Oktoberfest, Sitges Film Festival and Bravas Fest: 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.

Oktoberfest | October 3 – 20 | Beer festival | Fira Montjuïc, Barcelona 

The 11th edition of Oktoberfest returns to Barcelona in the purest German style with a big tent, ambience, live music and traditional Bavarian gastronomy, and lots of beer –obviously. 

Access to the festival is free except on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays, when tickets are €5 per person. You can also book a table on the organizer's website.  

Bravas Fest | October 4 – 6 | Food Festival | Poble Espanyol, Barcelona 

The third edition of this food festival reunites the best 'patatas bravas' of Barcelona. This typical 'tapa' is made with potatoes and a spicy sauce, which can be elaborated differently according to the cook's taste. 

A jury will give an award to the best 'bravas' of the festival, and there will also be other 'tapas' on the festival. 

Puig Women's America's Cup | October 5 – 13 | Sailing Competition | Barcelona 

For the first time in the America's Cup history, there will be a stand-alone women's competition. Abby Ehler, the coordinator of the youth and women’s competitions, explained to Catalan News that “having a stand-alone women’s event at this level of our sport really marks a turning point." 

Barcelona's own Sail Team BCN will compete as the Spanish challenger of the competition. 

Concurs de Castells | October 5-6 | Human towers competition | Tarragona  

The Concurs de Castells, the cornerstone event for Catalonia's trademark human towers, will be held this weekend in Tarragona.  

Every two years, the competition brings together the best "castell" teams in Catalonia, with 41 colles - or gangs - competing to build the tallest and most complex structures.  

This year marks the 29th edition of the competition, which first took place in 1932 and only became a regular event in the 1980s. 

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | October 2 – November 24 | Musical | Barcelona 

The Tony Award-winning musical ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ returns to Barcelona to “talk about diversity and love" and to "make everyone dance” again, eight years after it first premiered in the Catalan capital.   

The musical tells the story of three friends – two drag queens and a trans woman – who take a road trip in a rundown bus through the Australian outback, all while performing some of the world’s biggest disco hits. 

Sitges International Fantasy and Horror Film Festival | October 3 – 13 | Film Festival | Sitges 

The 57th edition of Catalonia's biggest film festival kicked off on October 3 and for two weeks it will showcase the best films in the horror film genre. 

Hostafrancs 'Festa Major' | September 27 – October 6 | Local celebrations | Hostafrancs, Barcelona 

Traditional cultural events, children's activities, concerts and a medieval fair. 

Pixar World | From September 26 | Virtual exhibition | Westfield La Maquinista, Barcelona 

Visit Pixar's largest immersive exhibit where you can step into the sets of some of your favorite movies such as Toy Story, Coco, Up, Finding Nemo or Inside Out. Mundo Pixar comes to Barcelona after its success in Madrid, with more than 600,000 visitors in only 5 months. General admission is €16.90, with VIP and discount options available. 

Second-hand Antiquarian and Modern Book Fair | September 20 - October 6 | Book fair | Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona 

A great opportunity to discover real gems and out-of-print copies at the 27 little stalls that will be lining Passeig de Gràcia, between Consell de Cent and Gran Via. Books to suit every taste, from timeless classics to modern works, first editions, rare or out-of-print books and original manuscripts. 

Manifesta 15 | September 8 - November 24 | Cultural biennale | Barcelona metropolitan area

Manifesta 15, the European Nomadic Biennial, will take place in Barcelona and eleven surrounding municipalities in the metropolitan area. This year's edition is decentralized and will be a self-proclaimed 'incubator for social change', with installations to visit until November.

Bluejazz by Festival de Jazz de Barcelona | September 14 - October 13 | Music | Barcelona 

As part of the Cultural Regatta of the America's Cup, jazz comes to the Olympic Port with Bluejazz by Barcelona Jazz Festival, with eight concerts on the weekends, ranging from flamenco jazz to contemporary and classic, among others. The gigs will start at 12.30 pm and are free.

Tibidabo's new free fall ride | All year round | Amusement Park | Barcelona

Barcelona's amusement park Tibidabo will open its new freefall ride on Saturday. The new drop tower will feature a 50-meter fall and will have capacity for up to 24 people per ride.

America's Cup cocktails | June 4 - October 27 | Cocktail festival | Many bars in Barcelona

The America’s Cup Cocktail is a unique creation that will be available on the menu of the 30 cocktail bars selected for the first Barcelona Bar Show, held in March. There’s also an alcohol-free version of the cocktail and demonstrations on how to make it. There are many options, including Bacardi Carta Blanca, Cordial de Miel Salada Infusionada con Tomillo, Float de Ratafia Alquimia, or Appletizier.

'Confessions of a Crowded Mind', by Robbie Williams | June 21 - November 20 | Exhibition | Moco Museum, Barcelona

'Confessions of a Crowded Mind', Williams' first exhibition in Barcelona, features 17 artworks that explore themes of mental health. Using a mix of text and imagery, the British icon aims to engage viewers directly and encourage them to confront their fears. Williams wants to inspire others to channel their fears and anxieties into creativity, which he himself uses on a daily basis to navigate life in the public eye.

Agnès Varda | July 18 - December 8 | Exhibition | CCCB Barcelona

Agnès Varda is one of the most important figures in the history of cinema, yet she remains unknown to a wide audience, especially compared to her male counterparts. Born in Brussels in 1928, Varda was a pioneer and the only woman in the Nouvelle Vague, a French art film movement that began in the late 1950s. Varda used her films to highlight women's experiences, struggles and resilience, exploring and challenging the social norms and gender roles of her time.

'Dalí Challenge' | June 13 - October 6 | Immersive experience | Reial Cercle Artístic in Barcelona

Become immersed in the life, work and obsessions of Dalí through an audio story in podcast format and discover more than 60 digitized works in this immersive experience, where virtual reality, augmented reality, micro-mapping and other technological elements will transport you to Dalí’s universe like never before. The show lasts 60 minutes and tickets cost up to €18.

Interior Berlanga | July 17 - April 20, 2025 | Exhibition | CaixaForum, Barcelona

'Interior Berlanga' exhibition proposes to discover the work of this filmmaker and his international scene. Berlanga created his own universe that combines unexpected elements with satire, and caricatures. Tickets cost €6, but CaixaBank clients can access for free.

Dinner with Stars | May 31 – October 6 | Gastronomy and science | Fabra Observatory, Barcelona 

The Fabra Observatory is holding its 'Dinner with Stars' during the summer evenings, offering gastronomy while stargazing combines with scientific dissemination and astronomy.  

Between May 31-October 6, people have the chance to eat dinner outside one of the greatest viewpoints in Barcelona, while also attending a half-hour scientific talk with the opportunity to ask questions and observe constellations, stars and the solar system through one of Europe's biggest and oldest working telescopes. The talks will be held in Spanish or Catalan.

‘Competing at sea. Sailing regattas in Catalonia’ | June 7 - November 10 | Sea sports | Maritime Museum, Barcelona

"Competing at sea" travels to the sailing clubs of the 19th century, where the earliest competitions began, firstly in rowing and then sailing. The exhibition also relives the effervescence of sailing in the 1960s .

It also looks at the outstanding names in Olympic regattas for ocean sailing, top-class solo regattas, the mini class and more, which have become standards for their generation and others that followed. This activity is part of the Cultural Regatta, the program of activities promoted by Barcelona City Council to go with the America’s Cup being held in Barcelona.

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.