Updated May 22 2026
El MECAL Pro, Barcelona International Short Film and Animation Festival, is one of Barcelona’s most important short film festivals and also one of the longest-running in Spain. Year after year, it brings to the city a wide selection of national and international short films, as well as parallel activities related to cinema, animation and the audiovisual sector.
Over several weeks, different cultural venues and cinemas across Barcelona host screenings and events included in the festival. Thanks to the wide variety of genres, styles and themes featured in the programme, MECAL attracts not only fans of independent cinema, but also students, industry professionals and general audiences curious to discover new and original works.
All the information about MECAL 2026 in Barcelona
The MECAL 2026 edition will once again turn Barcelona into one of the key meeting points for short film and animation enthusiasts. As usual, the festival will feature hundreds of screenings across different competitive sections, thematic sessions and parallel events.
In addition to the competition shorts, the festival also typically offers retrospectives, special animation sessions, music videos, creative advertising, masterclasses and meetings with professionals from the audiovisual industry.
MECAL 2026 in numbers and facts
MECAL Barcelona Festival
Dates: 21–31 May 2026
Times: Vary depending on the screening
Where: Various cinemas and cultural venues across Barcelona
€ Price: Free and paid screenings
Focus: Short films, animation and audiovisual content
One of MECAL’s great strengths is that it allows audiences to discover a very wide range of works within a single edition. Within just a few hours, you can go from an experimental animation session to a selection of comedy, horror, documentary shorts or music videos.
Tickets and access to MECAL screenings
Depending on the screening and the venue, some events are free while others require a paid ticket.
Tickets for the different sessions and activities can be checked and purchased via the official festival website.
MECAL Barcelona sections and highlights
The festival is usually structured into different competitive sections and thematic cycles, making it easy to find screenings suited to different tastes and interests.
International Section
Short films from different countries
Documentary Section
Real stories and short-form documentary cinema
Animation
Sessions focused on animated and experimental shorts
Comedy Shorts
One of the most popular sessions with audiences
Music Videos and Advertising
Audiovisual creativity applied to other formats
Thematic Sessions
Special selections dedicated to specific genres or themes
Parallel activities during MECAL
Beyond the short film screenings, MECAL also typically hosts a range of activities related to the audiovisual world and filmmaking.
Masterclasses
Meetings with directors
Audiovisual workshops
Professional networking
Debates and discussions
Special animation screenings
A very interesting festival for students and audiovisual enthusiasts
Thanks to its open approach and the wide range of styles featured in the programme, MECAL has also become a highly interesting event for students of film, animation, design and audiovisual communication. In addition to discovering new creators, the festival offers a close-up look at how the short film industry actually works.
To explore all screenings, activities and updates for each edition, we recommend visiting the official festival website.
Venues and locations hosting MECAL Barcelona
MECAL screenings and events are usually spread across different cinemas, cultural centres and audiovisual spaces in Barcelona. This helps extend the festival atmosphere throughout the city.
Cinemes Girona
Barcelona cultural centres
Audiovisual spaces
Screening rooms
Networking spaces
Partner venues
History and evolution of MECAL Barcelona
The festival’s beginnings: MECAL was founded in the late 1990s with the aim of creating a space in Barcelona dedicated entirely to short films and new audiovisual works.
The focus on the short format: Over the years, the festival has established itself as an important platform for both emerging directors and established creators within the international scene.
Animation and new narratives: MECAL has progressively expanded its programme to include more animation, video art, creative advertising and other alternative audiovisual formats.
The festival today: MECAL is now considered one of Barcelona’s most important short film festivals and continues to attract thousands of spectators, industry professionals and new audiovisual talents every year.