Rec.0 shopping, firefighters race, and photos exhibitions: what's on this weekend in Barcelona and Catalonia

From concerts to cultural festivals, events and nightlife, there are countless things to do in Barcelona and around Catalonia this weekend.

Here's a selection of some of the best plans and what's on this weekend.

‘Som València’ | November 11 - 13 | Concerts | Barcelona

It is not on the weekend, but we believe it was worth featuring it in our weekly guide so people would be aware. 'Som València' is a non-profit event organized across Spain to promote donations for those affected by the Dana in Valencia. Artists, concert halls, and the music industry organize several music gigs across Spain with tickets between €15 and €20. Tickets are on sale online via DICE, who will not charge any expenses, and some of the artists are Figa Flawas, Maria Hein, Ginestà, Mushkaa, Maria Arnal, Carolina Durante, Judith Neddermann, Sidonie, and The Tyets.

Tram connection | November 10 | Public transport | Barcelona

The tramway crossing Barcelona's famous Diagonal Avenue is closer than ever. On November 10, trains will connect Glòries station and the newly built Verdaguer stop. While a party was scheduled for the morning, it has been postponed because of the DANA floods in Valencia. The event was first planned for Saturday, November 9, but a workers' strike forced authorities to delay the event for 24 hours until Sunday. The strike was called off early on Saturday morning.

Time travel between both stations will be seven minutes, and around 24,000 passengers will use the public transport option, with around 2,000 cars removed from this part of Diagonal Avenue.

Free Ice Cream | November 9 | Food | Badiani ice cream stores

Coinciding with World Kindness Day on November 13, the famous ice cream store Badiani will hand out around 800 boxes of 500 ml of gelato in its stores across Barcelona and Sant Cugat. Those who want to redeem their prize just need to buy a minimum of €8 or two cones or bowls of ice cream and register online. Part of the benefit will go towards helping those affected by the DANA in Valencia. There will be a limited number of gelato boxes, and they will be filled with a surprise gelato, so the buyer will not know what flavor they will be eating. 

Rec.0 shopping market outlet | November 6 - 9 | Shopping | Igualada

Rec.0 was born in 2009 to connect this Igualada neighborhood in the center of Catalonia with the creativity in the fashion industry. Fifteen years later, organizers celebrate their anniversary with many events, stores, and even a large gastronomic proposal twice yearly. Ahead of Black Friday, enjoy many discounts and dozens of stores featuring some of the most exclusive sales and even many last-season collection items. 

This year's edition will feature Rec2amà, the first pop-up store selling second-hand clothing. People will be able to exchange up to ten different pieces of clothing.

Among the brands for this month's Rec.0 edition there are international brands such as Nike, New Balance, Puma, Vans, Tsunami, Volcom, Pepe Jeans, Macson, Levi's, Aw Lab, Jordan, Adidas, and many others. There are around 60 stores across the Rec neighborhood in Igualada, with a map showing the location of each pop-up.

World Press Photo | November 8 to December 15 | Photo exhibition | CCCB, Barcelona

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the World Press Photo in Barcelona, and after welcoming over 1.65 million visitors in 19 years, the event returns with 129 pictures of the environmental crisis, such as the wildfires in Australia or Canada, the earthquake in Turkey, or even the drought in the Amazonia.

Some other categories include the humanitarian crisis, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, or social topics such as migration or social inequality. This year's World Press Photo of the Year by Palestinian Mohammed Salem shows the horror of the war in civilians with a moving picture. Tickets are on sale online with a cost of €6, with some discounts available.

My First Film Festival | November 9 - 24 | Film festival | Barcelona

The festival is a unique cinematic experience for the whole family, with more than a hundred films from all over the world, awards, votes, guest artists, creative workshops, film forums and much more. The event focuses on boys and girls from 2 to 12 years old.

The event will see around twenty sessions distributed between the Filmoteca de Catalunya, the CCCB exhibition hall, the French Institute, Bosque Multicines, Cines Verdi, Cines Girona, and the Sant Martí Auditorium.

Cheesy Fest | November 9 - 10 | Food festival | Estació Espai Gastronòmic - França train station

 A gastronomy festival where we can taste cheese from all over the world and the best cheesecakes in Barcelona. You’ll be able to try cheeses from different regions around the world, taste the best cheesecakes in the country and pair them with all manner of wines and beers. All this, with live music from DJs.

Tickets start at €15 and include two tapas and a glass of wine. Doors open at midday on Saturday and Sunday.

25a Vueling Cursa Bombers de Barcelona | November 10 | Race | Barcelona

The legendary event once again fills the city streets with thousands of runners, accompanied by members of the Barcelona Fire Service. The main attraction of the Firefighters’ Run is watching the city's firefighters take part while carrying all their equipment: uniform, helmet and oxygen bottle - more than 20 kg in total. As is tradition, Barcelona’s firefighters are the first to start, leading the way for the rest of the registered runners.

The event offers a fast and dynamic route, ideal for notching up a personal best in a 10 km run. The circuit for the Vueling Cursa Bombers de Barcelona takes in some of the main streets in the city, starting and finishing in C/ Pujades.

FotoFest Poblenou 2024 | November 8 - 30 | Photo exhibition | Several sites in Barcelona

The second edition of the FotoFest Poblenou returns to the Barcelona neighborhood with, for the first time, a collection of previously unseen photos by Oriol Maspons, one of the biggest Spanish photographers between 1950 and 1960. Maspons' collection is inspired by his wife and muse, Coral Majó.

There will be fifteen simultaneous exhibitions of renowned artists with long careers, such as Oriol Maspons, Ana Jiménez Remacha, Carles Domènech, Joan Linux, Joan Masats, Jordi Mestrich, Josep Blanch or Sergio Flores, as well as group exhibitions featuring works by Fotoclub members.

The festival will also host numerous complementary activities such as talks, workshops, competitions, discussions, and a photo rally.

Creativa Barcelona | November 7 - 10 | Arts and crafts fair | La Farga de l'Hospitalet

Spain's main arts and crafts fair returns to Catalonia in early November for four days. At the event, you can play with your creativity and use it in many workshops during the weekend at a fair open to everyone, with many tools to let your creativity fly.

Tickets are already on sale starting at €5, and there will be 120 exhibitors with over 150 workshops scheduled.

Down Urban Barcelona | November 9 | Bike competition | Montjuïc mountain

The city of Barcelona is once again the scene of a great mountain bike show. It is the DOWN URBAN BARCELONA downhill event that runs from the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium and the stairs of the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. Riders will be able to descend one of the few urban circuits in the world with big jumps and over-passing catwalks at full speed, giving an exciting spectacle for spectators.

The event will start at 11:00 am with the first free practice sessions and the actual competition will start at 12:30 with the first heat. At 13:30h, there will be the second race, and at 14:00h, the awards ceremony.

Beyond Images. Miró-Matisse | October 25 to February 9 | Art exhibition | Fundació Miró

A new exhibition in Barcelona's Miró Museum explores the relationship between Joan Miró and legendary French Fauvist artist, Henri Matisse.

On display are dozens of works from Matisse placed alongside Miró paintings, showing comparisons and contrasts in their art. 

House of ERIKALUST | From October 25 | Immersive experience | Barcelona

A new erotic, suggestive, stimulative, and breaking immersive experience opens for the first time worldwide in Barcelona.

The immersive experience happens in the Poblenou neighborhood in a 1,000-square-meter secret location, only announced 24 hours in advance to ticketholders. The exhibition looks to make attendees freely experiment with sensual sensations thanks to a well-curated erotic content proposal. 

Alice in Wonderland exhibition | October 18-February 16 | Exhibition | CaixaForum Barcelona

Venture down the Rabbit Hole, enjoy tea with the Mad Hatter, and explore century-old originals of Alice in Wonderland in a new exhibition depicting the iconic history of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The exhibition, curated by London's Victoria & Albert Museum, focuses on the origins, adaptations, and artistic reinventions of the story, and features 312 objects and artworks, ranging from originals to 21st-century-inspired elements.

DHUB Vinçon exhibition | October 17 to February 23 | Exhibition | Design Hub, Barcelona

Barcelona's design museum DHUB will host a new exhibition bringing together furniture from IKEA and Barcelona's iconic store Vinçon. Vinçon was a well-known household goods store in the heart of the city, which closed its doors in 2015 after almost 75 years.  

Comic. Dreams and history | October 8 - February 23 | Exhibition | Tarragona

The exhibition in Tarragona's CaixaForum shows the original version of historical comics such as Tintin, Mafalda and Marvel with more than 140 creations by authors like Quino, Richard Felton, Outcault, and Hergé displayed in an "unprecedented" exposition.

'La Barcelona de Dalí' | October 3 - December 1 | Art exhibition | Barcelona

The Catalan artist Salvador Dalí had a strong connection with the city of Barcelona, where he held his first solo exhibition.

Now, and exhibition at Barcelona's Museu Diocesà sheds light on Dalí's relationship with the Catalan capital with more than 120 photographs that help map out the most relevant spaces of the city for the surrealist genious.

Barcelona Jazz Festival | October 10 - March 23, 2025 | Music festival

The 56th edition of the festival brings in new talents on the jazz scene, as well as consolidated artists in a variation of concerts, lectures, meet ups and many other activities. 

Concerts with artists such as Judit Neddermann, the Liceu Big Band, Fred Hersch, and other artists will be in Barcelona up until March 2025. 

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | October 2 – November 24 | Musical | Barcelona 

The Tony Award-winning musical ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ returns to Barcelona to “talk about diversity and love" and to "make everyone dance” again, eight years after it first premiered in the Catalan capital.   

The musical tells the story of three friends – two drag queens and a trans woman – who take a road trip in a rundown bus through the Australian outback, all while performing some of the world’s biggest disco hits. 

Pixar World | From September 26 | Virtual exhibition | Westfield La Maquinista, Barcelona 

Visit Pixar's largest immersive exhibit where you can step into the sets of some of your favorite movies such as Toy Story, Coco, Up, Finding Nemo or Inside Out. Mundo Pixar comes to Barcelona after its success in Madrid, with more than 600,000 visitors in only 5 months. General admission is €16.90, with VIP and discount options available. 

Manifesta 15 | September 8 - November 24 | Cultural biennale | Barcelona metropolitan area

Manifesta 15, the European Nomadic Biennial, will take place in Barcelona and eleven surrounding municipalities in the metropolitan area. This year's edition is decentralized and will be a self-proclaimed 'incubator for social change', with installations to visit until November.

Tibidabo's new free fall ride | All year round | Amusement Park | Barcelona

Barcelona's amusement park Tibidabo will open its new freefall ride on Saturday. The new drop tower will feature a 50-meter fall and will have capacity for up to 24 people per ride.

'Confessions of a Crowded Mind', by Robbie Williams | June 21 - November 20 | Exhibition | Moco Museum, Barcelona

'Confessions of a Crowded Mind', Williams' first exhibition in Barcelona, features 17 artworks that explore themes of mental health. Using a mix of text and imagery, the British icon aims to engage viewers directly and encourage them to confront their fears. Williams wants to inspire others to channel their fears and anxieties into creativity, which he himself uses on a daily basis to navigate life in the public eye.

Agnès Varda | July 18 - December 8 | Exhibition | CCCB Barcelona

Agnès Varda is one of the most important figures in the history of cinema, yet she remains unknown to a wide audience, especially compared to her male counterparts. Born in Brussels in 1928, Varda was a pioneer and the only woman in the Nouvelle Vague, a French art film movement that began in the late 1950s. Varda used her films to highlight women's experiences, struggles and resilience, exploring and challenging the social norms and gender roles of her time.

Interior Berlanga | July 17 - April 20, 2025 | Exhibition | CaixaForum, Barcelona

'Interior Berlanga' exhibition proposes to discover the work of this filmmaker and his international scene. Berlanga created his own universe that combines unexpected elements with satire, and caricatures. Tickets cost €6, but CaixaBank clients can access for free.

‘Competing at sea. Sailing regattas in Catalonia’ | June 7 - November 10 | Sea sports | Maritime Museum, Barcelona

"Competing at sea" travels to the sailing clubs of the 19th century, where the earliest competitions began, firstly in rowing and then sailing. The exhibition also relives the effervescence of sailing in the 1960s .

It also looks at the outstanding names in Olympic regattas for ocean sailing, top-class solo regattas, the mini class and more, which have become standards for their generation and others that followed. This activity is part of the Cultural Regatta, the program of activities promoted by Barcelona City Council to go with the America’s Cup being held in Barcelona.

Tàpies Year | Until December 2024 | Exhibition | Antoni Tàpies Foundation, Barcelona 

The Antoni Tàpies Foundation kicked off its Tàpies Year on December 13, marking the centenary of the celebrated Catalan artist's birth. Two new exhibitions opened at the museum in Barcelona. 'Tàpies: The Zen Imprint,' curated by Núria Homs, looks at how the artist incorporated Zen Buddhism into his work, while 'A=A, B=B,' curated by Pep Vidal, is based on a book of lectures on science and philosophy, 'A New Vision of the World,' that provided inspiration for many of Tàpies' works.