The New Barcelona Post

Arts

The novels 'La hora antes del alba', by Isabel Allende, and 'La añoranza', by Sergio Hernández Carrasco, winner and finalist of the 2026 Planeta Prize. © Planeta

Letters

Isabel Allende: the big surprise behind the winning pseudonym of the Premio Planeta

Redacció TheNBP

The Chilean author takes the million-euro prize at the award’s 75th anniversary with La hora antes del alba, a novel revisiting the story of Alba Trueba, protagonist of The House of the Spirits, while Sergio Hernández finishes runner-up with La añoranza, set in post-war Barcelona

Letters

Premio Planeta: nine finalists, hidden identities and one million euros at stake

Ainara Valadez Medina

Anglès: Composite of portraits of Tania Brenlle and Carme Tierz © Provided

Theater

A changing of the guard at the artistic helm of Teatre Romea and La Villarroel

Elena Busquets

The city

A large shipping container unpacks the migrant stories shaping Barcelona

Redacció TheNBP

The Palace of the Marquis of Alfarràs, one of the buildings open to visitors during the festival. © Jose Masterton, one of the buildings open to visitors during the festival. © Jose Masterton

Architecture

What if architecture disappeared? 48h Open House Barcelona reveals another side of the city

Ainara Valadez Medina

Opening 217 buildings across six municipalities on 24 and 25 October, the architecture festival looks beyond landmark monuments to explore historic palaces, schools, housing, and everyday community facilities

Mexican sculptor Javier Marín in his studio. © Sara Aguilera / Courtesy of the Javier Marín Archive

The city

Javier Marín: “The challenge is to interpret Gaudí without betraying his legacy”

Ainara Valadez Medina

Mexican sculptor Javier Marín, selected alongside Cristina Iglesias and Miquel Barceló to present a proposal for the Sagrada Família’s Glory façade, considers the legacy of Gaudí and how to engage with it through a contemporary lens

Homero Tolosa, argentine drummer and composer based in Barcelona © Given

The Post Bar

Homero Tolosa: True to the essence

Alberto Valle

Restless and proactive, the Barcelona-based Argentine drummer and composer releases his second album fronting the Soulful Trio and teases news on other projects alongside musicians like Víctor Puertas, Martín Burguez, and Fede Álvarez

This year, Barcelona Design Week adopts the motto PRO-TEST to champion design as a living process.

Creativity

Protesting without placards: Barcelona Design Week takes to the streets

Ainara Valadez Medina

Under the slogan PRO-TEST, the event’s 21st edition will bring together 140 activities across 80 venues from 14 to 25 October, featuring exhibitions, installations, workshops, and projects that will carry design to every corner of the city

Visitors observing one of the artworks exhibited at the previous edition of SWAB. © Marc Medina

Creativity

Barcelona’s art scene held up to the mirror of SWAB

Ainara Valadez Medina

Over 180 artists, 60 galleries, and projects hailing from 22 countries gather for a new edition of the contemporary art fair, which from 8 to 11 October takes the pulse of a local scene striving to expand and step onto the world stage

Music

The magic is still in the air

Alberto Valle

Magic in the Air marks 30 years with live music from Sidonie, Los Retrovisores, and The Falken’s Maze plus an extensive DJ lineup. It takes place on 16 and 17 October at Upload and Casa Sidral

Images

Andrés Iniesta: "In my time, talking about mental health was much more taboo"

Elia Tabuenca

The former IMAX Port Vell enters a new era with Iniesta Experience: The Inner Game, a showcase curated by Stoneweg Culture and NSN tracing the footballer’s iconic journey and life

The exhibition 'The Secret Life of Plants. Anselm Kiefer in the Grothe Collection', at La Pedrera, can be visited until January 24. © La Pedrera

Images

Autumnal Europe lands at La Pedrera

Jordi Cabré

Anselm Kiefer brings to La Pedrera a realm of lead, ash, straw, and broken glass, laden with myth, transcendence, and the trauma of German defeat

The musician, writer and television screenwriter Dimas Rodríguez. © Èric Palaudàries. 

The Post Bar

Dimas Rodríguez: Sublimating the desires of that teenage self

Alberto Valle

He has directed short films and a feature, released several records at the helm of Invisible Harvey, and authored a novel that promises a sequel. A remarkable career for that teenager who fell head over heels for cinema, comic books, and music.

Liber brings together 250 exhibitors from 19 countries through Thursday. © Fira Barcelona

Letters

Liber takes off Barcelona: the fair where books change hands, languages and countries

Ainara Valadez Medina

Running until Thursday, the 44th edition of the trade fair brings together 250 exhibitors from 19 countries, connecting publishers, agents, booksellers, and translators at a gathering defined by internationalisation and rights sales