What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of August? Surely holidays! For decades, August has established itself as the month of holidays par excellence. Because of the worship given to sun and beach, as well as because the school or work calendar forces a break. In recent times, however, August's holiday hegemony is being blurred by societal evolution. Progressive aging, not having children, and changes in customs – teleworking or the desire to avoid heatwaves, seek lower prices or less crowding – mean that more and more people are not forced to take their holidays in August.How the tourists arriving in Catalonia are distributed throughout the year is a paradigm of this change. According to data provided by the Catalan Tourism Agency, the two most touristy months of the year – in Catalonia's case, July and August – with which the seasonality of a destination is calculated, have lost momentum since the pandemic was overcome. In 2020 – the most atypical year due to covid – these two months accounted for 28.98% of tourists and in 2021, 29.04%, but since then the concentration has progressively fallen to 23.74% in 2025, when 12.3% of tourists arrived in August and 11.4% in July.If we delve into the 2025 data, the transformation experienced in national tourism stands out. While among foreign tourists, August (12.8%) and July (11.8%) still lead by a significant margin as the months with the most visits, the fact is that among Catalans, June (12.6%) has made the overtaking in August (12.4%) and in the case of tourists from the rest of Spain, July (10.4%) and June (10.3%) have also positioned themselves ahead of August (9.5%). Furthermore, January, February and March are also gaining attractiveness for tourists from all origins, even though for decades sun and beach in the summer has been one of the main attractions for visiting Catalonia and the rest of Spain.So, if August stops being the month for making money with tourism, does the expression 'fer l'agost' (making August) applied to the tourism sector risk becoming history? It is difficult for such a radical change to occur, for beaches to suddenly empty in August as happens in the colder months, because summer – and August in particular – are strongly linked with the idea of taking holidays, highlights Saida Palou Rubio, who is a doctor in social and cultural anthropology and an aggregate professor in the Department of History and Art History at the UdG. Nevertheless, the circumstances are such that little by little, tourism will not be as concentrated in August as before.

Years ago, houses used to be the most common refuges to protect oneself from the heat. Far are those times when grandma would prepare you a cold infusion of water with mint or place a bucket of ice in front of the fan as home remedies when you came back all sweaty from playing in the neighborhood square. Today the situation is quite the opposite. Now these home recipes fall rather short in the face of premature and record-breaking summers that force us to seek refuges everywhere. Before summer arrives, children and the elderly fill the squares, libraries, and neighborhood centers to try to alleviate the stifling heat. The idyllic postcard of a neighborhood network contrasts with the image of sweaty neighbors leaning between the bars and ledges of windows, especially in the poorest neighborhoods of Catalonia, where nearly 30% of vulnerable people cannot afford air conditioning. Inequalities are increasing, and the capacity of certain sectors of society to cope with heatwaves is becoming increasingly limited.

Everything has gone up a lot. It is a mantra that we keep repeating to ourselves with any purchase we make: food, petrol, clothes, and leisure. Like a damned magic wand, inflation has once again multiplied prices and endangered holidays in many Catalan homes, many of them paralyzed by these increases. Precisely because of this, an unprecedented move in the industry took place in the last weeks of spring, when hotels, travel agencies, and tour operators began to adjust rates in the main destinations due to the slowdown in bookings for the high season, with decreases in places like Mojácar, Mallorca, Tenerife, Menorca, and Gran Canaria. Now, on the eve of the month with the highest spending of the year, it is worth considering that not everything is exactly prohibitive: there are destinations that are careful enough not to make a killing with travelers, either for competitiveness or conviction. This year, according to Juan Ignacio Pulido, director of the Tourism Analysis and Innovation Laboratory, there is a moderation of prices by type of destination. "Inland destinations, medium-sized cities, well-connected rural areas, and some less internationalized coastal holiday destinations are containing prices better," he explains. According to Pulido, this is due to demand being more price-sensitive, greater competition among accommodations, and less occupancy pressure. Indeed, many entrepreneurs have understood that continuing to pass costs on to the final price "could slow down bookings, especially in national and family tourism," while in other cases the decrease simply occurs because "when occupancy does not accompany, the price adjusts." And here is a remarkable and significant fact, and that is that not all the market accepts automatic increases as in the years immediately after the pandemic. "We are facing a normalization after several years of very intense increases," he clarifies, given that the forecast this year is to receive more international tourists and more spending. Thus, to look for cheap destinations, one must look for places with some common traits: less saturation, a more diversified offer, and demand that depends less on high-spending international tourists. At the other extreme, destinations with limited supply, high occupancy, and a very consolidated brand continue to have the capacity to raise prices, as is the case with some island locations, major capitals, and premium coastal destinations. For his part, the expert in the tourism field and founding partner of ReiniziaT and ObservaTUR, Marcos Franco, points out that the underlying idea is that this summer is a year of readjustment regarding prices and destinations, in which spending and the desire to travel are maintained. "Financing for holidays is another of the items that has also increased in 2026," he assures.

Parents and mothers arrive at summer with an invisible backpack full of expectations. We want to make the most of each day, create unforgettable memories, make up for the time we haven't had during the school year, and ensure that our children will be super happy. But expectations often come with pressure. Social media, moreover, increase this anxiety when we see perfect families smiling in front of a sunset, relaxed and tanned parents, and siblings sharing the same shovel without arguing. And when we see others' photographs, we possibly have the feeling that only we are improvising.

Heat waves don't just affect humans. High temperatures, humidity, and tropical nights can also take a toll on our pets, which is why it's important to adapt their environment and daily activities so they can get through the summer in the best possible way. As veterinarian Jaume Martínez, from the El Masnou Veterinary Center, explains, who has been dedicated to looking after the health of pets for nearly forty years, heat, "if they didn't live with us, they would experience it very well, because they would be still during the day, they wouldn't do anything, they would be in the shade, in a cool place. And even more so for cats, who are specialists in finding the coolest place to shelter". As Martínez reflects, they would spend the day resting, trying to hydrate themselves when they could, "and it's at night that they would be more active: they would go to eat, they would go hunting, they wouldn't be making useless efforts". With us it's different: "Things change because we, obviously thinking of dogs, take them for walks in places that can be asphalted or with surfaces that get very hot, and this makes them suffer from the heat in a very different way".

There is no doubt that summer is a time for rest and disconnection. The heat does not help with work, and studying while friends are at the pool is a more than complicated challenge, especially when there are no retakes in September. But if there are suspended (not achieved) subjects in the report cards and you want to start the course better than you finished it, many families consider combining the necessary rest and disconnection with this "catching up". How many hours should be dedicated each day? A private tutor or should we let them do it freely? Should other summer activities be given up? We talk to the managers of L’Acadèmia, a study center in Mollerussa that accompanies students all year round but which also has its doors open in the summer for all those families who find themselves in similar situations.

Perhaps you will read this on your way to the beach, or sunbathing on the sand. For me, the beach transports me to childhood; that's why I like it so much. I learned French at El Golfet, making friends with the grandchildren of my grandparents' friends. My grandmother loved to practice the language on the sand and looked for any excuse to socialize with French retirees rather than Catalans. I believe she always thought that France was a civilized country, a refuge to escape to if the dictatorship returned. Walking down the coastal path, looking for shellfish on the rocks, and jumping over the waves before retracing the uphill path was my life. Now I go there to play paddleball, to read, or simply to listen to the waves so I don't hear anything else.For urban planners, the beach is a magical place. In the city it is very difficult, and it is becoming increasingly difficult, to mix people. Everyone tends to move where they feel comfortable with their tribe, and with the polarization between the rich and the rest of urbanites, urban boundaries are expanding. But the beach is different, and that fascinates me.Each beach is a world. I choose them according to how much I want to keep my distance. In Castelldefels and Gavà, you can sit by the sea, on a kind of natural step carved by the waves, which allows you to place the book on your lap and read without back pain, while you dip your feet in the salty foam. In Barceloneta or Vila Olímpica, you can get there by metro, which is a luxury within reach of very few seaside environments. In Maresme, you can travel along the beaches by train, with no more interference than a nautical club or a beach bar. And in the coves of Empordà, you can sacrifice towel space for a rocky scenery, with steep reds and green pine forests, which invite you to swim along the rocks without losing proximity to the mainland. You can be packed in like anchovies, but you go into the water and you can see fish and seaweed with cheap glasses.

If summer is "the promise that life can begin again", as Francis Scott Fitzgerald assured, a good way to accompany this restart can be reading. The good health of the Catalan publishing sector makes it possible for us to undertake a multitude of journeys – geographical and temporal – without leaving home. We select ten intrepid books that have arrived in Catalan bookstores in recent months.

Extreme heat is not giving any respite this summer, and data confirms that we are experiencing an exceptionally suffocating and unprecedented period. Catalonia has registered the hottest summer start since 1950, which is when homogeneous and well-distributed climate data for the entire country began to be available. This is the conclusion of the climate balance of the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) published this Thursday.

Living with a teenager during the holidays is a great balancing act. Families want to make the most of their time together after an intense school year full of responsibilities, but teenagers need just the opposite: more freedom, fewer schedules, and to feel they can decide about their time. Understanding this apparent contradiction is, probably, the best way to experience a summer with fewer conflicts and more complicity.For adolescents, holidays represent much more than not having class. They are weeks to recover sleep hours after months of academic demands, to free themselves from schedules, reduce stress and dedicate time to what becomes fundamental at this stage: friends. The peer group occupies a central place in identity construction, and sharing experiences with them is part of the natural process of growing up. This does not mean that the family loses importance, but rather that the adolescent needs distance and intimacy to discover who they are.

Historically, the arrival of summer has been associated with the search for seasonal work by thousands of young people who, upon finishing their academic year, want to have their own income. The motivations are very diverse: to go on a trip with friends, to get a driving license, to indulge themselves, to save up to survive the next school year, or to partially or fully fund their studies.

We live surrounded by notifications, photos that disappear in 24 hours, and messages that are forgotten in seconds. But this summer, we suggest you take a break. How? By sending us a postcard. We want you to write to us from wherever you are and tell us how you are experiencing your holidays. We will read them one by one.

When summer arrives, it seems like we all have to do something extraordinary. Social media fills up with paradisiacal beaches, family trips, activities, unique experiences, and calendars so full that they even need a break.

A couple of months ago, singer Amaia acknowledged in statements to a fashion magazine that she had low self-esteem, because it seems to be fashionable to be too thin, and she likes to eat. Unfortunately, in 2026 we are experiencing the boom of Ozempic and other slimming products. Therefore, it is important to help children learn to accept their bodies. What Elena Crespi, a psychologist, sexologist, and feminist, proposes is to make them understand that the world is diverse regarding bodies, and that even though the models they always show us are a specific type of body, if they look around they will see that it is full of diverse and fantastic bodies, with more or less functionalities: “Even though in series, movies, and social networks there is only room for bodies that fit within a model, they must be made to understand that each one is different and has its own capabilities”.

My friend Alícia told me one day that she would have liked to have a village to spend the summer in. It is a very different concept to have a village than to have a second home on the beach or anywhere else. In the village you have roots, connections, you surely have relatives there or with a bit of luck your grandparents still live there. Nothing happens in the village, there isn't much and for not having, perhaps there isn't even a beach. There life stops, the days pass slowly and lazily and the day's work is just waiting for it to be less hot to go out and play in the street.

There is plenty to choose from. This summer, holidays are packed with activities. Cultural heritage is adorned to welcome visitors with a dream program to enjoy with the family too. If you are planning a getaway, for a day or several, be sure to consult the 2026 Summer Program of the Cultural Heritage of the Generalitat de Catalunya.Summer Program 2026 from the Cultural Heritage of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

Summer in Catalonia smells of the sea and, above all, of sweet fruit. But, what is the undisputed king of the season? According to the 1st edition of the "Thermometer of Taste" presented by Ametller Origen, the verdict is clear: watermelon (39%) is the fruit with the favorite taste of summer for Catalans.The study, based on a survey of 800 people from across the territory between Ametller Origen and Appinio, places this fruit as the quintessential summer icon. The podium is completed by melon (22.8%) and cherry (18.9%), which also consolidate as some of the most representative fruits of Catalonia, along with yellow peach.Despite the historical rivalry between watermelon and melon on summer tables, watermelon has managed to take first place thanks to its hydration and lightness. Furthermore, respondents highlight that watermelon transports them to moments of their childhood.Regarding the four Catalan provinces, watermelon is the preferred fruit throughout the territory. Tarragona is where it gets the highest support, with 42% of responses, followed by Barcelona (41.2%); in Girona, the choice reaches 38.5%, and in Lleida it is 34.5%. An average of 2.3 pieces of fruit per day

Catalans consume an average of 2.3 pieces of fruit per day, a figure in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which advises eating between two and three pieces of fruit per day, as part of a diet that includes at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. The Ametller Origen study shows that men and women consume practically the same amount. By territory, Barcelona is the province with the highest consumption, while Girona registers the lowest. Furthermore, a clear trend is also observed: the older the respondents are, the more fruit they consume. Regarding consumption habits, 67% of respondents state that the best time to eat fruit is in the morning or at lunchtime. On the other hand, only 8% consider that the evening is the ideal time to consume it.The study also reveals that taste is an increasingly decisive factor. In fact, 90% of respondents say they would be willing to pay more for tastier fruit. When buying it, they also particularly value proximity and ripeness.Furthermore, 95% of participants recognize that visual appearance influences their purchasing decision, which shows that consumers are increasingly selective and demanding. Despite this, 81% admit that it is increasingly difficult for them to find fruit with the same taste they remember from childhood, a fact that reinforces the perception that regaining taste is one of the main demands of consumers today.The Taste is Ours

The presentation of the I Taste Thermometer coincides with the launch of the new Ametller Origen brand, El Gust és Nostre. True to its constant evolution, the Penedès-based company is committed to a narrative focused on taste as a guarantor of product quality and excellence. Ametller Origen, which this year celebrates 25 years, builds its present and future model on taste as a backbone element that articulates all its activity, from the first seed to the table experience. A totally unique model that has made the company the preferred chain by consumers in the fruit and vegetable category in Spain, according to the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU). The launch is part of a new global purpose: “Empower the world to be guided by taste”. “Excellent taste is not a coincidence; it is the direct consequence of our way of doing things and that is what makes us unique,” explains Josep Ametller, CEO and co-founder of Ametller Origen.

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There are many movies I haven't seen. To give you an idea of the magnitude of the tragedy, until confinement I hadn't seen Dirty dancing (what a marvel) or, incredibly, Pretty woman. For someone born in 1990, turning thirty and never having seen Pretty woman is like saying you've never heard La Bomba, or like having crossed the square firmly in the middle of a water fight and having completely dry clothes. Well, it's possible. Pretty Woman! I like the triangle it traces with the universal Cinderella story and how Nights of Cabiria (Fellini, 1957) is its dark, fatal, bitter version. And yet, with a ending that illuminates the spirit with the force of a thousand suns.

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As soon as he opened his eyes, Nil felt he had had too much white wine. He also felt a terrible heat. He is sweating profusely. Pol lies unconscious on the cot nearby. Jan and Roc, in the other cabin, are also sleeping.

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Catalonia faces a much better water scenario this summer than in previous years, but this does not mean that the risk of fires is lower. Abundant rains, especially during the winter, have allowed water reserves and the territory's water status to be recovered. Reservoirs have been filled, forests have been recovering from the historic drought, and vegetation has grown strongly after months of generous rainfall.

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