11 Unmissable Barcelona Events in Summer 2019

This year, you’ve decided to spend your summer in Barcelona. But do you know how to make the most of it? This city is much more than just a tourist hub: it offers fantastic events for those who choose to make it their home. 

We’ve rounded up all the dates you need to pencil in, from the last of this season’s tech and startup events in early July to music festivals and cultural programmes till the end of August. Whether it’s networking, learning or pure fun, Barcelona’s got it all!

Tech and startup events

1. SheCommerce

When: July 7
Where: CREC Poble Sec
Tickets: €99

Are you an aspiring female entrepreneur looking to connect with other women who run their own businesses? SheCommerce is a girls-only conference where you successful entrepreneurs share how they built ecommerce empires and give you insider tips that you can implement in your own business. Hang out with extraordinary women and become a member of a global sisterhood that comes together once a year in Barcelona. 

2. Facebook & Ecommerce Mastery Live

When: July 10-11
Where: La Carpa, Poble Espanyol
Tickets: €599 – €999

If you’re a Digital Marketing student at ESEI, you’ll know how difficult it is to get your paid ads campaigns right, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. Could use some help? Here’s the good news: a team of leading digital marketing experts are coming to Barcelona to share their strategies with you. Facebook & Ecommerce Mastery Live by iStack Training is an intensive two-day training programme for anyone looking to grow their business online. Learn how to optimize your Facebook and Google Ads, design click-worthy creatives and write copy that converts. Take home the most advanced digital marketing tactics out there and start scaling your business. 

3. WisePunk Startup Conference

When: July 12
Where: 70s cinema in the heart of Barcelona
Tickets: €129

WisePunk is on a mission to bring something new to the Barcelona startup event scene: an offbeat conference that’ll have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. They’re inviting successful local entrepreneurs to share their stories on stage within the framework of live interviews. They’ll go all the way and tell you everything about their journeys without holding back. Don’t miss the chance to learn from their mistakes before you start your own entrepreneurial venture!

Parties and music festivals

4. Cruïlla Barcelona

When: July 3-6
Where: Parc del Fòrum
Tickets: €45 – €160

One of Barcelona’s most popular summer music festivals, Cruïlla caters to a more mainstream audience than Rock Fest or Sónar. It’s where you go to see pop sensations like the Black Eyed Peas, Bastille and Kylie Minogue, just to name a few of this year’s headliners. Besides the concerts, Cruïlla Village will be there for all those who want to enjoy the sense of community, grab a bite of food or take part in the festival’s many activities.

5. Rock Fest Barcelona

When: July 4-7
Where: Parc de Can Zam, Santa Coloma de Gramenet
Tickets: €90 – €160

Rock Fest may not be one of Barcelona’s most famous music festivals, but it’s definitely the most awaited event of the year for rock and metal fans. The festival, held just outside Barcelona and easily accessible by metro, will feature rock legends such as Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) and Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), immortal bands like Cradle of Filth and Napalm Death, and genre innovators like Arch Enemy. If rock is your scene, you’ll find your jam at Rock Fest.

6. Sónar

When: July 18-20
Where: Fira Montjuïc & Gran Via
Tickets: €79 – €195

If you’re into electronic music and dancing your heart out at the craziest raves the city has ever seen, Sónar is the place to be for you. It’s a three-day festival that takes place pretty much all over the city, with endless off-Sónar parties organised by clubs and bars to round out the main event. If you can go three days without sleeping, enjoy Sónar by Day, where you can discover the latest in music technology and multimedia art, and, of course, Sónar by Night, where an incredible lineup of underground electro DJs will take care of the mood. Sónar is a one-of-a-kind experience that you’ll only find here in Barcelona – don’t miss out!

Arts and culture

7. Sala Montjuïc Open-Air Film Festival

When: June 28 – Aug 2
Where: Castell de Montjuïc
Tickets: €6.50

During the summer, many big white screens crop up in outdoor spaces around Barcelona – you could argue that the one on the side of Montjuïc Castle is the most impressive one yet. Join hundreds of people sitting on the grass surrounding the castle and watch timeless classics as well as modern cinematic masterpieces at Sala Montjuïc. This year’s programme includes Cold War, Bohemian Rhapsody, Goodfellas, Lady Bird, Green Book, Kill Bill, Some Like It Hot and other cult movies we all love. If you purchase your ticket on time, there might still be foldable chairs for rent!

8. Grec Festival de Barcelona

When: throughout July
Where: Teatre Grec + various venues
Tickets: Prices vary by event

Borrowing its name from one of its main venues, Teatre Grec (a replica of a Greek amphitheatre on Montjuïc), Grec is Barcelona’s high culture festival of theatre, music and dance. It brings a host of spectacular shows and unforgettable performances to life, set in some of the city’s most iconic theatrical locations. Expats are welcome, too – each year, more and more shows accommodate non-Spanish-speaking audiences. 

9. San Miguel Mas i Mas Festival

When: July 30 – August 31
Where: 8 venues around the city
Tickets: €5-€30 (varies by concert)

Fans of live music, listen up. From flamenco to jazz, blues, soul and funk, among other genres, San Miguel Mas i Mas Festival will bring artists from all over the world to perform on the city’s biggest stages as well as smaller venues like Jamboree, Tarantos and Moog. Plaza Reial will also host 10 outdoor concerts, and the festival will end on a high note with a big electronic dance party with the best DJs in Poble Espanyol. 

10. Gandules’19

When: August 6-22
Where: CCCB, Pati de les Dones
Tickets: Free admission

If you love Sala Montjuïc but you need a bit more outdoor cinema in your life (and a venue that’s a bit closer to the city centre), check out Gandules’19. It’s the CCCB museum’s summer cinema that will show a selection of nine films around the theme of parallel universes and time travel. The cycle is curated by film critic Jordi Costa in the framework of the exhibition Quantum.

11. Festa Major de Gràcia

When: August 15-21
Where: Gràcia
Tickets: Free admission

If you’ve been in Barcelona for more than a few weeks, you will have heard of the legendary Festa Major de Gràcia. While in Barcelona, every neighbourhood has its own festa major, Gràcia’s annual street party is arguably the most fun and colourful one. Just like every year, the entire neighbourhood will turn into a fairytale wonderland, adorned with decorations made out of recycled materials. Check out the programme to see what activities and concerts Gràcia has planned for you to help you survive the August heat.

What are your plans for the summer? Let us know if we missed any must-attend events!