Centres Cívics (civic centres of Barcelona): courses, workshops, exhibitions, and other activities and events

What kinds of courses and workshops are held in Barcelona’s civic centres?

Rather than listing the kinds of courses and workshops held in Barcelona’s civic centres, it might actually be easier to make a list of those that aren’t offered, since the range is so wide, diverse and, ultimately, complete that it’s hard to find any type of course or workshop that doesn’t have its place in at least one of Barcelona’s civic centres.

Every year, new and interesting proposals of various kinds are introduced to adapt to society’s needs and interests.

Thanks to these courses and workshops — which, although sometimes quite basic and therefore more suitable for those wishing to get started rather than for those who want to delve deeper into subjects they already know — participants can explore new skills and/or techniques that were previously unfamiliar to them. That said, there are indeed some courses designed for people who wish to go further into a subject (for example, photography).

If you enjoy the course or workshop, once it’s finished you can later enrol in a new one that’s more specific or at a higher level. If, on the other hand, that’s not possible at a civic centre, you can always look for an academy or another educational space that specialises in the subject.

€ How much do the courses and workshops offered at the civic centres cost?

Affordable prices: The cost of workshops and courses ranges between €50 and €95.

Discounts: There are discounts available for young people, seniors, the unemployed or those facing financial difficulties, and people with disabilities. For more information, we encourage you to visit the official website of Barcelona’s civic centres.

Additional material fee: In some courses or workshops, the price is higher due to the cost of the materials required to carry them out, which are included in the enrolment fee.

Required materials: It’s important to bear in mind that, for certain courses or workshops, you need to bring your own equipment or materials — for instance, a camera for photography courses, or a mat for yoga or Pilates sessions.

When and how can you enrol in the courses and workshops at the civic centres?

Enrolment periods: Enrolment for the courses opens a few weeks before they begin. It’s possible to register up until a few days before the start date and, in some cases, even after the first session has already taken place.

Availability: Places for the most popular and in-demand courses and workshops usually fill up within just a few days. In some cases, several time slots are available, but the afternoon ones tend to sell out first. For this reason, it’s recommended to register as early as possible.

Duration: The courses and workshops are usually held weekly, with each session lasting around one hour. As they are quarterly training activities, each course generally consists of approximately 8 to 10 sessions.

When are they scheduled?: The activities are organised three times a year: in spring (usually a few days before or after Easter), at the end of summer (normally in early or mid-September), and in winter (after the Christmas holidays).

Official programme in PDF: Several weeks before the start of each of the three terms, a PDF is published containing the full programme of courses and workshops. It specifies which civic centre each one takes place in, the different time slots, the enrolment fee, and whether any materials are required.

Online or in-person enrolment: You can register and pay online for each of the courses and workshops. However, if you prefer, it’s also possible to complete the enrolment and payment in person.

Historic and modern buildings as the venues for Barcelona’s civic centres

In many cases — and surely as a way to strengthen and consolidate the connection between each civic centre and its neighbourhood — historic and/or iconic spaces of each area have been chosen as their venues.

Thus, it’s not unusual to find civic centres housed in a traditional Catalan farmhouse (masia), such as Can Verdaguer or Can Castelló; in a distinctive historic building, like Casa Golferichs or the Cocheras de Sants; in a former industrial complex, as in the case of Can Batlló; or in other types of buildings connected, in one way or another, to the history of the neighbourhood.

Conversely, in other cases, new spaces have been designed and built specifically to host the civic centres. A clear example of this is the Baró de Viver Civic Centre, a modern facility created in 2015, which also serves as a space for older people.

Format of the courses and workshops offered at the civic centres

Unlike other initiatives — particularly those with a more professional focus, such as the training courses offered by Barcelona Activa — the workshops and courses held in the civic centres are carried out exclusively in person, and therefore cannot be taken online.

Events and activities scheduled at the civic centres throughout 2026

While it’s true that, since their beginnings, the courses and workshops have surely been regarded as the main and most distinctive feature of Barcelona’s civic centres, in recent years cultural initiatives have been gaining more and more prominence.

Thus, a wide range of events related to the performing arts and culture in general are currently offered, including concerts, film cycles, theatre, dance, photography and painting exhibitions, among others.