What to do in Barcelona in December 2026
Calendar of festivities and cultural events in December 2026
Barcelona Events December 2026
- In December 2026, Barcelona lights up with its Christmas markets (Santa Llúcia, Sagrada Família, Moll de la Fusta) and the spectacular Els Llums de Sant Pau light show.
- The Mil·lenni and Barcelona Jazz festivals bring the evenings to life with concerts, international voices and major cultural events at the end of the year.
- The city hosts several major temporary exhibitions in its museums and galleries, ranging from modern art and photography to contemporary creations.
Happy holidays!!
Christmas street lights and markets
Major avenues such as Passeig de Gràcia, Plaça Catalunya and the Gothic Quarter are beautifully decorated and illuminated at night, making for unforgettable walks.
The famous Christmas markets are an absolute must:
Sagrada Família Christmas Market (Fira de Nadal de la Sagrada Família): From 23 November to 23 December, this traditional market features stalls selling crafts, Christmas decorations and local gastronomic specialities.
Address: Pl Sagrada Família 1, (Eixample)
The Fira de Santa Llúcia, a historic Barcelona market dating back to 1786, is held in front of the Cathedral, with stalls selling nativity scenes, figurines and traditional crafts. A giant Tió de Nadal and activities such as the Diada de les Tradicions delight both children and adults.
Dates and opening hours: 28 November to 23 December, from 10 am to 9 pm
Address: Av. de la Catedral, 1, 08002 Barcelona
Fira de Brocanters - 'Mercat Gòtic' The Fira de Brocanters is a special antiques and flea market for Christmas and Epiphany, held from 27 December to 3 January 2027.
Address: Avinguda de la Catedral
Fira de Nadal at Moll de la Fusta until 6 January 2027
The Fira de Nadal at Moll de la Fusta runs until January 2027, offering music and dance performances, a craft market and a food-truck area.
Christmas night buses until 3 January 2027
Discover Barcelona's festive Christmas lights on an open-top bus tour.
Every day except 24 December, 25 December, 31 December and 1 January
At 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Els Llums de Sant Pau, until 10 January 2027
Els Llums de Sant Pau 2025 will transform Sant Pau Hospital Barcelona into a magical illuminated garden with 18 interactive installations and a new theme, “We light up your Christmas”.
Christmas at Sant Jaume until 3 January 2027
From 29 November 2025 to 3 January 2027, Plaça de Sant Jaume will host a large illuminated Christmas star, accompanied by a free light and music show every evening between 6:30 pm and 10:00 pm. This installation, replacing the traditional nativity scene, will make the heart of Barcelona shine throughout the festive season.
Mil·lenni Festival until 27/02/2027
Festival Mil·lenni 2025-2026
The Mil·lenni Festival continues during the festive season with Carlos Núñez at the Palau de la Música on 30 December 2026, before welcoming Spanish rock band Los Enemigos at Sala Apolo on 8 January 2027.
The 2026-2027 programme still appears to be incomplete at this stage, so further concerts in December and January may still be announced.
It attracts a wide variety of artists, from international music legends to emerging talents, in iconic venues such as the Palau de la Música Catalana and Sala Apolo.
Barcelona International Jazz Festival until 23 December 2026
The Barcelona Jazz Festival celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026 with a particularly rich programme in November.
December highlights include Marco Mezquida on 10 December at L’Auditori, Así Canta Jerez en Navidad on 12 December at the Palau de la Música, a flamenco show celebrating its 15th anniversary, as well as the Andrea Motis Guitar Trio on 13 December.
The festival ends on a high note on 23 December at the Palau de la Música with the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, celebrating its 20th anniversary. This special concert, built around the concept “20 years, 20 big bands”, retraces the history of major jazz ensembles and is one of the symbolic highlights of this anniversary edition.
Temporary exhibitions
Dana Lixenberg - MAPFRE until 17 January 2027
At Fundación MAPFRE in Barcelona, American Images looks back over more than thirty years of Dana Lixenberg's work in the United States. Through celebrity portraits and documentary series, the photographer offers a restrained and sensitive view of the contrasts within American society. The exhibition notably features iconic portraits of Tupac Shakur, Prince, Whitney Houston, Toni Morrison and Lil’ Kim.
>> KBr MAPFRE
>>> For even more ideas of things to discover, visit our Things to do in Barcelona? page, which brings together all the must-see attractions of the Catalan capital!
Barcelona weather in December: December is one of the coolest months of the year in Barcelona. Temperatures are therefore seasonal, with daytime lows around 10°C, which feels cold for Catalans. During this final month of the year, Barcelona receives an average of 30 to 40 mm of rainfall over around 5 to 6 rainy days. Showers are generally brief, often giving way to clear skies.wed by clear skies.