Why Barcelona is the next cultural hotspot!

A century after Antoni Gaudí’s (1852-1926) farewell, Barcelona prepares to seduce the world with a spectacle of architecture, culture, and celebration. It’s a true invitation to witness history in elegance. The Sagrada Familia basilica will finally be finished. The prestigious Goya Film Awards return to the Catalonian capital for an exciting 40th edition. The 150th anniversary of genius musician Pablo Casals floods the city with music. And there’s much more.

The Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s stone symphony, will stand complete around mid-year, its towers piercing the Mediterranean light like a crown of stone and faith. This is the moment to arrive in Barcelona, when the city’s heartbeat syncs with a century of great art and a future of grandeur. Before that, mark March 19 for goosebumps: the Orfeó Català choir performs under the basilica’s vaults to celebrate the laying of its first stone (1882).

Then, on June 10, Barcelona explodes in color with the Procession of Popular Culture, a vibrant parade of traditions leading to the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest point in the basilica, and the city, at 172.5 meters. Between these celebrations, dive into the many exhibitions that tell the story behind the cathedral. All of it will be, without a doubt, one of the most historical art events of the century.

Spain’s cinema biggest night, the Goya Awards, always has huge repercussion in the international movie industry. The event is like a Cannes Festival for the Spanish language productions in Europe. Barcelona welcomes it again, bringing in key film figures from the country and all over the world. The gala takes place on February 28, and now it’s time to get an invitation!

But that’s not all. Leading up to the ceremony are exhibitions, screenings of nominated movies with their protagonists attending, sessions for children, and art urban actions, such as seven giant statues around the city created for the Valencian Fallas fest. Pure cultural treats.

You can’t experience Barcelona without music. The coming year marks the 150th anniversary of Pablo Casals (1876-1973). A complete artist, he achieved extraordinary success as a brilliant cellist and an exceptional conductor, acclaimed in the finest concert halls and major cities around the globe, and a humanist.

Musical institutions, ensembles, maestros, and all kinds of performers join this commemoration by dedicating concerts and other activities across the city, that will last until 2027. Keep an eye for the program and immerse yourself in Barcelona’s best venues!

Think it’s enough? The city’s exciting life has a lot more to offer!

March inaugurates Barcelona as this year’s World Capital of Architecture, with an exciting exhibitions program. In April you can’t miss the Sant Jordi Festival, dedicated to the love for literature and flowers (yes, roses and books flow around, like a cultural Valetine). In May and June take place two major pop-rock and electronic music festivals, Primavera Sound and Sónar, that attract fans from all over the world.

Barcelona during 2026 isn’t just a destination – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime cultural performance! Let’s do it.