La Mercè, flea markets, European cheese: 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. 

La Mercè | September 23-27 | Cultural festival, live music | Throughout Barcelona

La Mercè is Barcelona's biggest festa major, the city's biggest public street festival, bringing music, folklore, tradition, and culture to the streets. Every day will be packed with activities spread out around the city, but mostly concentrated in the old town. There will be concerts on most days at Moll de la Fusta, Platja de Bogatell, Plaça Catalunya, and Avinguda Maria Cristina, while Plaça Sant Jaume will see castells human towers on the Thursday and Sunday. 

Thursday

The festival truly kicks off on Thursday with a day of castellers in Plaça Sant Jaume, and plenty of open doors days to enjoy at museums, such as the CCCB and MACBA, and public institutions, such as the Catalan parliament. The evening will also see flamenco concerts outside the Cathedral and a drone show at Barceloneta beach. 

Friday 

Friday sees concerts take place late into the evening in various spots around the city, including Moll de la Fusta, Bogatell Beach, Avinguda Maria Cristina. 

Saturday

Families can enjoy circus and street theatre performances in Parc de la Trinitat and Parc de la Estació del Nord. The weekend days see concerts and a festive atmosphere at Antiga Fàbrica de Estrella Damm too.  

Sunday

The day will open up with colles de castells, human towers groups, coming from around Catalonia to perform in Plaça Sant Jaume. The finishing pyro-musical, the traditional fireworks show set to music, is taking place on Platja de Nova Icària, rather than the usual Plaça Espanya, on Sunday night. 

Flea markets | September 25-27 | Markets | Barcelona

One man's trash, etc etc. This weekend sees three great flea markets open around the city where you can find some bargains. Open all weekend is Todo a 2 y 1€, located at AKILO STORE on Carrer Pere IV, 117. Then open only on Sunday are El 22 Market at Soulivre on Carrer Llull, 68, and Alternativa Market at Nau Bostik. 

European Cheese Route | September 26-27 | Gastronomy | Ripoll

Northern Catalonia has a date with the finest cheeses on the continent this weekend. As well as plenty of market stalls selling the dairy product, there will also be cheese-related goods such as bread and wine available to wash it down with. 

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.

San Miguel Biergarten | September 18-27 | Party | Poble Espanyol

Like Oktoberfest, but in September: a celebration of beer, music, and gastronomy. Tickets for residents of Catalonia are free.

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

Only The Poets | September 25 | Razzmatazz

Modeselektor dj set | September 26 | Sala Apolo

Fat Freddy's Drop | September 26 | Razzmatazz

The Damned | September 26 & 27 | Razzmatazz

Valeria Lynch | September 28 | Razzmatazz

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.