Free entry to some of Barcelona’s best museums
Free museum days in Barcelona; Barcelona is the perfect destination for art and culture fanatics. The city is rich in history and has an abundance of museums to visit, many of which offer free entry on special dates and specific week days and hours.
Visiting a museum can be fairly expensive, which is why Barcelona is encouraging free cultural visits to give all citizens the chance to visit some of its best attractions, such as the Picasso Museum, Parc Güell, or MACBA. Without a doubt, there will be exhibitions, attractions, and museums that you are willing to pay a small fee to visit, but why not take advantage of the many free museum days Barcelona has to offer? Most museums will have special discounts for children, students, pensioners, families etc. Remember to check each museum for specific details. If you don’t fall into any of the specified categories, you can invest in discount cards.
If you have other tips for free museum days in Barcelona, please let us know!
Free museum days in Barcelona
Gaudí Year
2026 is the Gaudí Year, marking 100 years since the death of famous architect Antoni Gaudí, and Barcelona will be at the heart of the celebrations. The city’s famous sites, like the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and La Pedrera, are hosting special exhibitions and events, while lesser-known works, such as Torre de Bellesguard, are also highlighted. A major exhibition, Gaudí, the Invisible Order, and an international congress at La Pedrera will explore new research and forgotten projects, giving locals and visitors a fresh view of Gaudí’s genius.
Throughout the year, Barcelona is offering guided tours, educational projects, and special performances celebrating Gaudí’s life and work. The program aims to connect the city’s rich architectural heritage with innovation and creativity, making 2026 a unique opportunity for both residents and internationals to explore the full story of one of the world’s greatest architects.
World Capital of Architecture 2026
Barcelona is famous for its unique and beautiful buildings. The city protects its historic architecture and works to create welcoming, safe, and accessible spaces for everyone. Because of this, UNESCO and the International Union of Architects have named Barcelona the World Capital of Architecture 2026.
In 2026, the city will also host the World Congress of Architects, a major event where experts from around the world meet to discuss the future of cities. Today, architecture in Barcelona focuses not only on design, but also on solving social and environmental challenges. The city wants to show how architecture can improve people’s daily lives.
What being the World Capital of Architecture means
- Sharing knowledge: showing how architecture, city planning, and landscapes can make a difference.
- Promoting heritage: highlighting Barcelona’s buildings and Catalan architecture worldwide.
- Collaboration: working with local organisations, schools, and cultural groups.
- Open to everyone: citizens are invited to join activities and events.
- Long-term impact: creating a lasting benefit for the city beyond 2026.
A year of events
From February to December 2026, Barcelona will host many activities across its 10 districts, including:
- Opening and closing events featuring the city’s nine UNESCO World Heritage buildings.
- A project where young architects redesign 10 blank walls, one in each district.
- Exhibitions, guided tours, workshops, open-house visits, talks, and competitions.
- Opportunities for local organisations to propose events and get involved.
- A volunteer programme for people of all ages.
The programme will run throughout the year, from the Santa Eulàlia festival in February to Santa Llúcia in December. Its goal is to bring architecture closer to everyone and show why Barcelona is a global leader in design, planning, and urban life.
- February - December 2026
- Various locations in the city
- Depends on the event
- More information
Discount cards
Free museum days in Barcelona
Always free - our top tips
- Arús Public Library
- Casa Dels Entremesos - Museum of Catalan Festival Figures
- Cosmo Caixa - science museum (free for clients of CaixaBank and <16 years old)
- El Born Cultural & Memorial Centre (El Born CCM) - archaeological site
- MUHBA Temple of Augustus
- MUHBA Turó de la Rovira / Bunkers del Carmel - panoramic spot
- Park Güell (the unrestricted area)
More museums with no entry fee
- Casa Seat - cultural & innovation hub
- Hivernacle - greenhouse
- La Capella - chapel of a former hospital
- La Virreina Palace
- MAE - Museum of Performing Arts of the Institut del Teatre
- Maritime Museum
- Museum of Funeral Carriages
- Palau Robert
- Photographic Archive of Barcelona
- Santa Mònica - contemporary art
Free entrance on Monday
Free entrance on Thursday
Free entrance on Friday
Free entrance on Saturday
Free entrance on Sunday
Free entrance on Sunday after 3pm: our top tips!
More free museums on Sunday
Free entrance on the first Sunday of every month
- Botanical Gardens
- Design Museum (Museu del Disseny de Barcelona)
- Foto Colectania - photography museum
- Mies van der Rohe Pavilion
- Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes
- Montjuïc Castle
- MUHBA El Call - old Jewish quarter
- MUHBA History Museum - Plaça de Rei - Barcelona Underground
- Museu Blau - science museum
- Museum of Music
- Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món - Museum of Ethnology and World Cultures
- National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)
- Palau Güell
- Picasso Museum
More museums in Barcelona
Special free museum days in Barcelona
Santa Eulàlia
The Santa Eulàlia festivities, also known as ‘La Laia’, is arguably Barcelona’s biggest Winter celebration. As a tribute to one of the two patron saints of Barcelona, some local museums are open to the general public for free during the festivities.
- 12th February
Museu Endins
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at museums, and what kind of work is done there? Have you wondered how the archives, laboratories, workshops, and reserves look, and what happens day to day, in order to create, document, and preserve the artefacts and artworks we can see in exhibitions?
Well, on the 7th of March in Barcelona, you’ll be able to find out! This year, 17 museums are taking part in the day-long project that allows visitors to explore these usually restricted spaces from a new perspective, so don’t miss this unique opportunity!
- 7th March
- Free
- Barcelona
- More info
Sant Jordi
The 23rd of April marks Sant Jordi – the Valentine’s Day of Barcelona. This day 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 on to learn more about the history and traditions of the day, and what to expect going into this Sant Jordi season.
- 23rd April
International Museum Day
On one evening in May every year, Barcelona’s museums open up their doors to the public free of charge. This night provides a unique way to experience the current permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as the opportunity to participate in various activities such as family workshops, live performances and guided tours.
- 18th May
National Day of Catalonia
The National Day of Catalonia, also known as ‘Diada Nacional de Catalunya’ or simply ‘La Diada’, is celebrated annually on 11th September. This is a day where Catalan nationalists will pay their respects to fallen soldiers who died defending the city of Barcelona during the siege of 1714. Demonstrations in support of Catalonia’s independence are common, in addition to festivities where traditional Catalan cuisine, culture, and music are shared.
- 11th September
La Mercè
La Mercè is a huge festival in Barcelona that takes over the city in late September. The purpose of the festival is to honour the second patron saint of Barcelona, Mare de Deu de la Mercè, also known as Mother of God of Mercy, or Our Lady of Mercy. The celebration is made up of many different festivals that all work together to capture the cultural richness of the city, including free museum days in Barcelona.
- 24th September
Hugh
5 November 2023 at 15:42The most popular Museums with free entrance need you to book in advance. You cannot just turn up and expect to get in
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