Barcelona’s Festes Majors: a calendar of unmissable neighbourhood festivals
The Festes Majors are very dear to the people of Barcelona as they are a chance to celebrate neighbourhood life and Catalan traditions. If you come to Barcelona during one of the many Festes Majors, be sure to go along!
What are the Festes Majors?
Popular and friendly festivals
The Festes Majors are big neighbourhood festivals. They’re very popular and everyone gets involved as the residents are responsible for decorating the main streets. It’s a chance to spend time with neighbours, which adds to the spirit of the event.
Celebration of Catalan traditions
Human towers, correfocs, sardanas… Symbols of Catalan culture are central to the Festes Majors! There are also free performances which are a great chance to get to know the traditions of the region.
Concerts and free events
The Festes Majors have their fair share of open air concerts, and sometimes you can even be pleasantly surprised! A few years ago, Manu Chao got up on the stage at the Poble Sec Festa Major. There are also lots of activities organised for young and old.
Calendar of Barcelona’s Festes Majors by district
Click on the image for a high quality map.
| Month | Date | District | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Around the 15th | Eixample | Sant Antoni |
| March | The weekend closest to 23rd March | Ciutat Vella | Gòtic (Plaça del Pi) |
| April | Around the 15th | Eixample | Sagrada Familia |
| May | Second fortnight | Eixample | Dreta de l’Eixample |
| June | First fortnight | Eixample | Fort Pienc |
| Second fortnight | Sarrià – Sant Gervasi | Sant Gervasi | |
| End of June | Ciutat Vella | La Ribera – Born | |
| July | Around the 15th | Ciutat Vella | Raval |
| Second fortnight | Sants – Montjuïc | Poble Sec | |
| August | Around the 15th | Ciutat Vella | Gòtic |
| Second fortnight | Gràcia | Gràcia | |
| Second fortnight | Sants – Montjuïc | Sants | |
| September | Throughout the month | Gràcia | Park Güell |
| End September / beginning October | Ciutat Vella | Barceloneta | |
| October | First fortnight | Ciutat Vella | La Rambla |
| First fortnight | Eixample | Esquerra de l’Eixample | |
| First fortnight | Les Corts | Les Corts | |
| First fortnight | Sarrià – Sant Gervasi | Sarrià |
- Gràcia’s Festa Major is the most spectacular, and we strongly advise you to attend. For more information read our article Gràcia’s Festa Major: a surrealist and picturesque carnival.
Barcelona’s festa major: la Mercè
If you like things on a bigger scale, don’t miss the Mercè festival! It’s the Festa Major of the whole city of Barcelona, and everything goes crazy: festive atmosphere, lots of activities, celebrations… find out more about what’s on offer in our article La Mercè: a gigantic and unmissable festival in Barcelona. Barcelona is really the perfect place to party!
The “other” festa major: Santa Eulàlia
Santa Eulàlia is the historic patron saint of Barcelona. In her honor, the week of the 12th of february there are lots of activities organized throughout the city. There are cultural activities such as castells (human towers) and sardanas (traditional dances) and shows of lights and music too!
- You will find ample information on the subject on Santa Eulàlia Barcelona website.
