Technology, climate change, the pandemic. Social transformations, affective revolutions, economic crises. Dreams and nightmares, the most hidden monsters, the magic of great stories well told.

The immense power of imagination.

The 21st century does not have one unique reality. It has many. And new tools are needed to explain them. You can check the latest news from the festival here.

Arts Libris. April. Arts Libris is the International Fair of Contemporary Editions held in Barcelona since 2010. Art, design and editing are combined to form contemporary artists’ books, photographic books and bibliophilism. The fair is a meeting point for publishers, book shop owners, gallery owners, collectors and lovers of artists’ books in general.  

Barcelona Novel·la Històrica. November. The literary autumn is marked by one of the newest festivals in Barcelona, which looks to the past in order to explain the present. A programme of conferences, activities and book presentations on literature and history has been arranged since 2013.

Barcelona Pensa. November. Who said that philosophy is not open to everyone? In a critical and participative society, the study of reality cannot only be a thing of a mere few. With this in mind, the Barcelona Pensa festival, promoted by the University of Barcelona’s Philosophy Faculty, seeks to encourage the general public as a whole to take a closer interest in the subject. Debates, talks or shows related to the art of thought are held in different places, such as restaurants, universities or cultural centres.

Barcelona Poesia is the oldest poetry festival in the city, which has been held since 1985. It brings together the creative flow of a genre that has its own strong pulse in Barcelona. New voices in poetry or the very latest from already consolidated poets can be discovered in different parts of the city. Evening recitals in different corners of Barcelona are now a classic event, with great staging and the best poets. It’s also a good time to pay homage to those no longer with us. 

BCNegra. February. Since 2006, Barcelona becomes darker and more criminal than ever for one week in February. It is a fun meeting point for authors and readers of noir fiction, and the Pepe Carvalho award is also presented to well-known local and international authors (Award winners: here)

Crush Fest. Festival dedicated to young adult and youth literature. The event brings together authors, booktokers and the readers who follow them. The event includes meetings with authors, book presentations, book signings, round tables, literary matches, lectures, music, live podcasts, literary craft markets, pitches with professionals from the sector in which you can see how to present and sell a novel, story competitions and even a cosplay showcase, so that costume lovers can have a great time. Launched in 2024, it takes place at the historic University of Barcelona campus for an entire weekend in March.

Festival Alcools. February. The Festival Alcools, which began in 2015, is a stage for poetry and gives special relevance to contemporary Catalan poetry. Poetry takes the stage to interact with scenic and musical arts.

Fira del Llibre d'Ocasió Antic i Modern. September-October. Second-hand and out-of-print books, rarities and editorial gems… In short, the pieces of our library that we are all looking for but don’t know how to find are on show every year in Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona. Organised by the Gremi de Llibreters de Vell de Catalunya, the Old and Modern Second-Hand Book Fair has been offering old books since 1952.

Horiginal. Weekly. Located opposite the MACBA on Carrer Ferlandina, 29, in the city centre, l'Horiginal is a restaurant where you can enjoy tapas, dishes, wines, and cocktails. Additionally, every Wednesday from 8:30pm in a room at the back of the restaurant behind velvet curtains, a poetry recital is held. It is the oldest fixed poetry programme in the city where over a generation of poets have participated.