What to do in March in Catalonia

Foto Colectania | From March 12

Hidden away under the arches on Passeig de Picasso right beside Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, Foto Colectania is a photography gallery with rotating exhibitions every few months that offers an intimate space to delve into the world of the artist. On March 12 and lasting until June 21, a new exhibition is opening from the iconic Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama, celebrated for his radical approach to both medium and subject. Moriyama was awarded with the prestigious 2019 Hasselblad award, considered one of the highest honours in photography.

Brunch in the City | March 1, 15, 29

Festival season is not just limited to the summer, as one of Barcelona’s favourite fixtures returns in March. Brunch in the City is a one-day festival held on Sundays throughout the spring before Brunch in the Park takes over during the hotter months. Some of the best names in house, techno, and electronic, will be coming to our shores for a packed schedule. This month alone, Floating Points, Henrik Schwartz, Mall Grab, and Apparat are all playing at Brunch. 

Barcelona Puppet Festival | March 21-22

The 11th edition of Barcelona Puppet Festival takes place in Poble Espanyol, coinciding with International Puppet Day on March 21. More than 70 shows will be put on, including four world premieres, offered from 14 different national and international companies. With free entrance for children under four years old, be sure not to miss this fantastic cultural programme for the whole family. 

Barcelona Beer Festival | March 13-15

The Barcelona Beer Festival is the biggest celebration of craft beer in southern Europe. Across three days in the middle of the month, you’ll get a chance to taste up to 646 different beers of varying different colours and styles, pouring out of 110 taps. There’ll be six different gastronomic stands to line your stomach too, and a set of 35 other activities to do in the L’Hospitalet events hall. A total of 35,000 people are expected to show up and try out everything from the pale ales to the barleywines on offer.

Barcelona Marathon | March 15

In October last year, Eliud Kipchoge became the first person in the world to run 26.2 miles in under two hours, breaking what was once seen as an impossible barrier in the world of running. The Kenyan athlete announced he was the "happiest man in the world" upon running the marathon in less than two hours, and in the Barcelona Marathon on March 15, you have the chance to become just as happy. Or if running isn’t your thing, perhaps equally as miserable and in pain, while another option on the cards is turning out to support those in the race instead of partaking yourself. 

Vintage car rally Barcelona to Sitges | March 21-23

With cars dating back to 1906, the 62nd edition of the International Vintage Car Rally takes place this month. Grab this opportunity to see for yourself some of the finest vintage vehicles from yesteryear in amazingly well-preserved condition. Throughout the weekend, the cars will be shown off to the public in various spots around Barcelona, before Monday’s big rally from the capital down to the beautiful seaside town of Sitges.

The World of Banksy exhibition | All month

An exhibition on the anonymous street artist Banksy opened in late February in Espacio Trafalgar in Barcelona and will run for the next few months. The British artist rose to fame in the 1990s and 2000s for his now-iconic stencil style painting, often tackling political and social issues. Over 100 works from the clandestine artist will give an immersive experience to visitors and follows on from the success experienced in Paris, where over 150,000 people visited the exhibit. The installations were assembled by an anonymous team of graffiti artists, who worked to display the pieces with enough context to make the message clear. 

Banksy’s most recent work appeared on the streets of Bristol, the city presumed to be where he’s from, on Valentine’s Day, and depicts a small girl firing from a slingshot and an explosion of roses following. 

Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival 2020 | Throughout the month

Taking place predominantly in three iconic venues in the Catalan capital, Liceu Opera, Palau de la Música Catalana and L’Auditori, the second Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival returns to fill the city with classical music. In addition to the 16 concerts forming the bulk of the festival, there will also be 30 performances, free of charge, in some of the most “emblematic” places of Barcelona, including the Sagrada Familia.  

Americana Film Festival | March 3-8

We know all about the latest offerings of Hollywood, sequels and prequels, and superhero remakes that fill most cinema halls every night. But if you’re looking for something a little different, the Americana Film Festival in Barcelona could be perfect for you. A celebration of North American indie flicks, the festival is offering a 10-hour documentary series on racial relations in an American school, a film looking at the impact MTV had on entire generations, and a stoner comedy about a beach-dwelling poet, among many others. 

Black Music Festival | Throughout the month

Girona’s Black Music Festival is Catalonia’s leading festival celebrating music rooted in African-American heritage. The festival developed from the Salt Blues festival, one of the country’s leading musical programmes of its kind, and consists of a huge variety of concerts and gigs across the city.