Barcelona's cultural institutions are set to host a wide range of activities this summer. The Ajuntament de Barcelona announced a diverse programme of new exhibitions, concerts, cinema screenings, and family workshops across the city. These cultural spaces will transform into hubs of discovery and artistic experience for all ages.

The summer schedule includes numerous exhibition premieres covering varied themes. The Arxiu Fotogràfic de Barcelona, for instance, opened "Barcelona and the Sky: Balloons, Aeroplanes, and Photography" in June. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the city from an aerial perspective. It showcases early balloon and aeroplane flights as fascinating spectacles. Meanwhile, the Biblioteca Pública Arús also launched "The Printed Sky: Astronomy in the Arús Library's Heritage Collection" in June. This included a conference on June 18 by Dr. Gerard Gómez Muntané about J. L. Lagrange, an Enlightenment scientist.

Diverse Exhibitions Across the City

The Museu del Disseny, DHub will host the UIA Member Sections exhibition from June 28 to July 2. This coincides with the UIA 2026 World Congress of Architects in Barcelona. This free, public space allows participating countries to present contemporary architecture selections. La Virreina Centre de la Imatge will open two new shows on July 7. "Frederic Amat. Eight" explores the influence of poets and philosophers on the artist. "Juana Dolores Romero Casanova, according to Official Barcelona Tourism Website. The Second" examines the concept of love in revolutionary tradition.

The Museu d’Història de Catalunya presents "The Roma People of Catalonia: History and Culture" from June 25 to September 13. This exhibition aims to recognise, value, and make visible the history of the Roma community in an open and diverse way. Montjuïc Castle, a significant historical site, also offers a busy schedule. It features two exhibitions launched in early June: "Seat: Factory of Transformations" and "Living, Coexisting, and Surviving: International Brigades and Multilingualism". The castle also organises guided tours and children's treasure hunts.

In September, Montjuïc Castle will offer an itinerary titled "Repression, Attack, and Defence: From the Montjuïc Process to the Civil War (1895-1939)". This tour includes the castle and Refugi 307. The newly opened Montjuïc Castle Interpretation Centre provides a seven-room journey explaining the castle's evolution and its relationship with the city. It contextualises the site's role through key figures and events, from 19th-century anarchist repression to its recovery as a public facility.

Music and Performing Arts Highlights

Music plays a central role in this summer's cultural offerings. The Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes commemorates its 700th anniversary with "Music Vespers at the Monastery". These three concerts feature medieval, renaissance, and contemporary music. Additionally, the Museu d’Història de Catalunya hosts "Summer Nights", connecting history with contemporary music through local talent. These four concerts will take place on Wednesday evenings throughout July.

Santa Mònica will also feature musical events. On July 3, Ars Movens instrumentalists will perform within the "The Assault of Illusion" exhibition. They invite a journey where nothing is as it seems. In September, the venue offers activities under the "Building Sound: Luthiery, Materials, and Critical Perspectives" programme. The Fundació Joan Miró terraces will host AMORE on July 4, an experimental pop proposal. This is part of the "Music at Miró" cycle and in collaboration with the Festival Grec de Barcelona.

Cinema and Contemporary Art

The Filmoteca de Catalunya will show "Filmic Feminisms: 1976, 2026" starting July 9. Related activities, including a feminist poster creation workshop, will run throughout the summer. The Museu Frederic Marès will inaugurate "Many Mercès" in September, an exhibition of posters created over the years for the La Mercè festival. The Òh!pera project, directed by Àlex Ollé, brings new micro-operas to Recinte Fabra i Coats and Espai Bota. This production by the Ajuntament de Barcelona's Department of Culture and Creative Industries, through Disseny Hub Barcelona and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, features four nights of performances.

The Museu de la Música will host "Desvarío Flamenco" on July 15. This includes a conference by Eloy Martin Corrales and Montse Madridejos, and a concert with guitarists José María Gallardo and Miguel Angel Cortés. The MACBA, in collaboration with La Model, presents "Heavy-Metal" on July 16 and 17. Experimental violinist ASIA revisits a key, almost forgotten, episode in understanding the link between artistic and political avant-gardes in Spain. This event pays tribute to a musical action conceived by Carles Santos and Pere Portabella during their clandestine imprisonment at La Model.

Family Fun and City Exploration

Cinema also features prominently. The Pavelló Mies van der Rohe offers three dates for its "Pavilion Screen" cycle. The CCCB continues its "City Symphonies" initiative, projecting five new short films about Barcelona and its metropolitan area. These films offer diverse and personal portraits of the city. The Museu d’Història de Barcelona (MUHBA) offers dozens of summer proposals across its multiple venues. A classic is "Born by Night", a series of itineraries, guided tours, and workshops exploring 18th-century Barcelona after dark.

MUHBA also features activities related to its temporary exhibition "Women Will Come" at Plaça del Rei. Tours highlight women's roles and contributions to history. The museum joins the "Pride of Museums" campaign with two author-led itineraries exploring the traces and history of the LGBTQI+ community in Barcelona. Additionally, the recently opened Fabra i Coats, MUHBA's new space dedicated to the history of work in contemporary Barcelona, will offer two guided tours every Sunday this summer, except during August. The Casa de l’Aigua, which recently opened two permanent exhibitions, will provide guided tours every Saturday, excluding August.

Many Barcelona museums cater specifically to children during their long school holidays. The Museu de la Música offers extensive children's activities, such as "With Little Orpheus", a dynamic journey through instruments from around the world. "Plugged-in Sounds!" is a sound experimentation workshop. Children can play with Theremins, Reactables, and other electronic musical devices. The Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món at its Montcada venue will host workshops like "Making Puppets: The Shadow Theatre of Java" and "Masks and Superpowers: A Journey through Africa and Oceania".

At the Centre Martorell d’Exposicions, children aged 8 and above can solve challenges in a booklet while visiting "The Invention of Time" exhibition. The Fundació Joan Miró's children's activities include "P.A. (Artist's Test)", which helps discover Miró's work processes. The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya invites children aged 4 to 8 to "Dance of Fairies and Goblins". Here, they learn about fairy representations and their connection to nature. Other institutions like the Museu de la Xocolata, the Museu Egipci de Barcelona, the Jardí Botànic, the Museu de Ciències Naturals, the Museu Marítim de Barcelona, and CosmoCaixa also plan special summer programmes. CosmoCaixa will feature a special programme on eclipses and open an exhibition about extraterrestrials for Sant Joan.

A Summer of Cultural Discovery

Barcelona's museums and cultural centres are ready to welcome residents and visitors with an unparalleled array of experiences this summer. From deep dives into history and identity to vibrant musical performances and engaging family workshops, the city ensures a rich cultural season. This extensive programme highlights Barcelona's commitment to making culture accessible and exciting for everyone.

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Originally published by Barcelona City Council Press Room. Read original article.