Barcelona closed out summer with a heat warning and transit trouble, while officials rolled out a new housing loan and a faster court process for minor crimes. Festival season is also ramping up, from neighborhood street parties to a new Cirque du Soleil show and food events through the fall.
The Week's Biggest Stories
Heat warning issued for the weekend
Catalan authorities issued a heat alert for this weekend with temperatures forecast above 34 degrees Celsius. Residents are being urged to drink plenty of water and limit time outdoors during the hottest part of the day.
Catalonia launches interest-free loan for first-time buyers
The regional government has created a new program offering young people up to 50,000 euros, interest-free, toward buying their first home. It is meant to help offset the region's ongoing housing affordability crunch.
Rodalies R4 line hit by breakdown and evacuation
A commuter train on the R4 Rodalies line broke down and had to be evacuated, leaving passengers stuck with delays over 30 minutes. It is a reminder that Rodalies reliability issues have not gone away.
Diada march planned for September 11
Catalan cultural and political groups are organizing a Diada de Catalunya demonstration on September 11, with two marching columns converging on Placa Catalunya. Expect road closures and heavier crowds in the city center that day.
Minor crime trials now take 10 days instead of 8 months
Barcelona's courts have cut the wait time for prosecuting minor offenses from roughly eight months down to ten days. The change is part of a push to respond faster to repeat low level offenses.
Cirque du Soleil's Kurius premieres in Hospitalet
A new Cirque du Soleil production called Kurius opened today in Hospitalet de Llobregat and runs through October 18. The show features 13 acts, more than 120 performers, and a retrofuturistic visual style.
Horta's Festa Major runs through September 13
The Horta neighborhood kicked off its Festa Major on September 4, with more than 100 events including concerts, traditional activities, and food, running through September 13. It closes with a night walk and a fireworks display.
Terra i Gust food festival set for late September
The Terra i Gust festival returns September 25 to 27, with 14 restaurants serving sustainable dishes alongside workshops, live music, and a producers market. It is one of several food events filling out the city's September calendar.
How this page works: it is a weekly snapshot, refreshed every Monday, of what our daily newsletter covered. Summaries are condensed and details can change after publication, so double-check dates and official announcements before planning around them.
This page updates weekly. Your inbox can update daily.
Barcelona Expat Daily is a free 5-minute daily email with Barcelona's local news, events and deadlines in plain English, written for people building a life here.
What's On in Barcelona This Week
21:30 · Pabellón Mies van der Rohe · €2
22:30 · Avenida de la Constitución, Sant Andreu de la Barca
23:00 · Plaza de la Vila, Santa Coloma de Gramenet · Free
Razzmatazz, Barcelona
10:00 · c. Maignon, 40
These are 5 picks from the 90+ events we are tracking in Barcelona this week, and new ones are added every day. Pro members get the full calendar in our app; the free daily email flags the highlights.
Previous Weeks
Daily Barcelona news in English. Free.
Join 1,300+ expats. Every day: a 5-minute summary of Barcelona news, free events, deadlines and local recommendations.