What to do in Barcelona in May 2025?
Festivals and cultural events in May 2025
In May 2025 in Barcelona, the public holidays of May 1st and May 19th mark the city with some museums and restaurants closed, while various events like DocsBarcelona, La Cursa de El Corte Inglés, the International New Rose Competition at Cervantes Park, The Night of Museums, RetroBarcelona, and the Fira Modernista offer a month full of cultural, sports, and artistic discoveries.
Barcelona Agenda May 2025
May 1st and Whit Monday: two public holidays in Barcelona.
As in many European cities, Wednesday, May 1st – Dia del Trabajador – and Monday, May 19th, 2025 – Whit Monday – are public holidays in Barcelona. Many restaurants and museums will be closed on these two days. The Sagrada Família will not be closed on May 1st and 19th, 2025.
RetroBarcelona from May 3 to 4, 2025.
RetroBarcelona is a fair dedicated to the world of classic and retro video games. It’s an event where fans of games from past eras can gather to share their passion, explore game booths, vintage consoles, participate in competitions, and attend conferences on the theme of retrogaming. Visitors have the opportunity to play iconic games, learn about the evolution of gaming technologies, and meet other enthusiasts. This event usually attracts a wide range of attendees, from collectors to nostalgic gamers of all ages.
DocsBarcelona Festival from May 8 to 18, 2025
DocsBarcelona is an international event dedicated to documentary cinema held annually in Barcelona. A global project that includes a professional market, a distribution brand, an exhibition network, and training for documentary filmmakers. In addition to film screenings, the festival hosts competitive sections, school sessions, talks, funding and development activities, and workshops to learn and improve documentary storytelling.
La Cursa de El Corte Inglés on May 11, 2025 at 9 AM.
La Cursa de El Corte Inglés is one of the largest mass participation races in the world, held annually in Barcelona. It attracts tens of thousands of participants, from serious runners to families with strollers, making it a major sporting celebration in the streets of the city. The route offers a unique chance to discover Barcelona’s iconic landmarks in a festive atmosphere, with participants of all ages and abilities. This race is not only a competition but also a celebration of community and sport, reflecting the vibrant spirit of the city.
>> La Cursa de El Corte Inglés
International New Rose Competition at Cervantes Park from May 9 to 11, 2025.
The International New Rose Competition takes place in the beautiful setting of Cervantes Park, known for its vast collection of roses. This contest attracts breeders, botanists, and rose lovers from around the world who present their new rose varieties hoping to win the prestigious prize. During the event, visitors have the unique opportunity to see hundreds of rose varieties, often before they are available to the general public. Roses are judged on several criteria, such as color, fragrance, disease resistance, and originality. The International New Rose Competition is not only a contest but also a celebration of beauty and innovation in the horticultural world, offering a unique sensory experience in one of Barcelona’s most emblematic green spaces.
>> Concurs Internacional de Roses Noves al Parc de Cervantes
The Night of Museums in Barcelona on May 17, 2025, from 7 PM to 1 AM
The Night of Museums is an annual event held simultaneously in several European cities, including Barcelona. On this special night, museums and cultural institutions open their doors for free in the evening and sometimes until midnight or later, allowing the public to explore collections and exhibitions in a festive atmosphere often enhanced by special activities such as concerts, guided tours, workshops, and artistic performances. The Night of Museums in Barcelona is especially interesting due to the variety and richness of the city’s museums, ranging from modern and contemporary art institutions like the Picasso Museum and the MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona) to those dedicated to history, archaeology, and science. It’s a unique opportunity to discover these places from a different perspective, often enriched by exclusive experiences only available during this event.
>> La Nits dels Museus Barcelona
The Fira Modernista de Barcelona from May 23 to 25, 2025.
The Fira Modernista de Barcelona is an event that transports you to the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century to explore the city’s unique architectural and cultural heritage. It’s a celebration of modernisme, an artistic movement that shaped the landscape and identity of Barcelona. The 18th edition of the Fira Modernista will take place from May 23 to 25, 2025, and will be dedicated to poet and playwright Àngel Guimerà.
>> La Fira Modernista de Barcelona
Zurbarán (super)natural until June 29, 2025
The exhibition "Zurbarán (super)natural", presented at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona until June 29, 2025, offers a unique opportunity to rediscover the work of the Spanish Baroque master Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664) by placing it in dialogue with contemporary art. For the first time, the three versions of the painting "Saint Francis of Assisi According to the Vision of Pope Nicholas V", from the MNAC, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, are exhibited together. This confrontation allows visitors to appreciate the subtle differences in composition and lighting unique to each work.
>>> For even more discovery ideas, visit our page What to do in Barcelona in 3 days which summarizes all the must-see attractions in the Catalan capital!
Barcelona’s weather in May: The joy of spring
May is an ideal time to visit Barcelona, as spring is in full bloom and the city begins to dress in colorful flowers.