Residents in Barcelona and across Catalonia are set to enjoy two public holidays before the summer, with an additional day off exclusive to the city. These non-working days offer opportunities for extended rest, according to the 2026 labour calendar.
Many workers are already anticipating these upcoming breaks, especially after the Easter period. The calendar includes two region-wide holidays and one specific to Barcelona and a few other Catalan towns.
These days will make the wait for summer holidays easier, particularly for those who can add extra days off. If the weather is good, these holidays could feel like a pre-summer break.
Upcoming Public Holidays
The first of these holidays arrives next week. Friday, 1 May, is a public holiday across all of Spain, including Catalonia, celebrating Workers' Day. This means many will have a long weekend. Those who take Thursday, 30 April, or Monday, 4 May, as a day off could create an even longer break.
Workers' Day commemorates the achievements of the labour movement and workers' rights. Its origins trace back to a trade union strike in Chicago, Illinois, in 1886.
Barcelona's Exclusive Holiday
The next public holiday, exclusive to Barcelona, is on Monday, 25 May. This day marks the Second Easter, a variable holiday that always falls 50 days after Easter Sunday. The event takes place the day after Pentecost Sunday, a religious festival commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
While it is always a Monday and a non-working day in Barcelona city, other Catalan towns also observe this holiday. The Generalitat de Catalunya provides an online search tool for general and local holidays to check which municipalities observe it.
Potential for a 'Super Long Weekend'
After 25 May, Barcelona will have another public holiday almost a month later, on Wednesday, 24 June. This year, the Sant Joan festival falls on a Wednesday, allowing those who can request additional days off to organise a 'super long weekend' of five days.
By taking Monday, 22 June, and Tuesday, 23 June, or Thursday, 25 June, and Friday, 26 June, workers can combine these with the 24 June holiday and the weekend. Sant Joan welcomes the summer solstice, marking the longest day and shortest night, and also celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist.
