

Big Big Train | October 7 | Razzmatazz 

The Lemon Twigs | October 15 | Parallel 62

Teenage Fanclub | October 17 | Razzmatazz

The Strokes | October 20 | Palau Sant Jordi

Band Of Horses | October 21 | Razzmatazz

Joe Jackson | October 23 | Parallel 62

Niall Horan | October 25 | Palau Sant Jordi

Simple Plan | Ocrober 26 | Sant Jordi Club 

Actress | October 30 | CaixaForum

Pitbull | November 4 | Palau Sant Jordi

Ginestà | November 7 | Razzmatazz

Bryan Adams | November 14 | Palau Sant Jordi

Kingfishr | November 24 | Sala Apolo

Carolina Durante | November 28 | Palau Sant Jordi

Hercules & Love Affair live | December 15 | Sala Apolo

Amaia | December 20 | Palau Sant Jordi

Buhos | January 15 | Razzmatazz

Editors | January 31 | Razzmatazz

Amble | February 10 | Sala Apolo

Passenger | April 4 | Razzmatazz

Angèle | April 28 | Sant Jordi Club

Olivia Rodrigo | May 1, 2, 5, & 6 | Palau Sant Jordi

Rodrigo y Gabriela | May 7 | Sala Apolo

Gracie Abrams | May 27 & 28 | Palau Sant Jordi

Out of Focus: Another Vision of Art | May 21 - September 27 | Exhibition | CaixaForum Barcelona 

Monet's Water Lilies series introduced the concept of blur in art, using the blurred and indistinct as expressive elements. This exhibition explores how this phenomenon provided a new way of understanding the world for subsequent artists, a key to reinterpreting some aspects of modern and contemporary art.

The Cult of Beauty | May 21 - November 8 | Exhibition | CCCB

Based on the ideals of human beauty that exist in all eras and cultures, the latest exhibition at the CCCB traces the evolution of these ideals throughout history. ‘The Cult of Beauty’ analyzes how aesthetic canons have been constructed, and stands up for bodies and beauties excluded from the norm. Through 400 pieces, the exhibition puts works, objects, and installations into dialogue to address how the idea of ​​beauty is conditioned by morality, status, and gender.

Experience 'The Last Days of Pompeii' | Open March 20, 2026 | Exhibition | IDEAL Montjuïc

Towering flames of lava taking over the skies, ash and soot flooding homes and buildings; utter devastation and total destruction inevitable. ‘The Last Days of Pompeii’ is the newest exhibition from IDEAL Digital Arts Centre, taking visitors back to 79 AD and one of the most compelling episodes of ancient history. The experience seeks to bring visitors closer to the lives and culture of the people who lived in the shadow of Vesuvius. 

Joan Miró: Cirlces | March 13, 2026 - March 12, 2028 | Art | Joan Miró Foundation

A new exhibition reorganizes the Miró collection and invites visitors to reinterpret the artist's work through Joan Miró's creative process rather than a traditional chronological or thematic narrative. The show presents 102 works from across the artist's career and will run for two years, with some pieces rotating every six months.

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.