DAU Barcelona 2026: Dates, Opening Hours, Activities and Complete Board Game Festival Guide

From November 12 to 15, 2026, Barcelona will once again become a meeting point for board game enthusiasts as DAU Barcelona, the Board Game Festival, celebrates its 15th edition.

For four days, the Fabra i Coats cultural complex in the Sant Andreu district will host board games, role-playing experiences, traditional games, prototypes, family activities and professional events.

Organized by the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona, DAU is one of Spain's major board game festivals. It offers a great opportunity to discover new games, meet designers and publishers, try different gaming experiences and connect with fellow players.

And one of the best things about the festival is that general admission is completely free.

Here's everything you need to know about dates, opening hours, activities and planning your visit to DAU Barcelona 2026.

DAU Barcelona 2026: Dates, opening hours and location

Although the festival takes place over four days, Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15 are the main days open to the general public.

Thursday and Friday feature additional activities, professional meetings and sessions requiring advance registration.

What is DAU Barcelona?

DAU Barcelona is much more than an exhibition of board games.

Since its beginnings, the festival has promoted gaming as a form of culture, creativity, learning and social connection. Its aim is to make board games accessible to people of all ages and experience levels.

In 2026, DAU celebrates its 15th anniversary, marking fifteen years of bringing people together around the gaming table.

The festival offers a wide variety of experiences, from accessible family games to complex strategy games, historical simulations, role-playing adventures and experimental prototypes.

Whether you're an experienced gamer or discovering modern board games for the first time, DAU Barcelona has something to offer.

What can you do at DAU Barcelona 2026?

The festival is divided into several themed areas, each focusing on a different type of gaming experience.

Gran DAU: Board games for everyone

Gran DAU is one of the festival's main areas.

Visitors can explore a wide variety of board games, including family-friendly titles, strategy games and new releases.

It's an excellent place to discover games you haven't played before and learn their rules through demonstrations.

Dauet: Board games for children and families

Dauet is designed especially for children aged 3 to 10.

It offers age-appropriate games and activities that encourage learning, creativity and shared family experiences.

If you're visiting Barcelona with children during the festival weekend, Dauet is one of the areas worth exploring.

DAU Expert: Advanced strategy games

Experienced players looking for more challenging games will enjoy DAU Expert.

This area focuses on games involving deeper strategy, more complex mechanics and longer playing sessions.

Special Expert Playroom sessions are also scheduled for Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Advance registration is required for these sessions.

DAU Beta: Discover games in development

DAU Beta focuses on prototypes and board games that haven't yet reached the market.

It's a great opportunity to explore new ideas, discover innovative mechanics and learn more about the creative process behind game design.

For players interested in the future of tabletop gaming, this is one of the most exciting areas of the festival.

DAUs de Rol: Role-playing adventures

Role-playing games are also part of DAU Barcelona.

This area offers opportunities to discover different role-playing experiences, explore collaborative storytelling and take part in imaginative adventures.

DAU Històric: Historical gaming

DAU Històric brings together wargames, historical strategy games and simulations.

It's particularly interesting for players who enjoy exploring historical events through strategic decision-making and tabletop experiences.

DAU Tradicional and DAU Gegant

DAU Tradicional celebrates traditional Catalan games and the importance of preserving gaming heritage.

DAU Gegant features giant-sized games and other large-format activities, offering a fun experience for groups and families.

DAU Tranquil: A quieter gaming environment

DAU Tranquil is a dedicated space for visitors who need a calmer environment with fewer sensory stimuli.

It includes reduced capacity, a selection of games for different ages and support from trained staff.

The space will be available on November 14 and 15. Advance booking is required, with a separate entrance at Carrer de Parellada, 27.

This initiative reflects the festival's commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

Explore the official DAU Barcelona program.

DAU de Nit: Play board games all night

One of the festival's most distinctive experiences is DAU de Nit, its overnight board game library.

On Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14, gaming sessions will run from 10:00 PM until 6:00 AM the following morning.

It's an excellent opportunity for players who enjoy long gaming sessions or want to spend an entire night discovering new titles.

DAU de Nit is intended for visitors aged 18 and over, has limited capacity and requires advance registration.

DAU Barcelona Awards 2026

The DAU Barcelona Awards ceremony will take place on Friday, November 13, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at SAT! Sant Andreu Teatre.

The awards recognize creativity and talent in the board game industry, celebrating the contributions of designers, illustrators, communicators and other professionals.

Admission is free, but advance reservation is required because seating is limited.

A professional congress for the board game industry

In addition to its public activities, DAU Barcelona hosts the third edition of its Professional Congress on November 12 and 13.

The congress brings together industry professionals and focuses on three main areas:

1. Academia: Research, knowledge and its application to the industry.
2. Talent: Career opportunities and creative professions in tabletop gaming.
3. Industry: Markets, audiences, business models and international development.

The 2026 program includes discussions about board game audiences, licensing opportunities and international markets.

Attendance is restricted to industry professionals and requires registration.

Discover the Professional Congress program.

DAU als Barris: Board games across Barcelona

DAU Barcelona extends beyond the main Fabra i Coats venue.

Through the DAU als Barris initiative, board game activities take place in different Barcelona neighborhoods during the weeks leading up to the festival.

In 2026, activities have been organized at the Festa Major dels Indians, Espai de Joc 0-99 in Glòries, Espai Jove La Fontana, Cotxeres de Sants and Espai Jove Palau Alòs.

The initiative highlights the festival's belief that board games can bring communities and generations together.

Can you buy board games at DAU Barcelona?

Yes. The festival includes specialist stores where visitors can discover and purchase board games and related products.

It's a great opportunity to try a game during a demonstration before deciding whether to add it to your collection.

The festival also features opportunities to meet game creators and obtain signed copies of selected titles.

How to get to DAU Barcelona 2026

The festival takes place at Fabra i Coats, Carrer de Sant Adrià, 20, in Barcelona's Sant Andreu district.

Public transport options include:

1. Metro: L1, Sant Andreu station.
2. Bus: Lines 11, 40, 126, 127 and H4.
3. Commuter rail: Sant Andreu Comtal and Sant Andreu Arenal stations.

The venue includes several buildings, courtyards and activity areas.

Check the official festival map.

Food options will also be available around Plaça de Can Fabra and inside the venue.

Tips for visiting DAU Barcelona

Check the program in advance. Some tournaments and special activities require prior registration.

Try unfamiliar games. Festivals are a great opportunity to discover titles you might otherwise overlook.

Take advantage of demonstrations. Learning the rules before playing makes it easier to explore new games.

Explore different areas. DAU includes family games, strategy, role-playing games, prototypes and traditional gaming.

Be aware of capacity limits. General admission is free, but you may need to wait during busy periods.

Most importantly, enjoy the chance to meet other people who share your passion for board games.

Frequently asked questions about DAU Barcelona 2026

When is DAU Barcelona 2026?

DAU Barcelona takes place from November 12 to 15, 2026. The main public festival days are Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15.

Is DAU Barcelona free?

Yes. General admission is free, subject to capacity. Some special activities require advance registration.

What are the opening hours?

On November 14 and 15, the festival is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Additional activities take place on Thursday and Friday.

Where is DAU Barcelona held?

At Fabra i Coats, Carrer de Sant Adrià, 20, in the Sant Andreu district of Barcelona.

Are there activities for children?

Yes. Dauet is designed for children aged 3 to 10, while other festival areas also offer family-friendly games.

Do I need to book in advance?

General admission doesn't require a reservation, but activities such as DAU de Nit, Expert Playroom, DAU Tranquil, tournaments and the awards ceremony require registration.

What is DAU de Nit?

DAU de Nit is the festival's overnight board game library, running from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM on the nights of November 13 and 14. It's for adults aged 18 and over and requires advance booking.

Where can I find the official program?

Visit the official DAU Barcelona website for the latest schedule, activities and registration details.

Discover more board game events with Meeplay

DAU Barcelona is one of Spain's major tabletop gaming festivals, but board game events take place throughout the year.

Local stores, clubs, associations and gaming communities organize tournaments, meetups and gaming sessions that bring players together.

At Meeplay, we want to help the board game community grow by making it easier to discover gaming activities, connect with other players and keep track of your games.

Discover Meeplay and connect with the board game community.

This article is an independent informational guide. Meeplay is not affiliated with the organization of DAU Barcelona 2026. For official updates, bookings and program changes, visit festivaldau.cat.