Barcelona Weekend Break

Music festivals

Barcelona lays claim to offering the best music festivals in Spain and with a broad and extensive selection of musical genres this claim may well be justified.

These festivals cover everything from techno music to classical music and whilst some only last a single day, others will run for several days and in some cases most of the summer period.

Below is a summary of a small selection of some of the better known, more prestigious and more tourist-interest festivals (or fiestas).

The guitar festival

This is an annual fiesta that lasts for one month and features music played on the guitar. The festival takes place in the Spring and features all kinds of guitar musicianship with players from all over the world.

During this time you will see many people walking around with their guitar under their arm as this instrument takes over the city. Some of the performances are on large stages whilst other appear to be much more impromptu.

Grec festival

This festival has been taking place since the mid nineteen seventies and, with its timing at the height of the holiday season, it has become a big event of great tourist interest.

Unlike most of the other music festivals, the Grec offers more than just sounds as it encapsulates dancing, theatrical performances and even circus performers. Covering most of the month of June this is a festival that is well worth taking in and it has great appeal to overseas visitors.

Sonar

The Sonar festival lasts for three days commencing on the 16th June.

This is a festival primarily for the young and it showcases electronic and experimental music throughout. It has an international list of performers (growing by reputation each year) and it has been part of the Barcelona festival calendar since 1994.

Jazz festival

The international Jazz festival has been previously held in Barcelona and, when the city hosted this event, it saw many of the world’s top musicians perform and hold master classes for their instruments and musical genre.

This festival is regarded as one of the most important in the music industry and being the host city carries with it great kudos.

De Cajon Flamenco festival

This flamenco festival has now become an annual event and it offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy flamenco music and dancing at its best.

The festival attracts performers from across Spain and different performances take place around the city. The festival lasts about three months and it provides an opportunity to see not only the elaborately staged commercial performances, but also some of the more intimate and "true to the spirit of flamenco" displays.

Barcelona Accio festival

This festival has now become a regular fixture and it offers probably the most diverse range of music of any of the city’s fiestas.

The festival takes place at the end of September and the performances are staged across the city at numerous locations. Types of music covered include, rock, pop, folk and more.

Barcelona has many more musical festivals and performances. Some have become annual events whilst others are special features. The best way to find out what is happening during your visit to enquire at a tourist office on your arrival. You may discover that there is something taking place that is not publicised outside of the city.