News and events in Barcelona

Valencia’s flood warnings improved after the 2024 disaster

Ahead of storm Adam, authorities sent warnings urging people to avoid flooded roads and move to higher floors; schools closed for more than 100,000 pupils. At least four people died in Valencia and Catalonia, after rainfall neared 700 litres per square metre in 24 hours.

In 2024, Valencia’s first ES-Alert came at 8.11pm on 29 October, after 155 people had died; the disaster ultimately killed 233. Spain sent 45 mass alerts before then, rising to 214 by February 2025. Experts say alerts and emergency protocols have improved, but risk education and changes to flood-prone development are still lacking: 2.7 million people live in flood-risk areas.

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Lamine Yamal buys Shakira and Piqué’s former home

The Barcelona winger bought the Ciudad Diagonal estate in October 2025 for around €10.5 million. Previously home to Shakira and Gerard Piqué, the property spans more than 3,800 square metres and is a 14-minute drive from Barça’s training ground.

The five-level mansion includes a private football pitch, paddle court, gym, party room, cinema, wine cellar, recording studio, and indoor and outdoor pools. Yamal has also created a small trophy museum, displaying awards including the European Championship, Golden Boy and 2026 World Cup.

His move from Rocafonda to one of Barcelona’s most exclusive areas marks a striking rise in fortunes.

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Woman injured after bus collision on Barcelona’s Diagonal

A woman was injured at around 8am on Monday 19 October when an AMB-operated L51 bus, travelling from Sant Feliu de Llobregat to Barcelona, hit her near Pius XII square. The driver swerved as she crossed, then the bus struck a tram barrier, breaking a window. The woman’s injuries were not serious; no passengers were hurt.

The driver says the lights were green and several pedestrians crossed without right of way. SEM treated the woman; Mossos and the Guardia Urbana attended. Local police are investigating whether the bus had a green light or the driver ran a red. The driver was new to the route.

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Missing woman found dead at sea off Premià de Mar

Emergency teams found the body on Sunday, about six kilometres from where the woman disappeared after being swept away by the Cabrera de Mar stream on Saturday. She was found floating near the breakwater at Premià de Mar harbour, Barcelona, Bombers de la Generalitat sources told EFE.

She was walking with her husband and their two children when the water swept her away shortly before 7.30pm.

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Bird strike forces Vueling flight back to Barcelona

A Vueling aircraft bound for Milan had to make an emergency landing on Saturday after birds hit an engine, which caught fire. It returned to Barcelona-El Prat and landed safely; no one was injured.

Catalonia’s Civil Protection service activated its Aerocat special plan for aviation emergencies at pre-alert level. The plan has since been deactivated.

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Barcelona stalls on Sagrada Família staircase deal

The city council has yet to confirm a tentative agreement with residents and the Sagrada Família over steps planned for the Glory façade. A proposal would demolish part of just one block, affecting 194 flats, while sparing the next; residents could receive compensation or be rehoused in a new building.

Both sides are pressing the council to act after talks appeared close to a deal in July. The basilica still needs a works permit for the façade, and ERC will demand a detailed update at Tuesday’s Urban Planning Committee. The long-running dispute now hinges on whether the council can secure a commitment before May’s elections.

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Plaça d’Espanya: drivers face 45-minute delays

Changing lanes and directions are worsening jams; crossing the square has taken up to 45 minutes, especially on Mondays, Fridays and in rain. Tunnel works cut three lanes to one, with queues even at 11pm or midnight; drivers say the route out is confusing.

Residents ask when it will end. They say works waste time and fuel as petrol and public transport get dearer, while changing routes leave people unsure where to get off. The writer rarely drives but says locals deserve better services, asks if residents are being pushed out, and says city works never seem to finish.

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CCCB chief: culture can help reshape Barcelona’s tourism

Judit Carrera says the CCCB wants more international visitors genuinely interested in Catalan culture, while keeping its programme rooted locally; around 85% of its audience is local. She believes culture can help define Barcelona beyond sun-and-beach tourism.

The city receives 29 million tourists a year and has 1.8 million residents; Carrera says limits have been exceeded. She rejects cultural franchises and standardised immersive attractions, arguing Barcelona should set its own model. That ambition will need more funding: the CCCB’s budget is well below those of Paris, Madrid, London and Berlin.

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Firefighter catches suspect after third break-in at Montjuïc station

At about 5.15am on Friday 16 October, intruders forced their way in, ransacked rooms and vehicles, stole a firefighter’s bike and damaged vehicles and the garage shutter. A firefighter held one suspect until Mossos d’Esquadra arrived; he was arrested for trespass, burglary and criminal damage.

It was the station’s third break-in in under two months, part of eight attacks on fire stations in recent months. Previous raids have cost around €40,000 in rescue tools, potentially putting lives at risk. UGT wants an urgent meeting and lasting security measures across Barcelona’s stations; the council says it is considering CCTV. Firefighters say securing stations cannot be left to them.

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Commuting by car costs Catalan workers €190 more a year

UGT de Catalunya says rising fuel and related costs have pushed private-car commuting costs up 10.7% in the past year: €190 more per worker annually, or nearly €440 million across Catalonia. The union wants workers compensated and commuting included in collective bargaining.

Public transport costs have also risen by 3.9%. Users spend an average of 84 minutes travelling each day, compared with 47.5 minutes for car commuters, leaving workers to choose between paying more to arrive sooner or losing more of their day to travel.

UGT is calling for tailored compensation, workplace mobility plans and better public transport access and sustainable alternatives. It wants commuting treated as a collective workplace issue.

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Barcelona plans up to 55,000 culture vouchers

From November, the city plans up to 55,000 digital vouchers worth €20 each for theatres, cinemas, music venues, bookshops and other cultural spaces. Registered residents can get two further €20 top-ups, receiving up to €60 by July 2027. The scheme has €1.1m in public funding.

Three rounds run from early November to 31 July. Voucher-funded books and cinema films must be in Catalan; the cultural offer is planned as 70% Catalan and 30% Spanish. Funding for tickets to major commercial shows will be limited.

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Mercat de Mercats marks 15 years at Glòries

From 16–18 October, traders from 11 Barcelona municipal markets join Catalan producers, artisans and chefs at Plaça de les Glòries. The festival promotes local trade and sustainable food, with free barbecues for cooking market purchases and more than 20 cookery demos, talks, tastings and workshops.

Chef Ada Parellada and Palestinian chef Husam Dawoud share the stove for “Recipes for Peace”; South Korea’s Jeonbuk province is guest region, with bibimbap and songpyeon for €4, plus music, dance and craft workshops. A new Lakeside Terrace adds food, live music and DJs; La Bodegueta hosts free tastings of local wines, cavas, vermouths and ratafia. It brings neighbourhood markets, cooking and culture together for the weekend.

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Barcelona releases sterile tiger mosquitoes to curb breeding

Barcelona’s public health agency is trialling Europe’s first large-scale urban sterilisation scheme, releasing around 80,000 male tiger mosquitoes weekly at Ciutadella Park, centred on Barcelona’s zoo, and Plaça de les Corts. They do not bite or transmit disease.

The mosquitoes carry Wolbachia, which makes mating with wild females incompatible, preventing eggs from hatching. Lab staff select the bacteria-carrying males using AI; the bacteria is introduced into eggs from Miami. The agency says the safe method avoids biocides but complements removing breeding sites and controlling larvae. The pilot will test its effectiveness and sustainability against a species that can cause painful bites and spread viruses.

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Barcelona buys another block of flats in under ten days

The council has approved buying an eight-flat block at 6 Carrer d’Espalter, Ciutat Vella, using its right of first refusal. The 655 sq m building costs about €1.32m; renovation will bring the total to €2m.

Seven homes are occupied and one is vacant. The purchase adds public housing in a dense, socially vulnerable area. Barcelona has about 15,000 public homes—around 2% of its housing stock—and aims to reach 15%.

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Catalonia to sound 119 chemical-alert sirens on Monday

A major chemical-risk drill will sound 119 sirens across Catalonia, reaching nearly one million people. Alerts are planned for areas in Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona, Central Catalonia, Terres de l’Ebre and Alt Pirineu i Aran.

The sirens are concentrated around industrial and high-risk areas. Protecció Civil’s official map shows coverage street by street: check your location here.

The key is to check whether your street falls within the sirens’ coverage area.

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Sant Martí honours its community champions

The 64th Sant Martí Awards recognise work in social rights, Catalan popular culture, education and grassroots sport. Winners include activist Conchita Ribera, folk-dance contributor Ferran Cebrián, cooperative school Escola Gregal SCCL, the Macosa Alstom retirees affected by asbestos, and petanque volunteer Jürgen Manzano.

Barcelona’s oldest district awards are nominated by local associations. Anniversary medals include gold for Franciscanes del Poblenou school, marking 150 years. The open ceremony is on Wednesday 18 November at 6pm at the Auditori de Sant Martí, with no booking and a live stream. The awards put neighbourhood-led civic work centre stage.

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Ciutat Flamenco puts Catalan creativity centre stage

From 16–25 October, Taller de Músics’ Ciutat Flamenco brings premieres, new work and leading flamenco artists to venues across Barcelona, including L’Auditori, SAT!, Ateneu Popular 9 Barris, Tradicionàrius, La Farinera del Clot and Nau Bostik. This year’s focus is contemporary flamenco made in Catalonia.

José Maldonado opens with the Catalan premiere of Guacamayo; Ana Morales presents Más que baile, and Yoel Vargas his album Óbito. The programme also features Esperanza Garrido, Lorena Oliva and Jordi Latorre, while Ciutat Batalla’s final takes place on 23 October.

Los Aurora play their farewell concert at L’Auditori on 25 October, joined by Chicuelo, Ana Brenes, Comando Reus and others. The festival puts Catalonia’s evolving flamenco scene in the spotlight.

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Badalona packs out in support of Ceuta

Around 10,000 people filled Badalona’s Plaça de la Vila and nearby streets on Wednesday, backing Ceuta after tens of thousands of migrants entered the city at the end of July. The rally, called by the FEMP, sent a message of solidarity and strength, with Mayor Xavier Garcia Albiol declaring, “Caring for Ceuta is caring for Spain.”

Albiol stressed Ceuta’s place in Spain’s shared history and future, calling for state support beyond party lines. The crowd erupted with chants for Ceuta and Spain, making clear Badalona’s backing is anything but symbolic.

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Game studios in Spain slash remote work as sector contracts

Ubisoft Barcelona Mobile workers have gone on strike after the company ordered a full return to the office, ending remote work from January. The move comes as Spain’s gaming industry, which boomed during the pandemic, now faces layoffs and shrinking revenues—despite 22.8 million regular players and €2.293 billion turnover in 2025, income dropped 3.2% and 14,000 jobs were cut globally in 2024.

Unions reckon companies are axing remote work to push staff to quit and dodge redundancy payouts. For many, losing remote work means uprooting lives built around flexibility—sparking anger and a wave of resignations.

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Barcelona’s Urban Makeover: City Life Gets a Boost

Barcelona’s in the middle of a huge urban shake-up: the new Rambla, revamped Sagrera and Sants stations, Glòries, Camp Nou’s expansion, the Sagrada Familia’s final touches, Montjuïc projects and the new Hospital Clínic are all changing the city’s face. Add in the airport expansion and L9 metro line, and connectivity’s set to soar.

But it’s not just about streets and buildings—how we live, move, work and shop is shifting too. Retail is at the heart of city life, making neighbourhoods lively and unique, and it needs smart urban planning to thrive. Barcelona’s future depends on blending great public spaces with vibrant, diverse local shops.

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Massive jams on the Litoral ring road after lorry overturns

Over 10km of tailbacks hit the Litoral this morning towards Llobregat after a lorry flipped near Montjuïc, shutting the road. Local police are diverting traffic, with all entries blocked and only exits open so trapped drivers can get out.

Firefighters are working to clear the lorry, while a fallen lamppost has also disrupted freight trains. Many drivers, stuck for ages, have left their cars to see what’s going on. Expect chaos across the area until the wreck is sorted.

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Catalan Christian schools start term, skip public sector strike

378 Christian schools across Barcelona and over 100 Catalan towns kick off the new school year on 8 September, not joining the public education strike. The FECC is pushing for all schools to run end-of-stage competency tests to get solid, useful data for improving student progress.

This comes as PISA 2025 results in Catalonia won’t be comparable with previous years or other regions. With 244,327 pupils and over 19,000 teachers, these schools are also set to benefit from a new funding deal with the Catalan government.

Christian schools are betting on rigorous assessment to drive real change.

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Tàpies and the Wall: More Than Just a Surface

For Antoni Tàpies, a wall was never just something to paint on. It spoke of time passing—layers, cracks, stains, graffiti building up over years—and of the barriers that split spaces and hide what’s on the other side. The Tàpies Museum is bringing this idea back to the fore.

Until 27 September, ‘Antoni Tàpies. The Perpetual Movement of the Wall’ dives into this theme, focusing on the 1950s when Tàpies really found his voice and the wall became central to his art. Through four key exhibitions from 1950 to 1960, you can see how he changed the way his work interacts with its surroundings.

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The Weeknd returns to Barcelona in 2026

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys will host The Weeknd’s comeback gig in Barcelona on 1 September 2026. The Canadian star lands in the city after selling out three nights in Madrid, pulling in over 150,000 fans and cementing his pop icon status.

Part of his After Hours Til Dawn world tour, the Barcelona show will feature US rapper Playboi Carti as special guest. Expect a massive visual production and a setlist packed with hits from his trilogy: After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), and Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025).

Barcelona’s in for a proper spectacle.

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New €50,000 interest-free loan for young Catalans buying their first home

Catalonia’s government is offering up to €50,000 in interest-free loans for 18–40 year olds buying their first home in the region. The loan covers 20% of the property price (up to €250,000), with no fees and up to 35 years to pay it back.

Applicants must live in Catalonia, have no other property, and meet income limits. The home must be in the free market, used as a main residence, and get 80% mortgage approval from a partner bank. Full details and application via the https://www.icf.cat/es/prestecs/habitatge/icf-habitatge-emancipacio.

A real chance for young people to finally get on the property ladder.

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Glovo faces fine for working during red heat alert in Barcelona

The Labour Inspectorate of Catalonia has launched proceedings against Glovo and its subcontractors for keeping couriers working in Barcelona during a red heat alert on 8 July. The Generalitat says Glovo committed a serious offence by operating despite Meteocat’s warning of extreme heat from 12:00 to 18:00.

The case started after a CGT union complaint, accusing Glovo of breaking health and safety rules. The sanction process is now with the Department of Business and Labour for review.

Glovo says it hasn’t received the resolution yet.

Inspectors say Glovo didn’t follow its own protocol, which requires suspending service during a red alert. The possible fine ranges from €2,451 to €49,180.

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Barcelona firefighters put out Collserola wildfire

Barcelona’s fire brigade have officially declared the Collserola wildfire, which started on the 25th in the north of the park, fully extinguished this Monday. The blaze, which broke out on the Alta de les Roquetes road in Nou Barris, affected 54.5 hectares and had been under control since the 26th. Now the emergency services have put out the flames, the city council has deactivated the Municipal Action Plan (PAM). According to the Agents Rurals, the burnt area is part of the Serra de Collserola Natural Park, mostly woodland and scrub, split between Barcelona (51.65 ha) and Montcada i Reixac (Vallès Occidental) with 2.85 ha.

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