October in Barcelona… That month when the end of summer vacation is already a distant memory, but the weather is still pleasant and you feel like getting out of the house to enjoy events, fairs, festivals, exhibitions, and all kinds of activities. Discover all the plans here to enjoy the month of October.
How must Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay have felt when they became the first to reach the summit of Everest? This new experience (which is having its world premiere in Barcelona) answers that question, inviting us to join the two explorers on this historic feat, thanks to the “magic” of virtual reality. Not only will we see the world from above, but we’ll also explore the most beautiful landscapes of the Himalayas, enter temples, and experience the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu.
One of the most eagerly awaited events for Catalan film buffs, just half an hour from Barcelona: our region’s most famous festival, a week and a half of much more than just horror movies and zombie walks. This year’s opening film will be *Found Alive*, the latest from Carlota Pereda (director of *Cerdita* and *La Ermita*), and the lineup features a host of high-profile guests who will receive honorary awards, including none other than Peter Jackson, Danny DeVito, Bárbara Rey, and Kevin Bacon, among others. In addition, the festival will celebrate the anniversaries of great classics of the genre, such as Brian De Palma’s *Carrie*, Alejandro Amenábar’s *Tesis*, and Narciso Ibáñez Serrador’s masterpiece *Who Can Kill a Child?*
An ode to music, documentary film, and the leading figures of the cultural scene—each year brimming with cinematic gems inspired by some of the most legendary artists. Among the first confirmed works are documentaries directed by Carla Simón and Albert Serra, a tribute to Marianne Faithfull (which will open the festival), and *The Best Summer*, a documentary that will portray the golden age of 1990s alternative rock led by bands such as the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, and the Foo Fighters.
Although we have La Castanyada in Catalonia, more and more of us—without losing sight of our cherished tradition—are jumping on the Halloween bandwagon and embracing spooky plans. The Candlelight series is joining in too, with a candlelit concert where we can enjoy spine-chilling music (like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller ”) and soundtracks from iconic movies and TV shows such as *The Addams Family*, John Carpenter’s *Halloween*, and *Stranger Things*.
The Barcelona Jazz Festival Begins
The city’s most important jazz festival features dozens of concerts scheduled at various venues throughout the city to delight music lovers in general (since the “jazz” genre is vast). Andrea Motis, the Barcelona Jazz Orchestra, Ibrahim Malouf… The lineup of top-tier soloists and groups is endless and runs right up until just before Christmas.
SAGA Barcelona Game Fest
After years of medium-sized conventions, Barcelona is finally hosting a major gaming convention that brings together several events (BCN Game Fest, RetroBarcelona, and the SAGA Saló del Gaming). 14,000 square meters for video game fans and professionals to meet and enjoy exhibitors, gaming stations, an area dedicated to esports, a B2B zone, and even a cosplay contest. There will also be meet-and-greets with prominent figures in the industry, such as video game soundtrack composer Miki Higashino, streamer Pazos64, and indie developer Doc Géraud.
“Filmo” pays tribute to the talent of one of today’s greatest filmmakers and the current Oscar winner for Best Director. In this film series, we’ll be able to see the filmmaker’s masterpieces such as *Magnolia*, *There Will Be Blood*, and his recent hit *One Battle After Another*, as well as lesser-known gems like *Punch-Drunk Love* and the film that launched him to fame, the excellent *Boogie Nights*.
Barcelona’s biggest event for lovers of flamenco singing, dancing, and guitar playing. Ciutat Flamenco is a music festival that will feature performances by great flamenco artists such as José Maldonado, Víctor Franco, and Lorena Oliva. It will also host Ciutat Batalla, a competition for new talent in this art form, and the recording of a podcast.
The finest tradition of classical ballet with a technological twist. This is the concept behind this Ballet of Lights production, where the dancers will perform to a show inspired by the legendary tale of Cinderella (with music by Tchaikovsky, Handel, and Rossini) while literally shining. This is thanks to the LEDs in their costumes, which add a magical touch to the show and make this traditional art form accessible to the whole family.
In the age of streaming, buying vinyl or CDs might seem like an act of rebellion… or maybe not so much; year after year, the Record Fair draws thousands of people eager to complete their music collections, whether to support their favorite artists or to get their hands on true classics. In addition, attendees can enjoy book presentations and other music-related activities, especially those focused on rock.
October wraps up with La Castanyada, Halloween, Castaween —or whatever you want to call it… The point is that in Barcelona throughout the month (especially toward the end), you’ll find countless themed activities celebrating this holiday. Here’s a selection for all tastes, from the most intrepid souls to those who get scared by a simple “boo.”
Drink included
A festival dedicated SOLELY to patatas bravas? Yes, it’ll be at Poble Espanyol, and for three days it’ll feature the best selection of this delicacy, served by various restaurants in Barcelona. While attendees enjoy them (washed down with beer, of course) along with workshops and live music, the restaurants will compete for the prize for the best patatas bravas of the festival.
The festival for TV series lovers is back. In this year’s edition, various national series (such as Season 2 of *Celeste* or *Matar a un oso*) and international series (like *Ann Droid*) will compete for the festival’s top prize, and their creators or artistic directors will be on hand so the audience can learn more about their works. Of particular note is the presence of a legendary showrunner like Steven Moffat ( Doctor Who, Sherlock…) and a milestone that those of us of a certain age will celebrate fondly: a reunion marking the 30th anniversary of TV3’s great soap opera, the legendary *Nissaga de Poder*.
48h Open House Barcelona is an architecture festival organized by the association of the same name, whose goal is to promote Barcelona’s architectural heritage. The festival is free and takes place in several cities across the province, featuring more than 2,500 activities and tours. Registration to volunteer for this initiative is now open, and you can sign up here.
Star Fans: Culture Edition
This event dedicated to the geek artist community offers the chance to meet creators from the worlds of comics, voice acting, literature, and illustration who have poured their work into massive fan phenomena like Dragon Ball, Star Wars, the Bruguera universe, and much more. Plus, this year’s edition offers an extra reason to attend: the chance to support the NGO SOS Galgos, which works to rescue, protect, and give a second chance to greyhounds in need.
A theater festival that fulfills the crucial role of providing a space for freedom of expression through art, creativity, and the street. Among this year’s highlights are the festival’s 25th-anniversary celebration as well as a variety of theater and dance performances. In addition to performances, this year’s edition features workshops, such as one at 3:00 p.m. designed for professionals who want to write performance art pieces intended for presentation in public spaces.
Barcelona Design Week is a must-attend event for design, creativity, and innovation organized by the Barcelona Creativity & Design Foundation. More than 100 activities—including exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, and open houses—will take place across various venues throughout the city, led by the Disseny Hub Barcelona. This year’s theme is “Barcelona in pro-test mode, ” which highlights how design is a space for experimentation, dialogue, and movement—not a fixed answer.
Panoràmic, a decentralized festival (in addition to the city, it will feature events this month in Granollers and in November in Terrassa), is an event that brings together film, photography, and art, prompting us to reflect on the current state of society and geopolitics. It will feature exhibitions, talks, and various activities for elementary and high school students.
Free admission until capacity is reached
Barcelona is once again transforming its public spaces into a vast laboratory of ideas with a new edition of the Biennal de Pensament. This festival takes philosophy, sociology, and debate out of university classrooms and brings them directly to neighborhood squares, parks, and cultural centers, sparking a collective, open-air conversation about the major challenges we face as a society. The program features a wide range of roundtables, lectures, workshops, and artistic installations that address topics ranging from the impact of authoritarianism and misinformation to the role of art as an escape and the need for urban memory to build the future.
This virtual reality experience offers total immersion by recreating the International Space Station on a 1:1 scale, allowing users to experience firsthand what it’s like to be in space. The freely explorable tour is built entirely from authentic footage from an Emmy Award-winning documentary.
Barcelona hosts ArtsLibris, the international fair dedicated to artist’s books, photobooks, contemporary publishing, self-publishing, and digital media. During the event, visitors can explore a curated selection of national and international publishers and participate in seminars, debates, exhibitions, and performances centered on contemporary graphic and publishing art. ArtsLibris also serves as a dynamic platform for dialogue among artists, publishers, and the public seeking to explore the book as an artistic object and a space for experimentation.
A museum where everything is interactive, where each of its more than 70 exhibits challenges our senses. This is the Paradox Museum, a space to have fun with visual and sensory effects and take the most original photos to share on social media.
Table reservation: €5, which will be deducted from your drink order
The Munich Oktoberfest has long since crossed borders and is celebrated all over the world, and Barcelona is no exception. There’ll be no shortage of pork knuckle, roast chicken, sausages, and other traditional dishes to wash down with beer.
SENSAS is the perfect activity if you’re looking for some fun with friends or family. Through different sensory challenges with a touch of an escape room (each dedicated to one of the five senses), you’ll collect tokens, contribute to a good cause, and, above all, laugh your head off while discovering your teammates’ (and your own) weaknesses.
The event formerly known as Tattoo Expo has been renamed; today, in addition to featuring everything related to tattoos, it’s a fair celebrating street art, extreme sports, and custom culture. Three unmissable days for anyone who loves urban art in all its forms, where—in addition to enjoying activities and demonstrations—you can shop at the market and, of course, get a tattoo (or a few).
Think of IKONO as the antithesis of the traditional museum. Although it’s brimming with artistic expressions, it breaks away from the typical “look but don’t touch” rule; in fact, physically interacting with the environment is essential to experiencing it to the fullest. Each of its spaces pays tribute to unique settings and worlds, inviting you to either transform the room as you please or simply play with everything around you.
