Spain is full of cultural and religious events, and Barcelona is no exception. From food, dancing, and parades to rich histories and cultural significance, these festivals have it all. Plus, many of them are free to all, and they are a great way to experience the less touristy, more authentic part of the city. Read on below to learn more about all of the best cultural and religious events in Barcelona!
Cultural and religious events in Barcelona
Religious events in Barcelona
Carnival of Barcelona
This religious festival in Barcelona brings us one of the biggest fiesta’s of the year! Along with some Catalan traditions such as the Arrival of the Carnival Kings, Taronjada, and the burial of the sardine, the Carnival it brings us a colorful week filled with concerts, workshops, and more fun activities.
- Date: February 10th to 12th
- Location: Ciutat Vella
- Website
Semana Santa
Easter comes early this year, so make sure to mark your calendars so you don’t miss it! From Semana Santa to Good Friday to Easter Sunday, and all of the unique and beautiful celebrations they bring, the season of Easter is a great excuse to attend a religious festival in Barcelona that you’ll truly never forget.
- Date: March 24th to March 31st
- Location: Barcelona
Whit Monday
Whit Monday is not only a holiday, but a deeply-rooted religious festival in Barcelona, held on June 9th. With many names (Cinquagesma, Pentecostès, Pasqua de Pentecosta, Segona Pasqua, Pasqua Granada, etc.) and many different forms of celebration in Catalunya, Whit Monday honors the Holy Ghost’s apparition before the disciples on the 50th day following Christ’s Resurrection.
The festival begins on Saturday morning with a musical parade or a ‘cercavila,’ and lasts until Monday night. Throughout Whit Weekend, retired choir groups sing through the streets in decorative clothing, jewelry, sunglasses, and hats. Reflecting the cultural origins of sea trade in Barceloneta, the groups also carry wooden objects like oars, tridents, and harpoons.
- Date: June 9th
- Location: All throughout Barcelona
- Website
Corpus Christi
With the beginning of June in Barcelona comes one of the most historical, special Catalan events. Corpus Christi is a religious festival in Barcelona with an emphasis on Catalan culture. Each year, taking place at some of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona, there are concerts, dances, talks, parades, flower explosions, and many more celebratory events. The three main elements of Corpus Christie celebrations are the procession, the dancing egg, and the ephemeral carpets.
- Date: Thursday after Trinity Sunday
- Location: All throughout Catalunya
All Saint's Day
The first day of November, All Saint’s Day (also known as Dia de Todos Los Santos) is dedicated to honouring the dead, and is seen as a religious festival in Barcelona. In Spain, people put flowers on the graves of the loved ones that have passed and attend a church service in their honour. Since this is a national public holiday, most shops will be closed, but many tourist attractions stay open. In true Catalonian fashion, you can enjoy a “Castanyada” on this day- the Catalan tradition of eating chestnuts.
- Date: November 1st
- Location: Barcelona
Christmas in Barcelona
Christmas is one of the biggest holidays to celebrate for many people, and is certainly an exciting religious festival in Barcelona. Christmas in Barcelona is an incredible experience with exciting festivities and beautiful decorations and lights throughout the whole city center! Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, the festivities and sights around the city are nonetheless still worth checking out in our Christmas in Barcelona blog below.
Cultural events in Barcelona
3 Kings' Parade in Barcelona
The Three Kings Day, also known as the Epiphany, or ‘Dia de los tres Reyes’ in Spanish, and Dia de Reis in Catalan, is one of the most celebrated and important holidays in Spain. Historically, Three Kings Day represents the day the Three Wise Men gave their gifts to the baby Jesus. Thus, this day is a part of the Catholic calendar and marks the conclusion of the Christmas season (the 12th day of Christmas).
However, the excitement starts the day before on the 5th of January, when the Three Wise Men arrive and each city has their own ‘Cavalcada’ parade. The parade involves giant animals, floats, music, dancing, candy, and more. It is held on the same day every year, and is full of fun festivities.
- Date: January 5th
- Location: Barcelona (See Route on Website)
Les Festes de Santa Eulàlia
This festival is in honour of the co-patron of Barcelona, Sant Euàlia. The festival includes the age-old Catalan traditions such as a Correfoc, Castellers, and a Giants parade starring Làlia the giantess. This festival is one of the most kid-friendly festivals Barcelona has to offer. Including events like storytelling, puppet shows, and family workshops, this festival is perfect for the whole family! Music and concerts play a huge role in this festival and the kids are not left behind, music schools, school choirs, and children’s orchestras are preforming all throughout this festival.
- Date: February 8th to 14th
- Location: Ribera/Born
Festes De Sant Josep Oriol
Festes de Sant Josep Oriol is celebrated in Barcelona to honour Sant Josep and his devotion to helping the sick and underprivileged. It is a festival centered around history and culture. So if you want to immerse yourself in Catalan culture, this is the festival for you. The main event of this festival is the Giants parade. Which is a traditional Catalan parade seen in a lot of cultural festivals.
- Date: March 23rd
- Location: Pi Neighbourhood
- Website
Sant Medir
The festivities that take place during Sant Medir are meant to imitate and honour the pilgrimage Josep Vidal I Granés made in 1828. ade the promise in 1828 that he would go on a pilgrimage to the Ermita de Sant Medir if he would be able to heal from his illness. He was then joined by friends, family and others. It is said that when he came back from the pilgrimage, he distributed beans to the crowd of people that were awaiting him. Legend says that these beans were sowed by a saint. As time went on, these beans were replaced with sweets.
So each year on the feast day, there is a pilgrimage from Gràcia and Sant Gervasi de Cassoles to the hermitage of Sant Medir in the Collserola Mountains. The parade is filled with horses, floats, and candies being thrown down to the crowd. The fun, family-friendly cultural festival in Barcelona will not disappoint.
- Date: March 3rd
- Location: Gràcia and Sant Gervasi de Cassol
- Website
Feria De Abril
Another cultural festival in Barcelona is Feria de Abril. The idea of the fair is to start off the Spring season in a celebratory and exciting way. The fair brings together Catalan and Andalusian cultures. In 1847 the first edition took place in Spain. In 1971, migrants living in Castelldefels started their own version of the fair. It started off with four stands but grew out into a fair where horse dressage demonstrations, bullfights, music and dance performances and human towers were taking place. Even though the fair originates from Seville, Catalan culture is very much so instilled in this festivity as well.
- Date: April 22nd
- Location: el Fòrum
Sant Jordi
Sant Jordi- the “Valentine’s Day of Barcelona”- celebrates love, books, roses, and the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. The streets are filled with roses and book stalls, and the people come together in processions and activities to make Barcelona an even livelier and joyful city. Read more about this cultural festival in Barcelona in our blog below.
- Date: April 23rd
- Location: Barcelona
Sant Joan
One special weekend to spend in June in Barcelona is the Festival of Sant Joan. As a celebration of the start of summer, the festivities begin the evening prior to the bank holiday. Bonfires and fireworks light up the streets from the shortest night of the year, June 23rd, to the longest day of the year, June 24th to celebrate the summer solstice. The cultural festival in Barcelona will not disappoint!
- Date: June 23rd
- Location: All throughout Barcelona
La Mercè
This is known to be the ultimate cultural festival in Barcelona. It is a macro-festival that includes separate festivals. The purpose of the festival is to honour the patron saint of Barcelona, Mare de Deu de la Mercè, also known as Mother of God of Mercy. Now, the intent of these festivals is to showcase the cultural wealth of Barcelona. Creatives from all around Barcelona come together to showcase all the different art forms, old and new. There are over 500 activities and events within the La Mercè festival.
- Date: September 24th to 29th
- Location: All across Barcelona
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