Whether you’re one of those Barcelona locals who takes advantage of the May long weekend to get away, or if, on the contrary, you celebrate the arrival of spring with all kinds of outdoor plans, this month is the time to get out of the house and air out those sheets. Here’s a list of incredible activities and experiences to enjoy this May in Barcelona.
Opening of Balloon Story
600,000 balloons (biodegradable, of course) are the raw material for this immersive exhibition, in which Espacio Inmersa is filled with cartoon-style scenes ranging from the ocean floor to outer space and from ancient civilizations to cosmopolitan cities. A perfect outing for kids and adults alike—after all, who wouldn’t love to take a photo with a horde of penguins or roll around in a giant ball pit?
From the mountains to the coast: touring Catalonia in a motorhome
May is the perfect month to hit the road and plan a getaway from Barcelona in a rental campervan. Imagine waking up every morning in a different cove, discovering landscapes and places at your own pace, without schedules or hotel reservations. With Yescapa you can rent motorhomes in Barcelona and find the vehicle that best suits you, your family, partner, friends… enjoying total freedom and a memorable experience at every turn.
How about heading to the Costa Brava? Towns like Tossa de Mar or Cadaqués now offer their most authentic side, before the summer boom. Or perhaps you’d prefer to explore the Catalan Pyrenees at your own pace, visiting glacial lakes and deep valleys, discovering charming villages, and enjoying great cuisine. The choice is yours!
Museum Night
La Nit dels Museus returns to Barcelona with a wide range of cultural offerings. During this event, museums will open their doors, allowing visitors to explore both their permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as participate in various nighttime activities such as guided tours, theatrical performances, and workshops for children—all completely free of charge.
LUMINISCENCE is an immersive experience that tells the story of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi through video mapping, projections, and classical music (in some sessions featuring a live choir, the prestigious Francesc Valls). It’s your last chance to see the basilica in a whole new light; after months of success, May 17 marks the event’s closing day, and tickets are selling out fast.
The Candlelight concerts, featuring music by candlelight, couldn’t be more varied this May. From tributes to legendary bands like Mecano, Coldplay, and Metallica to classical composers like Ludovico, Mozart, and Beethoven, or even a tribute to the Outlander series.
Check out the full May calendar and choose your ideal Candlelight event.
Docs Barcelona
Barcelona embraces the documentary genre with its own festival. This year it will open with Mehrad Oskouei’s documentary A Fox Under a Pink Moon (which chronicles a young woman’s attempts to flee Iran), will feature Germany as the guest country, and will pay tribute to German producer and distributor Heino Deckert. In addition to showcasing top-tier documentary films, Docs Barcelona offers a meeting space for industry professionals to connect and foster new projects.
Món Llibre
Món Llibre brings literature to kids, with activities tailored to their age. A unique opportunity to introduce children to reading in a fun and playful way, through family activities, a free open house at MACBA (which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026), and much more.
Petit Mercat de Mercats
A space that celebrates local, high-quality products by offering culinary workshops (for adults and children), farm-to-table breakfasts, live music, various activities, and even a barbecue area where you can enjoy the products you bought at the market fresh off the grill.
This National Geographic award-winning exhibition fully immerses you in the life and tragic end of the famous Roman city thanks to historical artifacts, 360º projections, free-roaming adventures through the metaverse as an avatar, and thrilling gladiator battles in virtual reality. An essential immersive experience for young and old alike to experience history firsthand and feel the imminent eruption of Vesuvius.
Spring Festivals
Starting after Easter and throughout the month of May, Barceloneta hosts this multicultural event featuring music, dance, theater, workshops, storytelling, talks… in total, more than fifty events for all ages. Here is the program with all the activities.
MECAL
Our city ’s most prestigious short film and animation festival returns to showcase local cinematic talent. This year’s program is divided into Fiction, Animation, and Documentary, with countless sections. Plus, we’ll be able to enjoy master classes taught by audiovisual professionals.
Fira Literal
Japanimerama Series
“Filmo” is embracing anime with a film series that explores the genre through classic films, more recent titles, and true hidden gems. Only in May will we be able to see great films like Space Battleship Yamato: The Movie, Metropolis, The Boy and the Beast, and Memories, among others.
Enjoy Barcelona’s “Soletes Repsol”
10 Barcelona establishments have won a “Solete Repsol” in 2026, the award that recognizes neighborhood bars and restaurants. From the now-famous Bar Bocata and its tortilla to La Bodegueta de Cal Pep and its top-notch beers… Discover the winners here.
Art Photo BCN
Art Photo BCN is a contemporary photography festival designed to connect photographers, industry professionals, collectors, and the general public, creating a space to explore, discover, and enjoy the image in all its forms. The festival combines a photography fair, a photobook market, portfolio reviews, and many more activities.
Croiss&Fest: celebrating its second edition, featuring renowned bakeries, workshops, live music, and a market of artisanal products. The public can taste and vote for the best croissants while enjoying activities for all ages.
Barcelona International Disc Fair
The must-see event for lovers of physical music returns. For three days, music lovers will be able to buy new releases and oldies, as well as enjoy side events such as concerts and, of course, meet-and-greets and autograph sessions with musicians of today and yesteryear.
Poblenou Open Day
The vibrant Poblenou neighborhood celebrates its creativity with this event, opening its doors to the city to showcase all the art it has to offer. For 12 straight hours, you can enjoy a free program for all ages that includes exhibitions, art, design, photography, dance, live music, DJs, talks, workshops, guided tours, and food.
International Women’s Film Festival
This May marks the start of the first installment (the second is in the fall) of this major exhibition showcasing the best audiovisual work created by women from all over the world. While we’re still waiting for the final program, we can already say that this festival is committed to bold productions with a strong feminist and activist edge.
Would you like to be a juror for a day? This is possible at The Jury Experience, an immersive show featuring a live trial. After hearing testimonies and evidence, it’s up to us to decide: guilty or not guilty? The franchise is so successful that this month alone in Barcelona it features three different cases:
Sensas is a multisensory experience that invites groups to rediscover sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This translates into a series of fun challenges that blend escape rooms with immersive experiences and a party atmosphere, making it a great activity to enjoy with family, friends, or even coworkers.
El Corte Inglés Race
Tickets sold out
While it’s not the only fun run in our city, the race has become the most iconic, both for its route (from Maria Cristina to Plaça Catalunya) and its 10km distance, which is very accessible for amateur runners. Plus, you might just run into one of your idols: in 2025, celebrities like Luis Enrique, Joan García, and Joan Dausà participated—which celebrity will we see this year?
A getaway to the Fira Modernista in Terrassa
With some paid activities
For three days, Terrassa pays tribute to its Modernist heritage with a whole series of activities to visit the city’s Modernist sites, fairs, live music, and an invitation to all residents to don their finest early 20th-century attire. This year’s edition is dedicated to Alexandre de Riquer, a major figure in this artistic movement.
Soundit
This May, Barcelona is hosting two Soundit sessions, the 8-hour non-stop daytime electronic music parties. First, on May 19 with sets by The Blessed Madona, CC:DISCO!, Chima Isaaro, and Blend Affect.
Then, on May 30, with DJ sets by Mall Grav, Paquita Gordon, Dzeko, and Nueve Vidas.
Paradox Museum, despite its name, is much more than a museum. This installation in the heart of Barcelona offers more than 70 paradoxes—70 mini-exhibits that test our senses and invite us to take the best selfies and fun videos. A great example of how the educational and the playful can coexist with ease.
Bad Bunny will be performing twice in Barcelona this May… Whether you’re not a fan of Benito or you’ve run out of tickets, fortunately there are plenty of other musical options in the city: from Eros Ramazzotti to Pablo Alborán, from Rodrigo Cuevas to TWICE, from Clara Peya to Maria del Mar Bonet… Here’s our eclectic selection.
A getaway on the Tren dels Llacs: the “Swiss” train that winds through the lakes and mountains of the Pyrenees
Now that the weather is nice, you might feel like getting out of Barcelona for a little getaway. We suggest the Tren dels Llacs, a railway gem that connects Lleida with La Pobla de Segur, offering breathtaking views of rivers and mountains in the Pre-Pyrenees. You can choose between the nostalgic Historic Train and the modern Panoramic Train: an experience that not only transports you but also lets you explore charming villages and reservoirs along the route, making it a highly recommended weekend getaway.
