If you're looking for things to do in Barcelona on New Year's Eve, you've come to the right place. We're thrilled to share our love of this city and its Spanish traditions with you. From grapes to noses, Barcelona has more than its fair share of quirky customs surrounding the New Year, and that's what makes it such a special place for celebrating.
Read on to find out where you should be at midnight to make the most of your Barcelona New Year experience.
Exclusive NYE Parties
Get ready to paint the town red as we dive into the best New Year's Eve parties in Barcelona. We've curated a list of the most sought-after events where you can toast to new beginnings in the company of the city's elite, from glamorous rooftop soirees with panoramic city views to lavish galas at the hottest clubs in town.
New Year's Eve is one of the biggest festivals in Barcelona, Spain, and the locals really know how to party. Grab your finest attire, dust off your dancing shoes, and prepare for a night of unforgettable revelry. Join us as we count down to midnight in the most exclusive and luxurious settings Barcelona has to offer.
1. Poble Espanyol New Year's Eve Party
One of the most famous museums in Barcelona, the Poble Espanyol New Year's Eve Party is the ideal place to be. Built in 1929 for the International Exhibition, this open-air architectural museum is a microcosm of Spanish culture and history.
The Poble Espanyol hosts a New Year's Eve party every year. A ticket gets you access to the Plaza Mayor and Carpa, where the main party takes place. You also get free drinks and a handful of grapes. You know about the Spanish custom of eating a grape for each chime of the clock at midnight, right? It's a big deal in this city!
Want an even more exclusive experience? VIP tickets are also available, giving you access to a unique area with fantastic views of Barcelona. You'll also get some party favors to enjoy. On either ticket, you can dance until dawn, so make sure you pack your most comfortable dancing shoes.
Location: Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13, Sants-Montjuïc, 08038 Barcelona.
Price: Starting €60.
2. Hotel W Barcelona New Year's Eve Celebration
Every year, Hotel W Barcelona hosts a New Year's Eve celebration with a special theme. To welcome 2024, the theme was seaside, with a menu based around seafood.
At Hotel W Barcelona's New Year's Eve celebration, the food is always something to write home about. The hotel handcrafts its menu to ensure you say goodbye to the old year in gastronomic style. There's also a fireworks display that lights up the night and entertainment by dancers and singers.
Hotel W Barcelona's premier location on the seafront makes it a top choice for New Year's Eve in Barcelona. You can celebrate the turn of the year while gazing at the distant horizon and contemplating all the possibilities the new year might bring.
Location: Plaça Rosa Del Vents 1, Final, Pg. de Joan de Borbó, 08039 Barcelona.
3. New Year's Eve at Slow Club
Who wants to go to bed after midnight? You're the youngest you'll ever be, full of grapes, and ready to party! Head to the New Year's Eve event at Slow Club, which starts shortly after midnight and goes on until dawn.
Dance to the hottest house tunes, enjoy complimentary drinks that come with your advance ticket, and start the new year off right.
Location: C/ de París, 186, L'Eixample, 08036 Barcelona.
4. Pacha Barcelona New Year's Eve
Pacha Barcelona is one of the most famous nightclubs in Barcelona. Its large dance floor and VIP area make it an ideal place for an exclusive New Year's Eve party. The venue hums with the sounds of hip-hop, R&B, and reggaeton, encouraging everyone to get on the dance floor and shake it!
Tickets for Pacha Barcelona New Year's Eve get more expensive as the date approaches, so act now to secure your spot. It's also important to note that the dress code is elegant and smart. Pack your best threads, and get ready to enjoy the exclusive atmosphere.
Location: C/ de Ramon Trias Fargas, 2, Ciutat Vella, 08005 Barcelona.
Dare to Be Dazzled!
Adventure awaits in Barcelona with high-energy Cirque du Soleil shows. Dive into a world of acrobatics and wonder.
Family-Friendly Events
Welcome to the family-friendly fun zone for New Year's Eve in Barcelona! The whole family can enjoy these events as you bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one with open arms. Get ready to discover fun things to do in Barcelona that will make your family's New Year's Eve celebration one to remember for years to come.
5. New Year's Eve Show on Montjuïc
The Montjuïc Fountain has long been a favorite with families. Huge jets of water dance like our acrobats tumbling through the air — though this past year, due to the drought, drones took center stage at Montjuic this year. On New Year's Eve, Montjuïc is even more special, as a countdown show takes place with lights, music, fireworks, and human towers.
The event starts around 9 p.m. with music, but the main show spans the start of the New Year, lasting from 11:45 p.m. until 12:15 a.m. It's free for everyone to attend, and there aren't any tickets. Just show up!
With no alcohol on sale, this event is family-friendly. Little ones are sure to love watching the lights. Gather your brood, bundle up for the chilly night air, and get ready to make some special memories together as you count down to midnight in front of Barcelona's most famous fountain.
Location: Pl. de Carles Buïgas, Sants-Montjuïc, 08038 Barcelona.
Cultural Celebrations and Traditions
Every country has its own way of celebrating the passing of the old year and the beginning of the next. Barcelona is no exception. The cultural celebrations and traditions surrounding New Year's Eve in this city are oddly nose-based. Read on to see what we mean.
6. Home dels Nassos
It's an old tradition in Barcelona to tell children to look out for the Home dels Nassos, which translates as "the Man of the Noses." This man has as many noses as the number of days in the year. On New Year's Eve, of course, there's only 1 day left, but kids often end up searching for a man with hundreds of noses.
In Barcelona, Home dels Nassos is represented by a large-headed festival figure known as a capgròs. Look out for this character in the streets of Barcelona on New Year's Eve. Pla de Palau is a traditional place for him to appear.
7. Cursa dels Nassos
Want to finish the year by smashing your 10-kilometer personal best? Or to simply gain a sense of achievement by completing the distance?
Enter the Cursa dels Nassos — yes, another nose-themed event! Make up for not sticking to whatever exercise-related resolutions you set for yourself back in January and end the year on a high note. The race gathered 11,000 runners in 2023. It usually sells out.
There are refreshment stands at the halfway point and the finish line. If you want to take part dressed as Home dels Nassos or any other holiday-themed character, you're more than welcome to do so. Just make sure you can finish the race within the 1 hour and 25 minute cut-off time.
Location: the course takes runners through the street of Barcelona and its most iconic landmarks.
New Year's Activities
Looking for things to do in Barcelona to celebrate the New Year? There are a ton of options, depending on whether you enjoy a cold, sharp shock or prefer to let a beautiful melody carry you away.
8. First Swim of the Year at Sant Sebastià Beach
For more than 25 years, the people of Barcelona have celebrated the start of a new year by running into the sea on January 1. If that sounds like the kind of thing that makes you shiver with excitement (and cold), head to Sant Sebastià beach on New Year's Day for the first swim of the year.
Taking this polar plunge is a great way to feel refreshed, alive, and ready for anything the new year throws at you.
Location: Sant Sebastià beach, Barcelona.
9. Concert at the Palau de la Música
Perhaps jumping into cold water or running several kilometers isn't your thing. How about listening to beautiful music? If that's more up your alley, you'll love the New Year's concert at the Palau de la Música. This tradition combines lively polkas with romantic waltzes. It's a great way to help everyone start the New Year in good spirits.
Sometimes, it's possible to combine the New Year concert with a guided tour of the Palau de la Música. We highly recommend this option, as the building isn't just hugely impressive in its construction. It also has a fascinating history.
The Palau de la Música has serenaded Barcelona since it opened its doors in 1908. Designed by the talented architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As you sink into your comfortable seat to listen to the New Year's concert, you’ll be inspired by the many generations of Catalans who have come here over the years to hear the best musicians perform.
Location: C/ Palau de la Música, 4-6, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona.
Sights to See on NYE
Barcelona is filled with sights worth seeing at any time of year. Between our shows, we love to check out the architecture and cultural attractions to remind ourselves of how lucky we are to perform here. On New Year's Eve, there are a couple of places we recommend you check out.
10. Mirador Torre Glòries
If the holiday festivities in Barcelona make you want to get a bird's-eye view of this amazing city, you're in luck! The Mirador Torre Glòries, once known as the Torre Agbar, is a skyscraper that provides incredible views of Barcelona from its observation deck.
Designed by architect Jean Nouvel, the Torre Glòries is all about sleek lines, bold colors, and cutting-edge design. It's also the perfect spot to snap some Insta-worthy pics as you soak in the breathtaking sights of this vibrant city.
Experience Barcelona from above this New Year. You'll feel on top of the world, just like a performer in one of our shows.
Location: Av. Diagonal, 209, Sant Martí, 08018 Barcelona.
11. Gothic Quarter Street Celebrations
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. This neighborhood is exceptionally well-supplied with bars, many of which put on New Year's Eve parties.
Walk down the Gothic Quarter as the midnight hour approaches. You'll see crowds spilling out onto the streets, full of determination to mark the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.
Want to see a quirky Barcelona New Year tradition? Head to Plaça de Catalunya, which is cleared on New Year's Eve so people can throw their wine bottles into the square. Crazy? Maybe. Dangerous? Perhaps. We certainly recommend you stand well back.
But it's incredible to see all those bottles flying through the air and smashing on the ground. Arrive around 11 p.m. so you don't miss the midnight bottle toss.
Location: Plaça de Catalunya, L'Eixample, 08002 Barcelona.
The Magic of New Beginnings in Barcelona
As the clock prepares to strike midnight on New Year's Eve, Barcelona becomes a playground of excitement and possibility. If you love the feeling of anticipation that infuses these streets on the last day of the year, remember you can relive it any time at one of our shows in Barcelona.
Just like those in charge of arranging New Year's Eve celebrations, our performers put months of preparation into perfecting their acts. The result is a spectacle that will dazzle and amaze. Be prepared to be swept away in an extravaganza of impressive acrobatics, haunting music, and compelling storytelling.
We can't wait to see you in the audience at our next performance. Book your tickets in advance and start planning your trip!