Religious and cultural festivals occur throughout the year, and the city's music, dance and opera performances offer a range of artistic choices. Sports fans will enjoy Barcelona's soccer and basketball teams, though tickets to see the famous Barcelona FC soccer club are difficult to get.

For detailed information about upcoming events in Barcelona, contact Turisme de Barcelona. Phone 933-689-700 or 807-117-222. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com. Turisme de Barcelona's Central Information Office can also be reached at 902-101-212. The Culture Institute of Barcelona provides information on major festivals. Phone 933-161-160. http://www.bcn.es/icub.

If you're calling the Barcelona phone numbers listed here from outside Spain, you must first dial your own country's international access code, then Spain's country code, 34. The city code of 93, included with the numbers listed here, must be dialed even if you're calling from within Barcelona.

Information in this calendar is subject to change and should be confirmed.

September, 2008

11 Sep-La Diada de Catalunya. Catalonia National Day. Public holiday.

19-28 Sep—Festivities of the Merce. The biggest annual festival on Barcelona's calendar draws nearly 2 million visitors to more than 750 activities held over five days. Major events include spectacular firework shows, traditional dancing and music, sports activities and competitions, as well as arts and music festivals. This festival is dedicated to Barcelona's patron saint. Venues across the city include museums, theaters, parks, neighborhoods and more. For information, call 906-301-282 or 933-161-160. http://www.bcn.es/merce.

Mid-Late September—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June 2009

Mid-Late September—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through late July 2009

Late September—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May 2009

Throughout September—Barcelona Street Arts Festival. The streets of Barcelona become open stages for more than 50 individual artists and companies who give dance, music, theater and circus performances. Also visual-arts exhibitions. Events take place on Rambla del Raval and other streets. For information, call 93-215-7411 or 933-161-160. http://www.artsdecarrer.org. Continues through late October

October, 2008

Early October—Docupolis. The Documentary Film Festival of Barcelona showcases the best of documentary film from throughout Spain. C/Montelegre 5 and various venues throughout the city, Barcelona. http://www.docupolis.org.

Early-Late October—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Continues through mid May 2009

Throughout October—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May 2009

Throughout October—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through mid July 2009

Throughout October—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June 2009

Throughout October—Barcelona Street Arts Festival. The streets of Barcelona become open stages for more than 50 individual artists and companies who give dance, music, theater and circus performances. Also visual-arts exhibitions. Events take place on Rambla del Raval and other streets. For information, call 93-215-7411 or 933-161-160. http://www.artsdecarrer.org. Concludes late October

November, 2008

1 Nov-All Saints' Day. Public holiday. Barcelonans remember the dead with visits to relatives' graves and small parties at which sweet potatoes, chestnuts and pastries are served.

Mid November—Festival de Cinema Independent de Barcelona—Alternativa. Screens at least 70 shorts, animated films, features and documentaries from around the world. Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, Montalegre 5, and other venues. For information, call 93-306-4100. http://alternativa.cccb.org.

Throughout November—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through late July 2009

Throughout November—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May 2009

Throughout November—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June 2009

Throughout November—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Continues through mid May 2009

December, 2008

6 Dec-Dia de la Constitucion. Public holiday.

8 Dec-Immaculate Conception. Public holiday.

11-25 Dec—Santa Lucia Christmas Market. The market opens for two weeks before Christmas in front of the cathedral. Along with the usual Christmas ornaments, caga tio and caganer—which are part of two unique Christmas traditions—are also available to purchase.

25 Dec-Christmas Day. Public holiday.

26 Dec-Boxing Day. Public holiday.

Throughout December—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through mid July 2009

Throughout December—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May 2009

Throughout December—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Continues through mid May 2009

Throughout December—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June 2009

January, 2009

1 Jan-New Year's Day. Public holiday.

5 Jan—Cavalcada de Reis. The fantastically colorful Three Kings Parade is worth watching even without kids. Traditionally, the three wise men, or kings, bring presents on the eve of Epiphany: children leave their shoes on the balcony and the wise men fill them with gifts. The kings arrive from the Orient by boat and are welcomed on the quayside by the mayor. They parade around the city with their retinues and toss candy into the crowd. The parade begins at Moll de la Fusta and winds throughout the city. Each year the route changes and is announced in local papers. http://www.bcn.es/nadal.

6 Jan-Epiphany. Public holiday.

Throughout January—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June

Throughout January—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Continues through mid May

Throughout January—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through mid July

Throughout January—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May

February, 2009

Mid-Late February—Carnival. Numerous organizations coordinate street parties throughout Barcelona during the week between Fat Thursday and Ash Wednesday. Parades with elaborate floats, markets, masked balls, feasts and rhumba music fill the capital city. http://www.bcn.es/carnaval. Continues through early March

Throughout February—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May

Throughout February—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through late July

Throughout February—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Continues through mid May

Throughout February—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June

March, 2009

Early March—Carnival. Numerous organizations coordinate street parties throughout Barcelona during the week between Fat Thursday and Ash Wednesday. Parades with elaborate floats, markets, masked balls, feasts and rhumba music fill the capital city. http://www.bcn.es/carnaval. Concludes early March

Throughout March—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through mid July

Throughout March—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May

Throughout March—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June

Throughout March—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Continues through mid May

April, 2009

3-12 Apr—Semana Santa. Barcelona's Holy Week celebrations are relatively quiet compared to those in other Spanish cities. Apart from attending small religious processions, Barcelonans try to take some vacation time during this week.

23 Apr—Dia de Sant Jordi/Dia del Libre. A standout day for Catalans that blends the fun, romance, culture and hard-headed business sense that are typical of Barcelonans. Sant Jordi (St. George) is the patron saint of Catalonia, and his feast day, which is also the anniversary of Cervantes' death, is celebrated by exchanging gifts of books and roses. The day, however, is not a public holiday, so the festivities blend in with daily life. Booksellers set up stalls in the streets (a 10% discount is given on all books), complete with buckets of red roses. Book launches and author signings are scheduled, and at night the usual partying takes place—dances, discos and fireworks.

24-30 Apr—Feria de Abril. The annual April Fair re-creates the famous Seville fair, started by Andalusian immigrants in the 1970s, and celebrates the culture of southern Spain with genuine flamenco music, song, dance, food and wine. Diagonal-Mar, Sant Adria del Besos. For information, call 93-488-0295. http://www.fecac.com. Continues through 3 May

Late April—Tennis. The Conde de Godo Open is an international tournament at Barcelona's most upscale tennis club. Reial Club de Tennis Barcelona, Bosch i Gimpera 5-13. Phone 93-203-7852. http://www.rctb1899.es.

Throughout April—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Continues through mid May

Throughout April—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June

Throughout April—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through late July

Throughout April—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Continues through early May

May, 2009

1-3 May—Feria de Abril. The annual April Fair re-creates the famous Seville fair, started by Andalusian immigrants in the 1970s, and celebrates the culture of southern Spain with genuine flamenco music, song, dance, food and wine. Diagonal-Mar, Sant Adria del Besos. For information, call 93-488-0295. http://www.fecac.com. Concludes 3 May

1 May-May Day. Public holiday.

Early May—Concert. Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya presents its season of classical music performances. L'Auditori, Lepant 150. For information and tickets, call 93-247-9300. http://www.obc.es. Concludes early May

Early-Mid May—Basketball. FC Barcelona plays home games at Palau Blaugrana, Avenida Aristides Maillol. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Concludes mid May

Late May—Ciutat Vella Flamenco Festival. Spain's lively traditional dance form is brought to life in a series of performances, shows, lectures, debates, workshops, exhibitions and a market. Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, Montalegre 5. For information, call 93-306-4100. http://www.cccb.org.

Throughout May—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through mid July

Throughout May—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season continues through mid June

June, 2009

23, 24 Jun-St. John's Eve. Bonfires and fireworks mark this saint's day. Festivities begin at sundown on the 23rd and continue through dawn on the 24th. http://www.bcn.es/santjoan.

24 Jun-Feast of St. John the Baptist. Public holiday.

Early-Mid June—Soccer. Barcelona's top soccer team, FC Barcelona, plays home matches at Nou Camp Stadium, Avinguda Aristides Maillol. Tickets are hard to come by, but a small number are released at the stadium box office two days before each home game. For information and tickets, call 93-496-3600. http://www.fcbarcelona.com. Season concludes mid June

Mid June—Sonar. This festival of advanced music and multimedia art features the latest developments in those fields presented by national and international artists. The three-day interactive festival features more than 300 activities, including performances by bands and DJs, film screenings, dancing, exhibitions, conferences and discussions. Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, Montalegre 5 and other venues. For information and tickets, call 90-288-8902. http://www.sonar.es.

Late June—Festival del Grec. Barcelona's largest annual performing-arts festival (also known as the Barcelona Summer Festival) includes five weeks of concerts and performances by innovative contemporary dance, music and theater companies from around the world. Teatre Grec and other venues throughout the city. Continues through mid August

Throughout June—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Continues through late July

July, 2009

Early-Mid July—Performance. Gran Teatre del Liceu hosts regular opera, dance, concert and individual performances by both resident and international touring companies. La Rambla 51-59. For information and tickets, call 93-485-9913. http://www.liceubarcelona.com. Concludes mid July

Throughout July—Festival del Grec. Barcelona's largest annual performing-arts festival (also known as the Barcelona Summer Festival) includes five weeks of concerts and performances by innovative contemporary dance, music and theater companies from around the world. Teatre Grec and other venues throughout the city. Continues through mid August

August, 2009

Early-Mid August—Festival del Grec. Barcelona's largest annual performing-arts festival (also known as the Barcelona Summer Festival) includes five weeks of concerts and performances by innovative contemporary dance, music and theater companies from around the world. Teatre Grec and other venues throughout the city. Concludes mid August