What you should know before you go
Spain is well-known for its many festivals and public holidays, and Barcelona is no exception. The city observes 13 national holidays each year, plus 2 additional local holidays. Whether it’s summer, fall, winter, or spring, there’s always something to celebrate in Barcelona.
If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, it often creates a “puente,” or “bridge” in English. This means that the Monday or Friday is also taken off, creating a long weekend. During these extended weekends, there are usually more tourists in the city, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Most banks and shops in Barcelona are closed on official holidays, so it’s a good idea to check if your visit coincides with one. In this article, you’ll find a complete list of public holidays in Barcelona, along with a brief description of each, including the what, where and why.
Also read our article on when is the Best time to visit Barcelona.
Table of contents
- Spanish and regional holidays
- List of the public holidays in 2024
- List of the public holidays in 2025
Spanish national and regional holidays
Just like in many other places, Catalans enjoy public holidays on January 1st (New Year’s Day), December 25th (Christmas Day), and December 26th. However, unlike in some countries where December 26th is known as Boxing Day, in Catalonia, it is celebrated as the Día de San Esteban (St. Stephen’s Day). This is a regional holiday, and in the rest of Spain—except for the Balearic Islands—people typically return to work. On San Esteban, it’s traditional to eat cannelloni stuffed with leftovers from the Christmas meal.
Other national holidays celebrated throughout Spain include:
- April 18th: Good Friday
- May 1st: Labour Day
- August 15th: Assumption of Mary (which also marks the start of the Festa Major de Gràcia)
- October 12th: Día de la Hispanidad (National Day of Spain)
- November 1st: All Saints’ Day
- December 6th: Constitution Day
- December 8th: Immaculate Conception Day
In Catalonia, September 11th is also a significant holiday known as the National Day of Catalonia, which is a day off in the region. Additionally, Catalonia often observes Easter Monday (April 10th) as a public holiday.
Please note that most shops in Barcelona are closed on these public holidays and time tables for public transport may be different. However, many tourist attractions remain open, except on January 1st and December 25th. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus also operates on all national holidays.
Holidays 2024
September 24, 2024 – La Mercè
The long, warm summer in Barcelona traditionally ends with the festivities of La Mercè. The highlight of the festival is September 24th, but there is plenty of celebration in the days surrounding it as well.
October 12, 2024 – Fiesta Nacional de España
This is Spain’s National Day, a holiday dedicated entirely to Spain and the Spanish Empire, which emerged after Columbus’s discovery of America. Apart from many shops being closed, you might not notice much of it in Barcelona.
November 1, 2024 – All Saints’ Day
On All Saints’ Day, Spaniards honor their deceased relatives, and cemeteries fill up. In Catalonia and Barcelona, ‘castanyadas’ are held on this holiday, where locals roast chestnuts (castanyas) and drink sweet wine. All Saints’ Day is an official holiday throughout the country.
December 6, 2024 – Constitution Day
On this day, Spaniards celebrate the ‘Constitución Española’ (Spanish Constitution), which was adopted following a referendum in 1978. This ended the transition period after the death of General Franco (1975) and established Spain as a democratic constitutional state. In Barcelona, this is not widely celebrated, but it is an official holiday.
December 8, 2024 – Immaculate Conception Day
This is one of the principal feasts of the Roman Catholic Church and an official holiday across the country. Be aware that shops may be closed on this day.
December 25, 2024 – Christmas
For some Spaniards, ‘Nochebuena,’ the evening of December 24th, is the most important moment of the Christmas celebration, while for others, it is the following day, December 25th.
Christmas is also, above all, a family celebration in Spain. Shops are closed, and if you plan to dine out, it’s a good idea to book in advance.
Also read our local’s guide to celebrating Christmas in Barcelona.
December 26, 2024 – Sant Esteve
Unlike the rest of Spain, December 26th is a public holiday in Catalonia.
Catholics celebrate the feast day of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. Traditionally, cannelloni are eaten, filled with leftovers from the Christmas meal.
Holidays 2025
January 1, 2025 – New Year’s Day
On January 1st, all shops across Spain, including those in Barcelona, are closed. A New Year’s swim at the beach in Barcelona is, of course, much more pleasant than along the North Sea coast. At 12:00 pm, the Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta typically organizes a New Year’s swim along the Barceloneta Beach, specifically at Platja de Sant Sebastià, heading towards the W Hotel.
January 6, 2025 – Epiphany, Reyes Magos
This is the day when Spanish children receive their presents. On January 5th, starting at 6:00 pm, the Three Wise Men parade through the city, distributing thousands of sweets.
April 18, 2025 – Good Friday
On this day, the Catholic world commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Several religious processions take place in the center of Barcelona, although they are less intense than those in the south of Spain. Good Friday is a public holiday: locals have the day off, and shops are closed.
April 20 and 21, 2025 – Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
While Monday after Easter is a regular working day in the rest of Spain, it is officially still a holiday in Catalonia, including Barcelona.
May 1, 2025 – Labour Day
Unlike in some countries, May 1st is a public holiday throughout Spain. Expect large demonstrations in the main squares and streets in the center of Barcelona.
June 9, 2025 – Whit Monday
Catalonia is one of the autonomous regions where Whit Monday is also an official public holiday. Whit Monday always falls on a Monday. However, this year the Catalan government has decided to move the holiday from May 29 to Monday, June 5, due to the local elections.
June 23, 2025 – Sant Joan
La Nit de Sant Joan is the Catalan midsummer festival. Every year, the shortest night of the year and the beginning of summer are celebrated on the night of June 23 to 24, the birthday of John the Baptist (Sant Joan). The beach is the place to be during this celebration, with fireworks, cava (or other alcoholic drinks), and coca (Catalan pastry) being the main ingredients.
August 15, 2025 – Assumption of Mary
This Catholic holiday, also known as the Assumption of Mary, is celebrated annually on August 15th. This is also the first day of the famous Festa Major (neighborhood festival) in the Gràcia district.
September 11, 2025 – Diada de Catalunya
La Diada Nacional de Catalunya, or simply La Diada, is the national holiday of the Catalonia region. On September 11th, more Catalan flags are displayed than ever, and residents take to the streets en masse. Although it is officially a regional holiday, the Catalans still consider it their ‘national’ holiday.
September 24, 2025 – La Mercè
The long, warm summer in Barcelona traditionally ends with the festivities of La Mercè. The highlight of the festival is September 24th, but there is plenty of celebration in the days surrounding it as well.
October 12, 2025 – Fiesta Nacional de España
This is Spain’s National Day, a holiday dedicated entirely to Spain and the Spanish Empire, which emerged after Columbus’s discovery of America. Apart from many shops being closed, you might not notice much of it in Barcelona.
November 1, 2025 – All Saints’ Day
On All Saints’ Day, Spaniards honor their deceased relatives, and cemeteries fill up. In Catalonia and Barcelona, ‘castanyadas’ are held on this holiday, where locals roast chestnuts (castanyas) and drink sweet wine. All Saints’ Day is an official holiday throughout the country.
December 6, 2025 – Constitution Day
On this day, Spaniards celebrate the ‘Constitución Española’ (Spanish Constitution), which was adopted following a referendum in 1978. This ended the transition period after the death of General Franco (1975) and established Spain as a democratic constitutional state. In Barcelona, this is not widely celebrated, but it is an official holiday.
December 8, 2025 – Immaculate Conception Day
This is one of the principal feasts of the Roman Catholic Church and an official holiday across the country. Be aware that shops may be closed on this day.
December 25, 2025 – Christmas
For some Spaniards, ‘Nochebuena,’ the evening of December 24th, is the most important moment of the Christmas celebration, while for others, it is the following day, December 25th.
Christmas is also, above all, a family celebration in Spain. Shops are closed, and if you plan to dine out, it’s a good idea to book in advance.
December 26, 2025 – Sant Esteve
Unlike the rest of Spain, December 26th is a public holiday in Catalonia.
Catholics celebrate the feast day of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. Traditionally, cannelloni are eaten, filled with leftovers from the Christmas meal.
