Celebrating International Women’s Day: 8M Barcelona 2025
As the vibrant city of Barcelona prepares to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, the streets begin to come alive with purple flags and quotes of solidarity in the windows of apartments and local businesses. Women of all ages, nationalities, and life experiences come together to continue the long-running demand for equality and justice.
This annual commemoration is valued especially in Barcelona, a city with a rich history of feminist activism and consistency to fighting for women’s rights. Let’s take a closer look at how International Women’s Day is celebrated here, and why it remains such a relevant holiday still in modern-day Catalonia.
8M Barcelona 2025
A brief historical perspective
Barcelona’s journey towards gender equality traces back to the early 20th century when women first began organising for their rights amidst Spanish social and political upheaval. The Second Spanish Republic from 1931 to 1939 held significant advancements for women, such as the right to vote and the legalisation of divorce. However, the gains made during this period were short-lived, as Franco’s dictatorship from 1939 to 1975 rolled back many of these rights, relegating women back to more traditional roles within the family and society.
In the aftermath of Franco’s regime, Spain underwent a period of transition to democracy, culminating in the adoption of a new constitution in 1978. This pivotal moment laid the groundwork for the reemergence of feminist movements in Barcelona and across Spain, as women fought to reclaim their once-visible autonomy. In 1981, Spain legalised divorce again, followed by the decriminalisation of abortion in 1985, marking huge milestones for the country’s path towards a righteous balance between the freedoms granted to men and women alike. 8M Barcelona 2025’s strength has derived from a history of ups and downs, where women start once again at the base and climb back up, regardless of the setbacks.
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The importance of organisations
Organisations based in Barcelona are central to the continuity of this fight and to the mass celebrations which take place on International Women’s Day. They all work together in forming 8M Barcelona. The Ajuntament de Barcelona’s Department of Women and Civil Rights spearheads initiatives and events which make women living in the city feel empowered and capable of achieving their goals on their own. Under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Sonia Recasens, the department works to address issues such as gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, and access to education and healthcare.
Another critical player to be noted is the BCN Antimasclista campaign, launched by the city council to combat gender violence in promoting a culture of mutual respect. Led by feminist activists like Laura Pérez and Maria Rovira, the campaign raises awareness about the true prevalence of assault against women in Barcelona, and provides services for survivors.
Gender-based violence remains an issue that taints the overall comfortability and safety of living as a woman in Barcelona, with nearly 30,000 cases reported in Catalonia in 2021 alone. This figure underlines the ever-present need for advocacy, intervention, and assistance to ensure the well-being of women in the region. In the workplace, women in Catalonia also face notable disparities in employment and representation in leadership positions, resulting from systemic and societal barriers that persist despite certain legislative advancements.
Celebrating International Women’s Day in 2025
On 8th March, girls and women all over the city will participate in demonstrations and protests organised mostly by grassroots feminist collectives across neighbourhoods, advocacy groups, and other social activist organisations such as:
- LIDERA – Barcelona Activa’s School for Women Entrepreneurs
- Se Va a Armar La Gorda – Feminist Collective typically organise a nocturnal demonstration on 7th March
- PIAD – Women’s Support and Information Points
- FemBloc – Several organisations bound against digital degradation and violence against women
- Barcelona Women’s Network – A community for women in Barcelona spanning across nationalities
- Ca la Dona – Home for the feminist movement of Catalonia for encouraging progressive conversations and action in politics, economics, society, and more
The overall purpose of these events is to end gender violence, discrimination, and inequality, through the bonding and strength of female individuals through workshops, panel discussions, fun activities, and more. It is tradition to hand out flowers to women as a symbol of appreciation and recognition, and streets and people are simultaneously adorned with purple ribbons and decor.
Theme 8M Barcelona 2025: Breaking the cycle of vulnerability
Barcelona’s 2025 8M theme, “Breaking the cycle of vulnerability”, challenges us to confront the deep-rooted issues of social and economic insecurity that women face. It highlights how entrenched disparities in employment conditions and career opportunities undermine women’s independence and limit their potential. This cycle of vulnerability affects not only individual lives, reducing agency and self-confidence, but also holds back broader social progress. On 8th March, let’s come together to dismantle these barriers and create a future where every woman is empowered to thrive.
Maria Aurèlia Capmany Award 2025
The Maria Aurèlia Capmany Award is an annual recognition organised by the Barcelona City Council to promote and reward projects supporting gender equality and social justice. The 2025 edition focuses on initiatives aimed at improving women’s lives, encouraging collective action for social change.
Organisations and individuals can submit innovative proposals addressing these themes, with cash prizes to support project implementation. The award coincides with International Women’s Day to highlight ongoing efforts in feminist advocacy.
Feminist conversations
Feminist Conversations is back for a second edition in 2025. Designed with and for women, associations and organisations in the city, the goal of these events is to find solutions to some of the main hurdles standing in the way of equality.
The project seeks to be a participatory forum for discussion and conversations that spark innovation and inform policies in strategic areas to achieve true equality. This year’s edition was launched in January with six working groups, and will conclude on 4th and 5th April with events at the Born Cultural Centre.
Programme 8M Barcelona 2025
Public spaces become hubs of activism and change-making functionalities. Many workplaces offer women the day off to participate in the festivities as well. Men are also welcome to participate, as opportunities for reflection on current society and education for the future are encouraged to be taken up by whoever is willing and interested. The events for this year will be uploaded on the Ajuntament organisation’s website here.
8M Barcelona 2025: Manifesto
- 7th March @ 09:00 a.m.
- Plaça Sant Jaume
- More information
On 7th of March, the manifesto will be read expressing Barcelona City Council’s firm commitment to the feminist struggle and denouncing the inequality and discrimination that women experience in all spheres of life and at a structural level simply for being women.
The aim of this official event is to reaffirm the City Council’s commitment to continue making headway with innovative and transformative feminist policies.
The reading of the manifesto will also be accompanied by the unveiling of a banner featuring the image of the 8 March campaign on the balcony of the City Hall, this year with the theme “Breaking the cycle of vulnerability”.
Student demonstration
- Plaça de la Universitat
Every year, youth from all over the city join in front of the main campus of the University of Barcelona in favour of protecting and ultimately empowering young female voices. The main organisers are student unions and organisations who are looking to blaze a trail forward in girls’ progression towards a life they would love to live, fearlessly.
Demonstration Assemblea 8M
- 8th March @ 06:00 p.m.
- Plaça de la Universitat / Gran Via
- More information
This is the largest demonstration of 8th March, which will begin in Jardinets de Gràcia and end at Plaça Sant Jaume. It calls for a celebration of a female-led life and a simultaneous fight for all the work left to be done to reach equality.
Culture & 8M Barcelona 2025
As a way of showing the city itself has deep-rooted appreciation and support for women’s participation in its beautification, many of the cultural events centers of Barcelona hold specific events to celebrate womanhood in history and the present. 8M Barcelona 2025 washes the city in purple through such connections over artistic and knowledge-based experiences.
Barcelona's museums
Special exhibitions, activities and free entry for women in museums.
Cinema, theatre, art and music
Cinemas like Zumzeig and the Mecal Factory will be showing feminist films, musical events will be held at Sala Paral-lel 62, and several other artistic and conversation spotlights will go on as well.
Libraries
Libraries in Barcelona have historically all been named after males, but in the past few years have been transitioning to being renamed after iconic women.
Civic centres
As most major policy change starts at the civic level, of course the civic centers will be hosting important workshops, talks, exhibitions and more fun activities which celebrate the gap in gender equality that has steadily been worked to close, especially over the past century.
Other Days for Women: 25N
The 25th November, international day for the elimination of violence against women, houses more of a demonstration than a festival. This past November, a recorded 40,000 people were in attendance for a rally, with the main goal of protesting against gender-based violence. But despite its heavy topic, the day is filled with hope and community, and an empowerment unlike anything else.
In addition to the manifestations held in the city, Barcelona also hosts an annual 25N Award. Run by the Barcelona City Council, the prize is awarded to one of the many nominated projects dedicated to eliminating gender violence in the city. The award is 15,000 euros, and the awards ceremony held every year involves musical performances and speeches from important people in the city.
Conclusion 8M Barcelona 2025
The widely held celebration of International Women’s Day in Barcelona serves as both a reminder of the progress that has been made so far, and the work that is itching to be done ahead. Little girls and boys growing up in the city are able to learn firsthand the importance of a society which values the two genders greatly, and as generations roll on this will hopefully engrain itself in the fabric of Barcelona itself.
From the suffragettes of the early 20th century to the activists of today, women here have been pioneers for justice across Europe, and even the world, where there exists an even larger divide between the role of genders in city life. This year, make sure to join in on another purple marker of history by joining the battle for an increasingly inclusive Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and further outwards! 8M Barcelona 2025 and International Women’s Day as a whole is a call to action in the form of exercising the freedom to be joyous, loud, and constantly climbing towards progress.
Female entrepreneurs in Barcelona
Women in Barcelona
Other organisations for women in Barcelona
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