The 17th edition of the Circuit Festival kicks off this Saturday in Barcelona with 60,000 attendees from over 80 countries. The event, taking place from August 1 to 9, includes new venues such as the Seasea Club at Port Fòrum in Sant Adrià.
Barcelona is preparing to host the 17th edition of the Circuit Festival, the largest LGTBIQ+ event in the world, which this year promises to be the most ambitious in its history. Between August 1 and 9, the city will welcome around 60,000 attendees from more than 80 countries, according to the organisers' forecasts, who estimate that nearly 70% of the audience will be foreign.
The festival, organised by the Catalan promoter Matinée Group, has expanded its range of venues this year. In addition to the usual locations like Luz de Gas, the new Seasea Club, located at Port Fòrum in Sant Adrià de Besòs, will help diversify the parties and ease congestion in the city centre.
The main countries of origin for visitors include the United States, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Spain. The organisers highlight that the festival has become a refuge for attendees from countries where homosexuality is still persecuted.
The economic impact of the Circuit Festival is significant. It is estimated to generate over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs and inject millions of euros into the local economy, particularly in sectors such as hospitality, catering, retail, and leisure. The Antiga Esquerra del Eixample area and the surroundings of the festival venues are the main beneficiaries.
The artistic programme for 2026 includes over 50 national and international artists from around twenty countries. A notable new feature is that producer Morten, creator of the future rave sound, will headline the Water Park Day at Illa Fantasia, which will take place on Thursday, August 4. This day, in both its daytime and nighttime versions, is shaping up to be one of the festival's highlights.
Matinée Group has stated that this edition marks "a turning point" in the artistic evolution of the event. For the first time, artists from queer and underground scenes, as well as from the Berlin techno circuit, are being incorporated. The musical offering is expanding to genres such as hard techno, tech house, trance, and future rave, in an attempt to reflect the diversity of the LGTBIQ+ community.
The CEO of Matinée Group, Manolo Soria, explained that the festival does not want to break with its past but rather "expand its universe and forms of expression." The Circuit Festival, which began in 2008, has organised events in 50 countries and has hosted over 700 international parties. This edition, according to Soria, represents the maturity of the festival and its ability to adapt to new sensibilities.
For attendees, the festival offers an experience that goes beyond music. The organisation emphasises that it seeks to "build meeting spaces where freedom, diversity, and a sense of belonging are the protagonists." To this end, cultural and leisure activities have been programmed to complement the nighttime parties.
The organisers recommend that visitors plan their travel in advance, especially on the busiest days, such as August 4. Public transport, especially the metro and night buses, will be the most recommended option for moving between the different venues.
The Circuit Festival thus consolidates itself as a key event in Barcelona's tourist and cultural calendar, attracting an international audience seeking fun, freedom, and an inclusive atmosphere. The 2026 edition promises to be the largest and most diverse to date, with a clear commitment to artistic innovation and geographical expansion within the city.
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