If your household loves board games, put this in the diary: from 12 to 15 November, Fabra i Coats in Sant Andreu hosts the 15th DAU Barcelona festival, the city’s festival of games. There are new releases, classics, giant games, role-playing, tournaments and a whole area for little ones. And it’s free.
It’s one of the best free things to do in Barcelona this autumn, and one of the few that kids, grandparents and those of us without kids enjoy just as much.
What is it? A board games festival with areas for every kind of player, from age 3 to experts.
Why go? You get to try new games without buying them, with people on hand to explain them, in a beautiful old factory.
- When12 to 15 November 2026
- WhereFabra i Coats, Carrer de Sant Adrià, 20 (Sant Andreu)
- PriceFree (some activities need booking)
Opening times
- Thursday 12 and Friday 13, 4 pm to 8 pm: Ludoteca Expert (expert games room), booking required.
- Thursday and Friday, 7 pm to 8:30 pm: awards gala, booking required.
- Friday 13 and Saturday 14, 10 pm to 6 am: Dau de Nit, to play all night, booking required.
- Saturday 14 and Sunday 15, 10 am to 8 pm: open to everyone.
If you’re going with kids or it’s your first time, Saturday or Sunday morning is best.
The festival areas
- Gran Dau: the latest releases and the classics, with tournaments, prototypes and the 9th protojocs contest (games that haven’t been published yet).
- Dauet: games for children aged 3 to 10, with a wheelchair-accessible circuit.
- Dau expert: more complex games for experienced players.
- Dau històric: simulations of battles and historical events.
- Dau tradicional: traditional Catalan games.
- Dau de rol: an introduction to role-playing games.
- Dau gegant: giant-sized games, everyone’s favourite for photos.
My tips
- Arrive early at the weekend: the tables with the new releases fill up.
- Check the programme before you go and book whatever needs it, like Dau de Nit.
- If you’re going with little ones, there are more ideas in my guide to Barcelona with kids, and for the rest of the month, Barcelona in November.
Frequently asked questions
When is the DAU Festival 2026
From Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 November 2026, at Fabra i Coats (Carrer de Sant Adrià, 20, Sant Andreu).
How much does the DAU Festival cost
Entry is free. Some activities, such as Dau de Nit or the expert games room, need advance booking.
When is the DAU Festival open to the general public
Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm. On Thursday and Friday afternoons there are more specialised activities that need booking.
Are there games for children at the DAU Festival
Yes. The Dauet area has games for children aged 3 to 10, with a wheelchair-accessible circuit.
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