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New Year's Eve in Barcelona 2026: the show, the grapes and getting home

Last updated 26 October 2026

Lobo / Public domain

New Year's Eve in Barcelona 2026 falls on Thursday 31 December. Twelve grapes eaten to the twelve chimes, a free show staged by the city beneath Montjuïc, and celebrations that carry on until daybreak.

What it is

Twelve grapes for New Year's Eve
Las 12 uvas de Nochevieja. Las 12 uvas de la suerte (España). Juan Emilio Prades Bel / CC BY

In Barcelona, New Year's Eve, known in Catalan as Cap d'Any, unfolds in two distinct parts. The first is private: a meal at home with family or friends, followed at midnight by the twelve grapes, one eaten with each chime of the clock to bring luck for the year ahead. The second is public: the free city show beneath Montjuïc, after which bars, clubs and parties keep going until morning.

The twelve grapes. The tradition is Spanish rather than distinctly Catalan in origin, and it goes back to the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, though there is no consensus on precisely how it started. The aim is to swallow a single grape on each of the twelve chimes at midnight. Most people eat along with the bells broadcast on television, and shops offer the grapes pre-packed in twelves for those who prefer an easier route.

The city's New Year show

For several years now, the Ajuntament has marked the start of the new year with a free event on the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, the wide avenue running up from Plaça d'Espanya to the Font Màgica at the base of Montjuïc. The night centres on the countdown to midnight, accompanied by fireworks, music and, in more recent editions, drones. Each year the council sets out the format, schedule and access details a short time ahead of the evening. Once this year's information is released, it will be posted here and flagged as confirmed when a second source corroborates it.

Crowds are heavy. Get there early, bring only what you need, and settle on a meeting spot in case you become separated.

After midnight

Many of Barcelona's bars and clubs stage ticketed New Year celebrations that carry on until the early hours, while hotels and rooftop terraces offer dinner packages for the evening. The larger events sell out, so it pays to book in advance.

Where it is

In recent years the main public festivities have been held on the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, the avenue running between Plaça d'Espanya and the Font Màgica at the foot of Montjuïc. The remainder of the night unfolds in bars, clubs and homes throughout the city.

Metro: Espanya (L1, L3) for the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, with Poble-sec (L3), Hostafrancs (L1) and Tarragona (L3) nearby.

What to plan around

Cap d'Any
The city's New Year showTo confirmNight of Thursday 31st December 2026; time and format not yet announcedAvinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina in recent yearsThe free New Year celebration staged by the council, centred on the midnight countdown, featuring fireworks and music.
Cap d'Any
The twelve grapesOn the twelve chimes of midnightWherever you areA single grape with every chime of the clock, to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
Cap d'Any
The metro through the nightTo confirmNight of Thursday 31st December 2026; not yet announced (it ran all night in 2025)TMB metro networkThe metro has stayed open all night on recent New Year's Eves, putting on additional trains along the busiest lines.
Cap d'Any
Cursa dels NassosThursday 31st December 2026, first 10 km wave at 17:15Starts on Carrer de Selva de Mar, Sant MartíBarcelona's closing race of the year, which takes its name from the Home dels Nassos figure of Catalan folklore.
Cap d'Any
First swim of the yearTo confirmFriday 1st January 2027, usually at midday; not yet announcedPlatja de Sant Sebastià, BarcelonetaThe Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta stages a charity swim on New Year's Day.

In 66 days. New Year's Eve in Barcelona falls on Thursday 31 December.

Everything else on

Gigs, performances and activities for all ages taking place on the night are listed in our searchable events directory as and when organisers submit them, with the listing refreshed twice daily. Browse every event on the night.

Practical information

Getting home. The metro has stayed open all night on recent New Year's Eves, with additional services on the busiest lines. TMB has yet to announce this year's arrangements, so check before heading out. For the show, the nearest station is Espanya (L1, L3); quieter options include Poble-sec (L3), Hostafrancs (L1) and Tarragona (L3).

New Year's Day is a public holiday. Most shops will be shut, so buy what you need in advance.

The Cursa dels Nassos. The city's end-of-year road race takes place in Sant Martí on the afternoon of New Year's Eve. Its name comes from the Home dels Nassos, a figure in Catalan folklore who is said to have as many noses as there are days remaining in the year, which on the final day means only one.

The first swim of the year. Intrepid swimmers begin the year with a charity dip off the Barceloneta, run by the Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta. Details of this year's edition will be published in the club's own announcements.

Where to check the programme

Programmes are published late and change. These are the sources we track, and we re-check them twice a day.

  • barcelona.cat/capdanythe council's New Year's Eve page
  • betevéthe city broadcaster's New Year's Eve guide
  • TMBthe metro and bus operator, for the night's service

The rest of the calendar

Still to come

Already held this year

The complete festa majors guide has the full 2026 calendar, and What's On in Barcelona covers everything else in the city this week.

Event data: Barcelona City Council (Open Data BCN, CC BY 4.0) and Generalitat de Catalunya (Departament de Cultura), with festival dates confirmed against the organisers. Listings are checked for live, relevant links. Last updated 26 October 2026.

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