What's On Barcelona: 24th - 26th July

Bon dia!

A new law is being drafted in Spain which could see smoking banned on bar and restaurant terraces. I’d be interested to know what you think, so vote in the poll below.

On the topic of smoking, if you spent any time on social media last summer you may remember Mind Enterprises, the Italian duo who went viral for smoking cigarettes, drinking Campari & playing Italo disco. They just announced they’re performing in Barcelona in November.

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

- Mark

⛅️ Weather

Fri ☀️ 30°/26° Sat ☀️ 29°/23° ⛅ Sun 28°/23°

1. Giants Parade Through The Gothic Quarter

What’s On:Giant figures parade through the Gothic Quarter as Barcelona celebrates Sant Jaume (Saint James' Day) with its annual Giants Gathering.

Watch dozens of gegants, accompanied by musicians, before the evening ends with traditional dances in Plaça de la Mercè.

📅 When: Sat 25th July (from 6pm)
📍 Where: Gothic Quarter (Plaça de Ramon Berenguer → Plaça de la Mercè)

For more info see here →

2. Poble-sec Neighbourhood Festival

What’s On: The Poble-sec Neighbourhood Festival continues this weekend, expect free concerts, cabaret, DJs, drummers parades, correfoc (fire run) & a fireworks display.

📅 When: Now until Sunday
📍 Where: Poble-sec neighbourhood

Highlights
Fri: Free concerts at Apolo, cabaret, DJs
Sat: Children's correfoc, drummers' parade and the main correfoc.
Sun: Fireworks finale at Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies (10pm).

For more info see here →

Catalonia Beyond Fuet: Work Out in Catalan [AD]

Bon dia i bona hora!

Contrary to what Dua Lipa sings, training season isn't over. In fact, this week marks 34 years since the opening of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

If you're looking for a new challenge, why not try exercising in Catalan? At the Ministry of Language Policy, we support initiatives that promote sport in Catalan, including Entrenaments Fosbury, where you can join free online training videos:

Ciclisme de sala (indoor cycling)
HIIT
Córrer (running)

And if you want to brush up on your sports vocabulary, check out the Diccionari general de l'esport. Keep moving, and do it in Catalan. Ànims!

Content by the Ministry Language Policy

3. Brazilian Culture Festival

What’s On: Celebrate Brazilian culture with live music, dance workshops, DJs and Brazilian food at Arc de Triomf. Learn samba, forró and Afro-Brazilian dance before live performances and DJs take over until 1am.

📅 When: Sat 25th July (from 6:30pm)
📍 Where: Arc de Triomf

For more info see here →

4. Free Street Circus Festival

What’s On: Watch acrobats, jugglers, comedians and aerial performers at this outdoor street circus festival. Around 10 performances take place across three evenings.

📅 When: Fri 24th – Sun 26th July
📍 Where: Carrer d'Alfons el Magnànim (Sant Martí)

More info here →

Also Happening This Weekend

🎉 Neighbourhood Festivals

I've already mentioned Poble-sec's, but La Clota's neighbourhood festival is also taking place this weekend. Here are the highlights:

Fri: Musical bingo, grilled sardines & live cumbia.
Sat: Classic car display, water fight, chocolate party & open-air disco.
Sun: Havaneres (traditional seaside songs) & a correfoc (fire run).

🎶 Music, Parties & Nightlife
La Rumbera (Port Olímpic) – Three days of free Catalan rumba concerts by the sea, with live bands and a lively festival atmosphere (Fri–Sun).

Share Festival (Parc del Fòrum) – Two-day urban music festival with reggaeton, Latin trap and hip-hop from some of Spain and Latin America's biggest artists (Fri–Sat).

BARTS Festival (Poble Espanyol) – Summer music festival, this weekend includes a performance from Morrissey (Ends Sunday).

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).

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

🎬 Film & Outdoor Cinema
Beach Cinema at Sant Sebastià (Barceloneta) – Free cinema on the beach with screenings of films in original language & Spanish subtitles (Thurs until 30th July).

Montjuïc Open Air Cinema (Montjuïc) – Open-air cinema beneath Montjuïc Castle, with a live concert before every screening. Most screenings are sold out, but keep an eye out for resale tickets (Until 5th Aug).

Open-Air Cinema at Canòdrom (Sant Andreu) – Free outdoor screening of the iconic cyberpunk anime Ghost in the Shell, dubbed in Catalan, Spanish subtitles (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 (Ends Thursday).

Filmoteca family cinema (El Raval) – Free weekend screenings at the Filmoteca. (Sat & Sun).

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
Flea Station (Estació de França) – Vintage market with 43 stalls selling clothing, accessories and unique finds inside Estació de França (€2 entry, Sun).

Everything €5 & €10 Clothing Sale (Poblenou) – Store closing clearance with over 3,000 clothing items available for just €5 or €10 (Fri–Sun).

Rave Market at Nau Bostik (Sant Andreu) – Second-hand clothing market with 8,000+ items, live clothing customisation & everything priced at €2 (€1 after 3pm) (Sun).

La Petite Parade Vintage Market (Born) – Vintage clothing, Y2K fashion and upcycled pieces from independent sellers (Fri–Sun).

Fet al Born (El Born) – Market celebrating Barcelona's independent designers, with locally made fashion, accessories and home décor (Sat–Sun).

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

🎨 Culture & Experiences
International Carillon Festival (Gothic Quarter) – Experience free evening concerts played on the Palau de la Generalitat's historic bell tower (Fri–Sun, 9pm).

Experimental Photo Festival (Citywide) – International festival for photography enthusiasts, with exhibitions, talks, artist presentations and workshops (Until Sun).

Luminia Divina (Pedralbes) – Free immersive light and sound installation transforming the cloister of the Monastery of Pedralbes after dark (Fri–Sun, 10pm–midnight).

Nexo Contemporary Circus Festival (Sant Andreu) – Contemporary circus festival with acrobatics, performances & artist showcases at Fabra i Coats (Ends Sun)

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

🌞 Outdoors & Active
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 (Thursday).

💼 Jobs of the Week

Staff Product Manager at Guesty
^{Lead AI-powered product development for Guesty
See the role →}
Paid Search Specialist at Avis Budget Group
<sup>Manage Google and Microsoft Ads campaigns for the US and Canadian markets.
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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