Festivals & Events in Barcelona
Revetlla de Sant Joan
On the night of June 23rd to 24th, Barcelona catches fire: more than 92,000 people packed the beaches in 2025 (Guàrdia Urbana). Free street parties across all ten districts, coca de Sant Joan, cava, firecrackers and the Flama del Canigó brought down from the Pyrenees. June 24th is a public holiday throughout Catalonia. Here's how to enjoy it without nasty surprises.
La Mercè
La Mercè is Barcelona's biggest festival, free and massive: it draws between 1.5 and 2 million people around 24 September, the feast day of the city's co-patron saint. Hundreds of free events take over the whole city, from castells, correfoc and gegants to the BAM festival and the Piromusical fireworks at Montjuïc, with no ticket required. The exact programme is published every year at barcelona.cat/lamerce.
Primavera Sound
Primavera Sound is a paid mega-festival that fills Barcelona's Parc del Fòrum in early June. Founded in 2001, it now draws around 75,000 people a day with an international lineup of indie, electronic, hip hop and pop. It isn't free: you get in with a full pass or a day ticket, and it usually sells out months ahead.