Feria de Abril returns
Barcelona’s Feria de Abril is back at Parc del Fòrum in April with free admission — organizers say this may be the last year at that site unless a new agreement appears (metropoliabierta.elespanol.com). The program includes an homage to Gaudí and pairs neatly with the Sagrada Família’s free light‑and‑music show starting this Sunday, giving you festival food and culture in one outing (larazon.es).
The Federación de Entidades de Cultura Andaluza en Catalunya (FECAC) presented the event with its president Daniel Salinero and officials including Mari Calvillo, Concepción Vera, Pedro Aguilera, Hugo Ferrer and Carol Duran at the launch press conference on March 31, 2026. (europapress.es) Organizers warned the 2026 edition is the final year covered by their current contract with Parc del Fòrum unless a new agreement is reached, and invited attendees to treat it “as if it were the last” under that deal. (europapress.es) Published calendars differ on the opening and closing dates: Europa Press reported April 24–May 3, 2026 as the official span announced by FECAC, while Parc del Fòrum’s own events calendar lists April 25–May 4, 2026. (europapress.es) (parcdelforum.barcelona) FECAC’s operational plan for recent editions raises the maximum simultaneous occupancy to 40,000 people and records a 22% capacity increase over 2024, plus a 23% boost in access-and-surveillance personnel and added CCTV to avoid past closures for overcrowding. (fecac.com) The fair’s poster and programming highlight a Gaudí centenary homage featuring Casa Batlló-inspired trencadís motifs, and organisers have confirmed a festival “village” with national musical figures on the lineup. (metropoliabierta.elespanol.com) (europapress.es) The decision to revert ticketing policy follows the 2025 controversy over a €3 day ticket and €12 multi‑day pass introduced after organisers reported 1.2 million visitors in a previous edition and sought revenue and crowd control measures. (elpais.com) (elperiodico.com) The Sagrada Família’s official agenda lists nightly illuminations of the Passion façade during the Holy Week schedule (21:00–22:00 on March 30–31 and events through Easter week), creating coincident evening programming with the Feria’s dates in late April and early May. (sagradafamilia.org)
