Probably one of the most common enquiries on our Gothic Quarter Free Tour is where to see human towers in Barcelona. The main “castells” season is from April to October but you can find them all year round depending on festival dates.
We have decided to create a post with an updated annual calendar so everyone can enjoy this wonderful Catalan tradition. If you can’t find any Human Towers in Barcelona that suits the time of your visit, be sure you check regularly as we will be including more as they are announced.
As well as human towers (or castells in Catalan), it is not uncommon to see other similar Catalan traditions, like falcons. I’ll explain to you all about it here and give you the confirmed dates for human towers in Barcelona this year.
To whet your appetite, check out this fantastic video explaining the world of the human towers.
INDEX
Barcelona Human towers and other Catalan traditions:
“Castells” (human towers)
An Impressive Catalan display of a tower made up of humans. There are different types depending on the number of people on each floor. It is considered built when a young child climbs to the top and raises their hand. Hopefully, they won’t all topple down after, but if they do, the young children are wearing helmets for protection.
“Falcons” (human buildings)
These groups make human shape formations such as pyramids, revolving towers, etc. Some of the structures can be pretty intricate. The music, as in the castells, is always present, although they do not go as high up as the human towers.
“Gegants” (Giants)
These are large papier-mâché figures that walk around the streets. A real person is carrying it from under the skirt and different giants represent different neighbourhoods or associations. It is quite amazing to see these Goliath figures performing their own individual dances.
“Bastoners” (stick dancers)
I love this very ceremonial dance using sticks. It derives from a demonstration of skills with weapons in the old times. Small wooden bats are used in the jig but you still have to be pretty deft not to get your fingers clobbered.
“Sardanas”, “Moixigangas”, etc (traditional dances)
The most traditional dance in Catalonia is the Sardana. Everyone forms a circle holding hands as they trace their steps. Not so fashionable anymore with the younger generation, this jig is mainly performed by the proud golden oldies. During festivals, you could also see other traditional dances, like Moixigangas, probably the origin of the modern human towers.
Human Towers in Barcelona: 2024 calendar [UPDATED]
This information was updated on OCTOBER 2nd 2024
These are the dates confirmed for castellers in Barcelona at the time I updated this article, but there will be more dates coming as the season progresses. Also, many human towers are happening outside Barcelona. If you can’t find any date on the list that suits you, please write in the comments when you will be visiting so I can give you other options outside the city.
February 11th
Plaça de Sant Jaume at 11:30h
February 18th
February 22nd
Plaça de la Mercè at 16:00h
March 10th
Sants at 12:00h
Carrer de Santa Carolina, 69 at 13:00h
March 17th
Antiga Fàbrica Damm (Carrer del Rosselló, 515) at 11:30h
Plaça Santa Madrona at 12:00h
Plaça Valentí Almirall at 12:00h
March 24th
Rambla de Plaça de Sants at 11:30h
April 6th
Carrer Sant Jordi with carrer Càceres at 11:30h
April 14th
Plaça de la Revolució de 1868 at 12:00h
Portal de l’Àngel at 12:00h
April 20th
Plaça Consell de la Vila de Sarrià at 17:00h
April 28th
Carrer Marina, 253 at 12:00h
Plaça de l’Ajuntament (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat) at 12:00h
May 11th
Jardins de Montserrat at 17:00h
Plaça d’Osca at 18:00h
May 12th
Plaça de Bonet i Muixí at 11.30h
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia at 12:00h
May 19th
Plaça Major de Nou Barris at 11.30h
May 23rd
Àgora del Campus Ciutadella at 15:30h
May 25th
Plaça de la Barceloneta at 17:00h
Carrer de Sants at 18:00h
Avinguda Estatut de Catalunya at 20:00h
May 26th
Plaça dels Somnis del Parc d’atraccions Tibidabo at 11.30h
June 2nd
Plaça Pius XII (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat) at 11:30h
June 8th
Plaça Sant Jaume at 18:00h
Plaça de l’Ajuntament (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat) at 18:30h
June 9th
Plaça d’Orfila at 11.30h
June 15th
Plaça Fort Pienc at 18:00h
Plaça de la Catedral at 19:00h
June 16th
Plaça Bonanova at 12:00h
June 23rd
Plaça de Sant Jaume at 18:00h
June 30th
Plaça de la Sedeta at 12:00h
July 6th
Castell de Montjuïc at 18:00h
July 7th
Plaça del Rei at 11.30h
July 12th
Horta-Guinardó neighbourhood (location TBC) at 20.00h
July 13th
Plaça d’Osca at 18:00h
Plaça de la Gardunya at 19:00h
July 26th
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia at 20:00h
August 18th
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia at 11:00h
August 20th
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia at 20:00h
August 31st
Plaça Bonet i Muixí at 18:00h
September 8th
Rambla del Poblenou at 11:30h
September 8th
Plaça de Sanllehy at 12:00h
September 11th
Fossar de les Moreres at 10:00h
Plaça Comercial at 11:30h
Plaça de la Mercè at 12:00h
Rambla de la Marina (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat) at 12:00h
September 14th
Vallvidrera – Time TBC
September 15th
Parc de les Rieres d’Horta at 12:00h
September 22nd
Plaça de Sant Jaume at 12:00h
September 24th
Plaça Sant Jaume at 11:30h
October 4th
Plaça del Consell de la Vila (Sarrià) at 19:00h
October 12th
Plaça de Comas at 12.30h
Plaça del Consell de la Vila (Sarrià) at 17:00h
Carrer Consell de Cent with Carrer Borrell at 18:00h
October 13th
Plaça del Consell de la Vila (Sarrià) at 12:00h
MNAC (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya) at 12:00h
October 19th
Plaça Francesc Macià (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat) at 18:00h
October 20th
Plaça de Bonet i Muixí at 11:30h
October 26th
Plaça Consell de la Vila (Sarrià) at 17:00h
November 10th
Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia at 12:00h
November 16th
Plaça de la Palmera de Sant Martí at 12:00h
November 17th
Plaça de Masadas at 11:30h
Carrer Blai, 34 at 12:00h
Plaça de Valentí Almirall at 12:00h
December 1st
Carrer Sant Adrià, 20 at 11:15h
There are castells built not only in Barcelona but all over Catalonia. Sometimes they travel to show their incredible human towers to other parts of Spain, or even places like London, Berlin and Asian cities. If you are in Barcelona and don’t see any castellers scheduled during visit, don’t worry. Ask me in the comments as you might be able to catch them just a few kilometres away.
I hope this helps everyone who really wants to see Castellers building their human towers in Barcelona. Don’t forget to respect the people participating in the human towers by keeping silent until the child at the top raises their hand. Then you can all cheer at the top of your voices. Hopefully, you can see one of the records being made.
If you want to learn more about Catalan traditions, you would love our Gothic Quarter Free Tour where you will learn about this one and other traditions in Barcelona. Looking for a very personalised experience? There are plenty of private tours on offer too. Also, if you are here for a few days, don’t forget to check our complete article with things to do in Barcelona.