In Barcelona, 31 October has two faces. On one side there’s Halloween, a late arrival that the city has embraced with gusto: costumes, haunted houses and parties until dawn. On the other there’s the Castanyada, the much older Catalan chestnut festival, celebrated with family around a paper cone of hot chestnuts. In 2026 both fall on a Saturday night, followed by All Saints’ Day (Tots Sants) on Sunday 1 November.
At a glance
| Dates | Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Castanyada | The evening of the 31st: chestnuts, sweet potatoes, panellets and sweet wine |
| Halloween | Events every October weekend, parties on the 31st |
| All Saints’ Day | Sunday 1 November (no extra public holiday in 2026) |
| Budget | From €0 (a stroll and some chestnuts) to a day at PortAventura |
The Castanyada, Catalonia’s real 31 October festival
Long before pumpkins, Catalans marked the eve of All Saints by eating castanyes (roasted chestnuts). The custom goes back to old all-night vigils: bells were rung for the dead through the night, and people kept their strength up with cheap, filling autumn food.
What to eat
- Chestnuts — roasted on street braziers by the castanyeres and handed over piping hot in a paper cone.
- Sweet potatoes (moniatos) — roasted, usually sold at the same stalls.
- Panellets — the stars of the show: little marzipan balls, most often rolled in pine nuts, but also coconut, coffee or chocolate. Every pastry shop fills its window with them in late October; you buy them by weight.
- Moscatell — a glass of sweet dessert wine to wash it all down.
Where to join in
You don’t need a programme: the Castanyada happens in the street. Chestnut stalls pop up from mid-October on squares and main avenues, and many neighbourhoods hold chestnut festivals with workshops, storytelling and children’s shows — the Sant Martí district (Poblenou) runs events all month. The easiest plan: grab a cone of chestnuts and a box of panellets and enjoy them on a bench on the Rambla del Poblenou or Passeig de Sant Joan.
Halloween: the outings that (actually) scare
A haunted Poble Espanyol
The village on Montjuïc turns into Creepy Halloween Family on weekends from 17 October to 1 November 2026: a trail of mysteries, characters and puzzles through its lanes. Early hours are designed for little ones; the scares ramp up later in the day. On Saturday 31 it closes early, at 7 pm. From €10.50, including entry to the whole site (cheaper online).
Tibidabo
The amusement park high above the city brings out its witches and zombies on its October and early-November opening days: shows, decorations and activities included in the park ticket. Great for families, with the best view of Barcelona thrown in. Check the opening calendar before heading up: in autumn the park isn’t open every day.
PortAventura, for thrill-seekers
About 1 hour 15 minutes from Barcelona by train, PortAventura World celebrates Halloween from 19 September to 15 November 2026, with five haunted houses this year. It’s a full day out, but it’s the region’s big Halloween event.
Parties on 31 October
On Saturday 31, clubs and bars go all out: costume parties, fancy-dress contests and free guest-list entry at many clubs. We keep the week’s free guest-list parties up to date on our Free parties page, and our bar picks by neighbourhood are on the Nightlife page. Tip: the metro runs all night from Saturday to Sunday — use it to get home.
Tots Sants: All Saints’ Day, Catalan style
On 1 November many families lay flowers on their relatives’ graves. The city’s two great cemeteries are worth a quiet, respectful visit:
- Montjuïc Cemetery, on the hillside facing the sea, with its monumental family tombs.
- Poblenou Cemetery, the oldest in the city, known for the sculpture El Petó de la Mort (the Kiss of Death).
In 2026 All Saints’ Day falls on a Sunday: most shops are closed anyway, but museums, restaurants and bars in the centre stay open.
Practical tips
- Buy your panellets the day before. On the evening of the 31st, pastry shops are packed and the best batches sell out.
- Book Poble Espanyol online for the weekend of the 31st: it’s the busiest, and the web price is lower.
- Bring a light jacket. In late October it’s still around 20 °C during the day, but evenings get cool.
- With kids, do Poble Espanyol early in the afternoon and Tibidabo; your local chestnut festival will take care of the rest.
What about the rest of autumn?
Late October also brings 48h Open House (buildings usually closed to the public open their doors), the jazz festival and, in November, the In-Edit film festival. It’s all kept up to date on our Events page, and our seasonal ideas are gathered in Barcelona in autumn.
Looking for a group activity for Halloween weekend? Sangria and cocktail workshops run as usual that weekend, but Saturday slots go fast: book the BPM Bar sangria & cocktail workshop.