What's On Barcelona: 18th - 20th September

Bon dia!

This newsletter is getting dangerously close to hitting 10,000 subscribers, and when that happens the bill I get for sending it out goes up.

This is the link to sign up, https://www.whatsonbarcelona.com/subscribe. Just putting it here so you know which one NOT to share around.

Anyway, here’s what’s on this weekend.

- Mark

⛅️ Weather

Fri 🌧️ 24°/20° Sat ☀️ 26°/20° ☀️ Sun 27°/20°

1. Festa Major del Poblenou – Final Weekend

What’s On: The Festa Major del Poblenou wraps up this weekend, with four more days of neighbourhood celebrations. Expect live music, DJs, street parties, food, kids’ activities and traditional Catalan festivities across the neighbourhood.

📅 When: Thu 10th – Sun 20th September
📍 Where: Poblenou

Highlights
Correfoc – Saturday 19th, 9pm
Giant Parade – Sunday 20th, 11:30am
Castellers – Sunday 20th, 11:30am
Fireworks at Bogatell – Sunday 20th, 10pm

For more info see here →

2. Born Street Food Festival

What’s On: Born Street Food takes over Pla de Palau for three days of food, drinks and music in the run-up to La Mercè. Some of the neighbourhood's best restaurants and chefs take their kitchens out onto the street, cooking everything from Basque txuleta and seafood rice to tacos, focaccia, burgers and cheesecake right in front of you.

📅 When: Fri 18th – Sun 20th September (12pm–11pm)
📍 Where: Pla de Palau

For more info see here →

Vibe check here →

Want To Learn Catalan for Free? Registration Is Now Open [AD]

New to Barcelona or Catalonia? Or been here a while and still replying “sí, sí” when someone speaks Catalan and hoping for the best?

Registration for CPNL’s free Catalan courses opened yesterday!

The courses are run by the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística (CPNL), a public organisation offering Catalan courses across Catalonia and online.

But be quick – registration only runs on selected days between now and 21st September (that’s Monday).

👉 Register for free a Catalan course

You can also watch this short video explaining how to get started.

Whether you’ve just moved here or have been meaning to learn for a while, now’s a good time to start.

Content by the Ministry Language Policy

3. Barcelona Gallery Weekend

What’s On: Barcelona Gallery Weekend marks the start of the new art season, with contemporary and modern art galleries across Barcelona and L'Hospitalet opening their doors for four days of free exhibitions and activities. Alongside the exhibitions, there'll be guided visits with artists and gallery owners, talks, performances, gallery routes and family activities.

📅 When: Thu 17th – Sun 20th September
📍 Where: Galleries across Barcelona & L'Hospitalet

For more info see here →

Plan Ahead: Visit the Sagrada Família for Free (Raffle)

What’s On: The Sagrada Família is raffling off 20,000 free tickets to visit the basilica as part of La Mercè. Winners can visit for free between 24th–27th September, with each winner receiving four tickets. To be in with a chance, you need to enter the raffle by Sunday 20th September at 9pm.

📅 When: 24th–27th September
📍 Where: Sagrada Familia (obviously!)

For more info see here →

Plan Ahead: Oasis Are Coming to Barcelona - Just Announced

What’s On: Oasis have just announced two shows in Barcelona next summer as part of their Oasis Live ’27 tour. Barcelona will be their only stop in Spain. If you want tickets, you need to register in advance. There won’t be a general sale, and registration closes Thursday 17th September at 5pm.

My girlfriend asked me if I wanted to go.

I said maybeeeeeeeeeee.

📅 When: 10th & 11th July 2027
📍 Where: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

For more info see here →

Also Happening This Weekend

🎉 Neighbourhood Festivals
Verdum Festival (Verdum) – Until Sunday
Festa Major de Vallvidrera (Vallvidrera) – Until Sunday
Festa Major Plus Ultra (Sants) – Sunday

🎶 Music, Parties & Nightlife
L’Hora del Jazz (Gràcia) – Free open-air jazz concerts in Plaça de la Vila, with two performances each Sunday (Free, Sun, 6pm & 7pm, until 27th Sept).

Jazzsí Reopening (Raval) – Three days of live music celebrating the reopening of the iconic Jazzsí club (Fri–Sun, opening party free).

Festival•B (Parc del Fòrum) – Three-day festival showcasing indie, alternative & emerging urban music (Thu–Sat).

Sant Pau Chamber Music Festival (Sant Pau) – Classical chamber music concerts inside the spectacular Sant Pau modernist complex (Until Wed, 8pm).

🛍️ Food, Drinks, Markets & Shopping
San Miguel Biergarten (Poble Espanyol) – German-style beer festival with food, live music, DJs, tastings & competitions (Free for Catalonia residents, Fri–Sun).

La Puça del Clot (El Clot) – Huge outdoor second-hand market with 120+ stalls selling clothes, books, homeware & more (Sun, 10am–8pm).

Sarrià Market (Sarrià) – Outdoor market with fashion, design, accessories & independent local brands (Fri–Sun).

Mercat de Sastre (Gràcia) – Antique & handmade textile market, with some pieces over 100 years old (Sun, from 11am).

Pompina Home Market (Arc de Triomf) – Vintage & mid-century furniture and homeware sale inside a penthouse, reservation required (free)(Fri–Sun).

€2 & €3 Market at Akilo Store (Poblenou) – Three-day second-hand clothing market with clothes for €2 or €3 (Free entry, Fri–Sun, 11am–7pm).

Mercat de Colom Vintage Market (Port Vell) – Browse vintage jewellery, cameras, watches, antiques, military memorabilia and collectibles (Fri–Sun).

🎨 Culture & Experiences
Dragons & Fire Beasts Exhibition (El Born) – See 70 of Barcelona’s dragons & other fire-breathing festival beasts up close before they take part in La Mercè (Free, from Sat).

Catalan Book Week (Arc de Triomf) – Outdoor book festival with new releases, author talks, signings & activities celebrating Catalan-language literature (18th–27th Sept).

Dalí Eggs (Passeig de Gràcia) – Three giant Dalí-style eggs installed outside Casa Amatller to mark the opening of a new immersive Dalí experience (Until Tue).

Cirque du Soleil's KURIOS (L’Hospitalet) – Steampunk-inspired circus show with acrobatics, comedy, live music & elaborate sets (Until 18th Oct).

Free Star Wars Exhibition (Passeig de Gràcia) – Original film props, life-size figures, ships & rare collectibles from one of Spain's largest private collections (Ends 18th Sept).

Jardí Geològic (Les Corts) – 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 & sound, including a dramatic eruption finale (Until 21st Sept)

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

🌞 Outdoors & Active
Cursa de la Mercè (City Centre) – Barcelona’s annual La Mercè running event, with a 10K, inclusive 2K & family race through the city (Sun, from 8:30am).

CirkoMotik (Sant Andreu) – Free outdoor circus play area where kids can try juggling, stilts, balancing & other circus skills (Free, Sat, 10:30am).

Outdoor Board Game Space at Glòries – Free open-air board game area with 100+ games you can borrow and play in the park (Sat & Sun, 6pm–10pm).

Juguem a les Places (Various Locations) – Free outdoor play spaces for kids & families across almost 50 Barcelona squares, with toys, games & activities.

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

💼 Jobs of the Week

Account Executive (German Speaking) at Clera
^{Manage the full sales cycle for a fast-growing AI phone assistant startup
See the role →}
Head of HR at Papernest (Temporary)
<sup>Lead HR strategy, operations and a seven-person HR team in Spain
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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