For three February nights, the industrial streets of Poblenou turn into an open-air art gallery. Llum BCN, Barcelona’s light art festival, fills them with around thirty works of light: projections on façades, interactive structures, plays of reflection in the parks. It’s free, no booking needed, and one of the best things to do in Barcelona in winter.
At a glance
| Dates | Planned for Friday 5 to Sunday 7 February 2027 (16th edition) |
| Opening times | Friday and Saturday 7 pm – midnight, Sunday 7 pm – 11 pm (2026 times) |
| Where | Poblenou and around Glòries |
| Price | Free, no booking |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours for a full route |
What is Llum BCN?
Born as the light festival of the Santa Eulàlia celebrations, Llum BCN moved to Poblenou, the former industrial district turned hub of innovation and design. Every year, local and international artists share the streets with students from the city’s design, art and architecture schools: in 2026, 12 artists and 18 schools created more than thirty installations. Almost all of them are outdoors.
The fun is in the mix: a monumental piece projected onto an old factory, then, round the corner, a student installation you can touch, walk through or set off with your voice.
The routes
In 2026 the festival was laid out as three colour-coded routes:
- The blue route, around the Disseny Hub (the Design Museum), at the foot of the Glòries tower;
- The orange route, around Plaça de les Glòries and its surroundings;
- The green route, towards Parc del Poblenou, by the sea.
The 2027 map is published by the city a few days before the festival on barcelona.cat/llumbcn — we’ll share it on our Events page. Tip: pick one or two routes rather than trying to see everything in one night.
Practical tips
- Go on Friday or Sunday. On Saturday night some installations have 20–30-minute queues.
- Arrive at 7 pm, as night falls: it’s the quietest time and the light is perfect for photos.
- By metro: L1 to Glòries, or L4 to Poblenou or Llacuna.
- Comfortable shoes and a warm jacket: you’ll walk a lot, and evenings are 8–10 °C.
- With kids it’s ideal: many installations are interactive. Go early in the evening.
- Indoor installations are few but popular: do them first.
Dinner before, drinks after
Poblenou makes for a full evening: an early dinner on Rambla del Poblenou, the light trail, then a drink in one of the neighbourhood’s bars. Our tried-and-tested picks are on Where to eat and Nightlife. And if you don’t know the area yet, our guide to Barcelona’s neighbourhoods introduces it.
What else is on around Llum BCN?
In 2027 the festival falls right in the middle of Carnival (4–10 February): see our guide to Carnival in Barcelona and Sitges. The following week brings the Santa Eulàlia festival, with giants, human towers and free museums: see our Santa Eulàlia guide. All the dates are on the Events page.
A night out with friends or a group that weekend? Before the light trail, book the BPM Bar sangria & cocktail workshop: 90 minutes behind the bar, in the heart of Eixample.