Mediterranean vitality, creative brilliance.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Barcelona, Spain — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: September 20, 2026
Paul Krugman · Universitat de Barcelona · September 21, 2026
Nobel laureate Paul Krugman offers a public lecture on macroeconomic policy, inequality and the policy choices facing European democracies. A student panel will respond to his rema…
Simon Schama · Museu Picasso Barcelona · September 21, 2026
Simon Schama offers a narrative history connecting art, politics and identity across modern Europe, with particular reference to Mediterranean collections. The presentation will we…
Yuval Noah Harari · CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona) · September 21, 2026
Historian and public intellectual Yuval Noah Harari examines how algorithms reshape human rights, privacy and civic life. The talk will combine historical perspective with practica…
Paul Krugman · Universitat de Barcelona - Aula Magna · September 21, 2026
An economics-informed public lecture on the pressures facing democratic institutions in the 21st century. Krugman will address inequality, media ecosystems, and policy options for …
Rebecca Solnit · Barceloneta Literary Festival · September 21, 2026
Rebecca Solnit discusses essays that explore geography, memory, and activism with an emphasis on urban communities and the maritime neighborhoods of Barcelona. The session includes…
Manuel Castells · Universitat de Barcelona · September 21, 2026
Sociologist Manuel Castells presents new reflections on urban networks, digital infrastructures and the future of democratic participation. The lecture is followed by a discussion …
Marina Abramović · Fundació Joan Miró · September 21, 2026
Performance artist Marina Abramović discusses how bodily practice and durational actions create new public memories within institutional and urban spaces. The session includes arch…
Zadie Smith · Universitat de Barcelona · September 22, 2026
Zadie Smith gives a public lecture on craft, voice, and the ethics of fictional representation, followed by an open conversation with students. The event is hosted by the Faculty o…
Marina Garcés · Institut d'Humanitats de Barcelona · September 22, 2026
Catalan philosopher Marina Garcés presents reflections on the relationship between philosophy and grassroots civic engagement in contemporary Spain. The talk connects recent work i…
Amartya Sen · Institut d'Humanitats de Barcelona · September 22, 2026
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen presents on the capabilities approach and its implications for democratic participation and social justice. The lecture will connect normative theory wit…
Paul Krugman · Universitat de Barcelona · September 22, 2026
Nobel laureate Paul Krugman returns to Barcelona to revisit the economics of globalization in a post-pandemic, climate-aware world. The lecture will focus on trade, inequality, and…
Naomi Klein · CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona) · September 22, 2026
Journalist and activist Naomi Klein discusses the cultural and political shifts required to confront the climate emergency. She will focus on narratives of resistance, economic tra…
Marina Abramović · Institut d'Humanitats de Barcelona · September 22, 2026
Performance artist Marina Abramović discusses the body as medium and site of artistic encounter in contemporary practice. She will reflect on durational work, audience participatio…
Thomas Piketty · Fundació Joan Miró · September 22, 2026
Economist Thomas Piketty presents his latest research on wealth concentration and policy proposals for progressive taxation and redistribution. He will engage with questions about …
Zadie Smith · Barceloneta Literary Festival · September 22, 2026
Zadie Smith joins the Barceloneta Literary Festival for a conversation about fiction, multicultural urban life, and the craft of the novel. She will take audience questions and dis…
Manuel Castells · Universitat de Barcelona · September 22, 2026
Sociologist Manuel Castells examines how digital networks are transforming urban life, governance, and social movements. This free public lecture will include a moderated discussio…
Marina Abramović · Fundació Joan Miró · September 22, 2026
Performance artist Marina Abramović presents a lecture on endurance, the body as medium, and ritual in contemporary art practices. The talk will be illustrated with archival footag…
Thomas Piketty · Universitat de Barcelona (Sala d'actes) · September 22, 2026
Thomas Piketty presents research on economic inequality and policy tools for redistribution in the context of climate transition. The lecture is open to the public and will include…
Esther Perel · MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona) · September 22, 2026
Psychotherapist and author Esther Perel explores intimacy and relationships amid digital culture and social change. Her talk will combine clinical insight with practical strategies…
Javier Cercas · Institut d'Humanitats de Barcelona · September 22, 2026
Author Javier Cercas discusses literature's role in shaping collective memory of the Spanish Civil War and contemporary debates on historical responsibility. The talk will be follo…