This weekend Barcelona picks up a pencil: on Saturday and Sunday there are 46 free activities for Barcelona Dibuixa all over the city. Poble Espanyol opens its Halloween, the Biennal de Pensament signs off with its biggest talks and Passeig de Gràcia fills up with second-hand books again.
Heads up, some things end on Sunday 18: Cirque du Soleil, the Sitges Film Festival and Moritz’s Oktoberfest.
The weekend at a glance
Barcelona Dibuixa
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18, freeHalloween at Poble Espanyol
From Saturday 17, with my discount codeBiennal de Pensament
Until Sunday 18, freeSecond-hand book fair
From Friday 16, on Passeig de GràciaCiutat Flamenco
From Friday 16Cirque du Soleil, Sitges and Moritz Oktoberfest
Last weekend
Here is the weekend, day by day.
If you only have one day, Sunday covers a lot: Barcelona Dibuixa in the morning, a browse through the books on Passeig de Gràcia and, in the afternoon, a talk at the CCCB or flamenco at Nau Bostik.
Barcelona Dibuixa, the whole city drawing
Barcelona Dibuixa is the city’s drawing festival. This year there are 46 activities in museums, libraries, community centres and art centres, and all of them are free with no registration.
- Saturday 17, from 16:00 to 20:00.
- Sunday 18, from 10:00 to 14:00.
You do not need to know how to draw, which is the whole point. Each activity is led by an artist. Some have a fixed time and others let you drop in whenever you like. A few examples:
- Sixe Paredes, street art and murals, at the Museu d’Història de Catalunya.
- Eva Fàbregas at Fabra i Coats Centre d’Art Contemporani.
- Clara Nubiola at La Model.
- Marc Torices at the Biblioteca Ignasi Iglésias – Can Fabra.
It is a great plan with kids. The full programme, with every venue and time, is on the city council’s Barcelona Dibuixa website. If you want more art afterwards, here is my list of free museums in Barcelona.
Halloween at Poble Espanyol, for the whole family
On Saturday 17, Creepy Halloween Family begins at Poble Espanyol (Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 13, Montjuïc), running until 1 November. The village streets get decorated, more than 30 characters appear and families follow a clue hunt with riddles and legends that leads to two mystery tunnels.
The best part is that you choose how scary it gets:
- Mild scare, from 10:00 to 16:00, for younger children.
- Moderate scare, from 17:00.
From 17 to 25 October there is a promo price on Fever: 14.50 € for children aged 2 to 12 and 16.50 € for 13 and over. Buy tickets on Fever and use my code BARCELONAINSPIRA10 for 10 % off.
After buying, check your confirmation email, because that is where you pick your tunnel time. The venue opens at 10:00. It is also on my Barcelona map.
Last talks of the Biennal de Pensament
The Biennal de Pensament has filled the city with talks since Tuesday 13 and closes on Sunday 18. It is free, although some sessions need booking. The main venue is the CCCB, with events at La Model and Parc de les Glòries too. What I would not miss this weekend:
- Friday 16, 18:00. Ray Brassier, Eudald Espluga and Tatiana Llaguno on precarity and hyperconnection, at La Model.
- Saturday 17, 11:30. Julián Casanova and Xavier Domènech on the Civil War and Francoism, at the CCCB.
- Saturday 17, 20:00. Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Say Nothing, with Judit Carrera, at the CCCB.
- Sunday 18, 18:00. Mariana Enríquez with Valerie Miles, on the city at night and memory, at the CCCB.
- Sunday 18, 19:30. Closing event with Leila Guerriero, Marta Sanz, Neige Sinno, Antònia Vicens and Pol Guasch, at the CCCB.
For the best-known speakers, arrive early or book if the session asks for it.
The second-hand book fair returns to Passeig de Gràcia
On Friday 16 the 75th Fira del Llibre d’Ocasió Antic i Modern opens, the city’s classic second-hand book fair. This year it is held in autumn and stays until 1 November.
It is on Passeig de Gràcia, between Gran Via and Carrer del Consell de Cent, with 29 stalls from bookshops all over Catalonia and books from 3 €.
- Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 20:30.
- Sundays and public holidays, from 11:00 to 20:30.
Expect first editions, comics, old postcards and bargain books. It is perfect for an unhurried stroll.
Ciutat Flamenco opens its 33rd edition
Ciutat Flamenco, the flamenco festival run by Taller de Músics, holds its 33rd edition from 16 to 25 October, with a focus on flamenco made in Catalonia. This weekend:
- Friday 16, 20:00. Guacamayo by José Maldonado at SAT! Sant Andreu Teatre. It is the show’s Catalan premiere, with a post-show talk. 14 to 23 €.
- Saturday 17, 19:00 and 20:15. Víctor Franco and Lorena Oliva at La Farinera del Clot. 10 to 12 €.
- Sunday 18, 18:00 and 19:15. Esperanza Garrido and Districte Flamenco at Nau Bostik. 10 to 12 €.
Tickets and the full programme are on the Ciutat Flamenco website.
Last weekend of Cirque du Soleil
KURIOS, the Cirque du Soleil show, says goodbye on Sunday 18. It is in the Big Top at the Districte Cultural de L’Hospitalet (Travessia Industrial 50), with tickets from around 45 €.
The last shows:
- Friday 16, at 18:00 and 21:30.
- Saturday 17, at 17:00 and 20:30.
- Sunday 18, at 12:30 and 16:30.
If it was on your list, it is now or the next tour. Tickets are sold on the official Cirque du Soleil website.
Last weekend of Oktoberfest by Moritz
Oktoberfest by Moritz ends on Sunday 18, and it is the easiest beer plan of the weekend: it is central and there is no entry fee. It takes place in two spots:
- Fàbrica Moritz, Ronda de Sant Antoni 41.
- Casa Moritz, Rambla de Catalunya 79.
Half-litre steins of Moritz Original and Moritz 7 cost 3.50 €, the usual price of a 33 cl glass. To go with them there is potato salad, pretzels, sausages, pork knuckle, a frankfurter sandwich and, for dessert, apfelstrudel and dark-beer ice cream. Both bars are decorated Bavarian style.
Groups of more than 10 can book a group menu on each venue’s website.
The Sitges Film Festival ends too
The 59th Sitges Film Festival, the big fantasy and horror film festival, ends on Sunday 18. Last chance for the trip.
Puppets at La Puntual, with kids
The puppet festival at La Puntual (Carrer de l’Allada-Vermell 15) continues until 1 November. This weekend it is Posa-hi el cor by Nina Theatre, with a show on Saturday at 12:00.
More ideas for little ones are in Barcelona with kids. And if you want to plan ahead, here is the Castanyada in Barcelona.
Weekend summary
| Plan | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona Dibuixa | Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 | 46 venues across the city | Free, no registration |
| Creepy Halloween Family | From Saturday 17 | Poble Espanyol | From 14.50 €, 10 % off with my code |
| Biennal de Pensament | Until Sunday 18 | CCCB, La Model and more | Free, some need booking |
| Second-hand book fair | From Friday 16 | Passeig de Gràcia | Free entry |
| Ciutat Flamenco | From Friday 16 | SAT!, La Farinera del Clot, Nau Bostik | 10 to 23 € |
| Cirque du Soleil, KURIOS | Until Sunday 18 | L’Hospitalet | From around 45 € |
| Oktoberfest by Moritz | Until Sunday 18 | Fàbrica Moritz and Casa Moritz | 50 cl stein for 3.50 € |
| Sitges Film Festival | Until Sunday 18 | Sitges | Depends on session |
If the weather turns, here is what to do in Barcelona when it rains. For the rest of the month, see what to do in Barcelona in October.
Questions about any plan? Message me on Instagram @barcelonainspira and I will help you plan your weekend.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Barcelona this weekend, 16 to 18 October
On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18, Barcelona Dibuixa runs 46 free drawing activities in museums, libraries and community centres. Poble Espanyol opens its family Halloween on Saturday, the Biennal de Pensament closes on Sunday with free talks at the CCCB, the second-hand book fair opens on Friday on Passeig de Gràcia and Ciutat Flamenco starts on Friday 16. It is also the last weekend of Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS and of the Sitges Film Festival.
When is Barcelona Dibuixa 2026 and do you need to register
Barcelona Dibuixa 2026 takes place on Saturday 17 October from 16:00 to 20:00 and on Sunday 18 from 10:00 to 14:00. All 46 activities are free and no registration is needed. Some have a set start and end time, while others let you come and go within the time slot.
How much is Halloween at Poble Espanyol
From 17 to 25 October, Creepy Halloween Family tickets on Fever cost 14.50 euros for children aged 2 to 12 and 16.50 euros for anyone 13 and over. The code BARCELONAINSPIRA10 gives you 10 % off. It runs until 1 November.
Where is the Fira del Llibre d’Ocasió 2026
The 75th Fira del Llibre d’Ocasió Antic i Modern is on Passeig de Gràcia, between Gran Via and Carrer del Consell de Cent, from 16 October to 1 November 2026. It opens Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:30 and on Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 20:30, with 29 stalls and books from 3 euros.
How long is Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona
Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS closes on Sunday 18 October 2026. It is in the Big Top at the Districte Cultural de L’Hospitalet, Travessia Industrial 50. This weekend there are shows on Friday at 18:00 and 21:30, on Saturday at 17:00 and 20:30 and on Sunday at 12:30 and 16:30.
