What's On Barcelona: 17th - 19th July

Bon dia!

If you left it late to book tickets for Mountjuic’s open air cinema you’ll see that most of the screenings are sold out, however you can pick up tickets from others who are selling theirs on Ticketswap.com (or sell your own if you can no longer make it).

This week I did a short interview with Barcelona Navigator, where we chatted about local newsletters, marketing and AI. If you're interested, you can read it here.

As for this weekend, here’s What’s On!

- Mark

⛅️ Weather

Fri ☀️ 30°/26° Sat ☀️ 30°/26° ⛅ Sun 31°/26°

1. Free Outdoor Cinema on the Beach - Today

What’s On: Grab a blanket and settle in for free open air cinema on Sant Sebastià Beach. Each Thursday, for the rest of July, independent films will be shown in their original language with Spanish subtitles. Today it’s the movie Molt lluny, the dialogue is mostly in Spanish, but you will hear some Catalan too. It’s a powerful drama following a young Catalan rebuilding his life abroad.

📅 When: Today, 23rd & 30th July (from 9:30pm)
📍 Where: Platja de Sant Sebastià

For more info see here →

2. Pride Barcelona 2026

What’s On: Barcelona's biggest LGBTQ+ celebration returns with 4 days of free concerts, drag performances, events & the colourful Pride Parade. Most of the action takes place around Plaça Universitat & Arc de Triomf, with the main march on Saturday

📅 When: Thurs 16th – Sun 19th July
📍 Where: Plaça Universitat, Arc de Triomf & across the city

Highlights
Thu (from 8pm): Opening ceremony and concerts in Plaça Universitat.
Fri: Free concerts featuring Clean Bandit, Julieta, Las Ketchup and María Escarmiento.
Sat (6pm): The Pride Parade marches from Plaça Universitat to Arc de Triomf
Sun: Community events and the final day of Pride celebrations across the city.

For more info see here →

Catalonia Beyond Fuet: Summer Songs in Catalan [AD]

Com va l'estiu? Have you already picked your cançó de l’estiu (summer song)?

If you’re still looking for the one, here are some of this year’s best songs. We will explain to you what they’re about.

1. Sant Joan by Fades and Triquell (opens Spotify)
Vull cridar, vull cridar més fort que els focs artificials. I want to scream; I want to scream louder than fireworks.
Que tu ets, que tu ets el meu desig de Sant Joan. You are, you are my Sant Joan’s wish.

2. Cent per cent by Julieta (opens Spotify)
M'és igual si ric o ploro d'amor. I don’t care if I laugh or if I cry for love.
Ho viuré tan fort com si fos l'últim cop. I will live it as intensely as if it were the last time.
Una estrella que només neix si s'incendia. A star that is only born if it burns.

3. Nois by Ouineta and Mushkaa (opens Spotify)
La meva nena My girl
Em bressoles una mica i després m'agafes fort. You rock me gently & then hold me tight

Enjoy your holiday by listening to música en català!

For even more resources on learning Catalan see here →

Content by the Ministry Language Policy

3. Poble-sec Neighbourhood Festival

What’s On: 10 days of celebrations across Poble-sec start, expect live music, giant parades, castellers (human towers), sardanes, flamenco, family activities & a correfoc (fire run). Most events are free & take place in the neighbourhood's streets & squares.

📅 When: Fri 17th – Sun 26th July
📍 Where: Various locations across Poble-sec

Weekend Highlights
Fri: Opening parade, official opening speech and free concerts.
Sat: Giant puppet parade, flamenco and live music.
Sun: Poble-sec fun run, family activities and sardanes.

For more info see here →

4. Watch The World Cup Final On A Giant Screen

What’s On: Watch Spain vs Argentina in the World Cup Final on a giant 8×5m outdoor screen in Les Corts. Arrive early for family friendly games, music and the pre match build-up before kick-off.

📅 When: Sun 19th July, Kick off is at 9pm
📍 Where: Carrer de Martí i Franquès (Les Corts)

More info here →

At the time of writing, this is the only big public screen in Barcelona, that may change between now and the final, and I’ll share them over on Instagram.

Other screens just outside Barcelona
Badalona: Plaça de Josep Tarradellas
Castelldefels: Plaça Teresa Claramunt
Cornellà: Parc Esportiu Llobregat
El Prat de Llobregat: Plaça Catalunya
Gavà: Plaça Jaume Balmes
Santa Coloma de Gramenet: Plaça de la Vila
Sant Adrià de Besòs: Plaça de la Vila
Sant Feliu de Llobregat: Plaça del Vuit de Març

Also Happening This Weekend

🎉 Neighbourhood Festivals

I’ve already mentioned Poble-sec’s one, but we also have Festa de les Cases Barates de la Marina taking place this weekend, here are the highlights.

Fri: Opening ceremony, drumming procession & live music.
Sat: Foam party & evening concert.
Sun: Paella competition, procession & drumming finale.

🎶 Music, Parties & Nightlife
Concert Trail Through the Gothic Quarter – Free walking concert featuring mariachi, acoustic rock, flamenco & blues across four venues (Thu, from 6pm).

Les Nits de Barcelona (Pedralbes) – Open-air concert series in the gardens of the Palau de Pedralbes, with live music, food, drinks & performances (Until 21st July).

Throwback at La Terrrazza (Poble Espanyol) – Open-air party playing the biggest hits from the 80s, 90s and 00s at one of Barcelona's best outdoor clubs (Fri, 7pm–12am).

SOUNDIT Festival (El Prat de Llobregat) – Two-day open-air electronic music festival with four stages, bringing together international DJs and live acts (Fri–Sat).

BARTS Festival (Poble Espanyol) – Summer music festival, this weekend includes performances from ZZ Top and Biffy Clyro (Until 25th July).

Talents Jazz at La Pedrera (Passeig de Gràcia) – Rooftop jazz concerts at Gaudí’s La Pedrera, featuring emerging jazz artists plus cava & attic access (Fri).

Free Concerts at the University of Barcelona (Eixample) – Free open-air concerts featuring emerging artists in the gardens of UOB's historic building (Tue & Thurs 8pm).

Terrats en Cultura (Various Locations) – festival with concerts & live performances on secret rooftops, with locations revealed 48 hours before (Ends 24th July).

BACHcelona Festival (Various Locations) – Classical music festival celebrating Bach through concerts, jazz, dance across Barcelona (Until 19th July).

🎬 Film & Outdoor Cinema
Open-Air Cinema at Canòdrom (Sant Andreu) – Free outdoor screening of an award winning drama set in rural Tunisia (Fri, 8:30pm)

Open-Air Cinema at L'Illa Diagonal (Les Corts) – Summer outdoor cinema with weekly screenings in the gardens of Sant Joan de Déu (Thu, doors 9pm, film 10pm).

Mecal Air (Poblenou) – Free open-air short film screenings every Friday night, with themed sessions including comedy, animation and creative advertising (Until 28th Aug).

Pantalla Barcelona (Citywide) – Free outdoor cinema series with screenings across Barcelona's parks, squares and civic centres (Until 23rd July).

Filmoteca family cinema (El Raval) – Family-friendly weekend screenings at the Filmoteca, with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Sat & My Girl on Sun (Sat–Sun, 5:30pm).

Family Cinema at the CCCB (El Raval) – Free screenings of animated & experimental short films exploring cities, every Wednesday & Saturday (Until 5th Sept).

🛍️ Food, Drinks, Markets & Shopping
Everything €2 & €1 Clothing Sale (Poblenou) – Huge clothing clearance sale with over 8,000 items available from just €1 (Sat–Sun).

🎨 Culture & Experiences
Desvarío Flamenco Festival (Nou Barris) – Festival showcasing contemporary flamenco performances by some of Spain's leading dancers & musicians (Thu–Sat).

Grec Festival (Various Locations) – BCN's biggest performing arts festival, with theatre, music, dance, circus & performances across the city (Until 31st July).

Summer Festival at Ateneu Barcelonès (Gothic Quarter) – Open air programme of music, poetry & literature in gardens of Ateneu Barcelonès (Tue & Thu, until 21 July).

Shakespeare in the Park (Parc de l'Estació del Nord) – Free open-air performances of a modern adaptation of Hamlet, every Thursday to Monday evening (Until 3rd Aug).

Emerging Art Festival (Various Locations) – 50+ exhibitions & events showcasing up-and-coming artists in galleries and art spaces across Barcelona (Until 3rd Sept).

Jardí Geològic (Les Corts) – New open-air museum exploring geology and Earth science, with rock displays and interactive exhibits (Free, open daily).

La Model Prison (Esquerra de l’Eixample) – Former prison turned public space, open for free visits where you can explore its cells and learn about its history.

The Last Days of Pompeii (IDEAL Montjuïc) – Immersive exhibition recreating Pompeii with 360° projections, VR and sound, including a dramatic Vesuvius eruption finale.

World’s Largest Balloon Exhibition (Poblenou) – Immersive exhibition made from 600,000 balloons, with sculptures & interactive rooms to explore.

Antarctica Experience (Plaça d'Espanya) – Escape the heat at this immersive exhibition exploring Antarctica through 360° projections, sounds & real footage.

DroneArt Show: Harry Potter (Parc del Fòrum) – Open air drone show featuring 1,200 illuminated drones recreating iconic Harry Potter scenes (Friday).

🌞 Outdoors & Active
Poble-sec Fun Run (Poble-sec) – Annual 5km road race through the neighbourhood, alongside free children's races of varying distances (Sun, from 9am).

Outdoor Board Game Space at Glòries – Free open-air board game area with 100+ games you can borrow and play in the park (Sat, 10am–2pm & Sun, 4pm–8pm).

Barcelona Night Skate Routes – Free guided skate routes through Barcelona every Friday night, starting from Vila Olímpica & led by volunteer skaters (Fri, 10pm).

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Kids
La Regadora Clown Festival (Besòs i el Maresme) – Free clown performances & circus workshops at Centre Cívic del Besòs i el Maresme (Tue & Thu, until 23rd July).

The Stories of Tilikum (Gràcia) – Puppet show packed with original stories, songs and music for children aged 1–10 (Sun, 11:30am).

💼 Jobs of the Week

Staff Writer (Italian Speaker) at Fever
^{Write articles and create content for Fever's Italian-language editorial team.
See the role →}
Events & Travel Partner at Wallapop
<sup>Plan company events, offsites and employee travel at Wallapop.
See the role →

Find more jobs like this on BarcelonaJobs.com</sup>

That’s all for this week, have a great weekend!

— Mark

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