June:
The party starts with Sant Joan
June 23rd is the craziest night of the summer: Sant Joan. Beaches full, fireworks, bonfires and cava everywhere. The city is transformed into a giant festival. My advice: go to Bogatell beach with friends, some food, and get ready to see how it dawns between laughter and firecrackers. It’s chaotic, yes, but unforgettable.
July:
Music everywhere
July is like opening a box of musical surprises. One of my favorites is the Grec Festival, which although it has paid shows, also includes free concerts and activities in squares, courtyards and streets.
Another must-see: Festival Cruïlla XXS, the small and intimate version of the big Cruïlla. This year 2025 promises acoustic concerts in places like the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau or Montjuïc Castle. Many of these shows are free or for less than 10€.
Oh, and if you like jazz, sign up for the Mas i Mas Festival, with concerts at iconic venues like the Jamboree. Some days you can even find free jam sessions in hidden squares.
August:
Festes de Gràcia
August is pure fire: the Festes de Gràcia arrive. Imagine streets completely decorated by the neighbors, concerts every night and an atmosphere that seems to be taken from a movie. It’s free, fun and very local. My tip: get there early and visit during the week, it gets wild on weekends.
Then come the Festes de Sants, quieter but just as authentic. Less tourists, more neighborhood atmosphere. And if you’re into the alternative vibe, watch out for the spontaneous raves that pop up in parks and lots (Telegram is your friend here).
Author:
If you come, don’t run. Get lost. Talk to people. Sit in a square doing nothing. Because, believe me, this is where the magic begins.
September:
BAM and La Mercè
La Mercè is one of the city’s biggest festivals (around September 24) and it’s as if the whole summer were compressed into one week. There are castells (human towers), projections, street art and music everywhere.
And within La Mercè, there is the BAM Festival, with indie, electronic, Latin, urban concerts… everything you can imagine, and yes, all for free. Parc del Fòrum, Moll de la Fusta and Parc de la Ciutadella are key points.
Barcelona in summer does not need to be expensive to be unforgettable. There are plans for all tastes and pockets, and the city is transformed: there is music everywhere, people in the street, and that feeling that every day can be an adventure.
Final tip
Barcelona in summer is full of outdoor cinema. You can watch movies on the beach, in museum courtyards, or even in hidden squares in the Raval or the Born. Look for the “Cinema Lliure a la Platja” or the “Mecal Air” cycle at Castell de Montjuïc. For 3-4 euros, you get a movie, a cool breeze and brutal views.
Take a blanket, some snacks, and enjoy as if you’ve lived here forever.