What to do in Catalonia in November

Already deep into the autumn season, the festivals don’t end in Catalonia, just they move indoors to keep from the cold. November once again has an amazing selection of film festivals, rock and jazz shows, and celebrations of the finest food and drink on the planet. 

1. Jazz Festival | All month

One of the world’s premier jazz festivals takes center stage in Barcelona every year. Between September and December, with another couple of shows stretching all the way into February, Barcelona Jazz takes over the city and brings some of the biggest names in the genre to the Catalan capital.  

The festival showcases international and local artists, with some of the highlights being Catalan trumpeter Andrea Motis playing two shows this month, The Art of the Quintet with her band on November 6, and another with a Brazilian flavor — Do outro lado do azul — on November 20. 

Apart from Motis, Djavan is one of the most anticipated international artists coming to town for the festival. Mixing traditional Brazilian rhythms with African and Latin styles, Djavan plays the iconic Palau de la Musica Catalana on November 14. Meanwhile, Bilal takes time out of his busy schedule collaborating with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Erykah Badu, and more, to perform at Apolo on November 22.

2. Gig picks | Through the month 

For something musical not related to jazz, November sees many great artists come to the Catalan shores for concerts. Razzmatazz has a sizzling lineup of rock, indie, and electronic artists coming in November, with Primal Scream, Hot Chip and Vampire Weekend among the names coming to celebrate the iconic venue’s 19th birthday in style. Upcoming Catalan reggaeton sensation Bad Gyal will also be in Razzmatazz for the celebrations on November 30. 

Elsewhere, Godspeed You! Black Emperor offer fans something more alternative. The Canadian experimental post-rock collective play Apolo on November 14.

3. L’Alternativa | November 11-17

L’Alternativa is Barcelona’s festival of independent cinema, returning to screens in the Catalan capital for its 26th edition this year. Through these years, they have pioneered experimental filmmaking and offered fans and artists an independent creative space to freely explore and innovate on different themes. 

The festival has three different competitive sections: National (feature-length and short), International Feature Length, and International Short Films. Apart from screenings, the festival will also be hosting various talks and masterclasses. 

4. LOOP Barcelona | November 12-24

LOOP Barcelona is a conceptual, contemporary art fair and festival dedicated to the moving image, taking place in numerous sites across the city. Specifically, it is a project that looks at the study and promotion of the moving image. In its 17th year, it is an arts celebration that offers a curation of the best video-based contents from “challenging perspectives,” according to their website. 

More than 40 galleries and artists are participating in this year’s LOOP festival, taking a look at the current dynamic of the moving image in 2019 “while touching upon cogent issues that are at once social, conceptual and formal.”

5. Most Festival | November 7-17

There are plenty of things that Catalonia does to exceptionally high levels of standard. Wine, and of course the Catalan sparkling version of cava, is one of the biggest points of price in the country, while plenty of the world’s best film festivals take place on Catalan shores every year. The Most Festival combines these two, becoming the world’s foremost film festival on wine and winemaking. 

Organized by The Museum of Wine Cultures of Catalonia and Vilafranca Cineclub, one of the oldest and most active cinema clubs in the country, the Most Festival takes place in the regions of Penedés and Priorat, two of the most traditional and historically rich regions in Catalonia for cava, wine, and winemaking. 

The festival takes place November 7-17 and you can consult the program here.

6. Cruïlla Tardor | October 24 - November 29

One of the most popular summer music festivals in Catalonia returns to give fans another taste this autumn. Across various venues in Barcelona, Crüilla Tardor brings another lineup of amazing artists to music fans, between Manel, Els Pets, and Tiken Jah Fakoly. 

7. Som Cultura | November 1-24

November is the month of culture in Girona, as the fourth edition of Som Cultura arrives in northern Catalonia, a festival aimed at promoting the diverse, beautiful, and rich experiences that the region has to offer. Locals and tourists are invited to explore the heritage of the area through 50 different activities uncovering the delights of different historical and natural sites in the province. New this year is the literary route, bringing visitors closer to the works of Josep Pla and Victor Català. 

8. Nice One Barcelona | November 28 - December 1

When is a gaming festival much more than a gaming festival? When it includes some of the biggest esports tournaments in the world, spaces for films, series, and anime at a funfest, and even a professional zone where budding entrepreneurs can get their projects off the ground and find funding, Nice One Barcelona may have to be considered much larger than just a gaming festival. 

As much a digital experiences festival as just gaming, this is an unmissable event for anybody connected with the world of gaming. Nice One Barcelona will also feature a cosplay contest, spaces to discover all the latest news from the biggest brands in gaming, spaces to play, and even a retro zone, celebrating 50 years of Konami.

9. Mushroom picking | Any time

Some of the world’s best mushrooms are found in Catalonia, and Catalans’ passion for the fabulous fungi has converted into a cultural cultivation experience for many locals, as well as contributing greatly to the economy. In any good market in the center of a rural Catalan town or even in the Boqueria in the middle of Barcelona city center, amazing mushrooms will be found, and never are they tastier or more present that this time of year.

In autumn, the country’s forests are filled with harvesters looking to find the culinary delights and is a beloved pastime of those who want to get closer to nature while also earning themselves a tasty treat.