Barcelona's Not-for-Profit English-Speaking Sports Community
We're not a business. Keep Calm and Carry On is volunteer-run and not-for-profit, created and run by the community, for the community. There are no membership fees and no profit motive, just people who want to stay active, meet genuine people, and build real, lasting friendships through sport.
Barcelona is full of people passing through for a season. We're built for something longer: a welcoming home for English speakers where the friendships you make actually last. Read more about our Core below.
Who Is Keep Calm For?
Keep Calm Community is for anyone in Barcelona who wants to meet people through sport and adventure, and do it all in English. Our members include:
- Expats who have recently moved to Barcelona and want to build a social circle
- International professionals working remotely or for companies in the city
- Newcomers who just arrived and are looking for a welcoming community
- English speakers of all nationalities, no Spanish or Catalan required
- Locals who enjoy meeting people from around the world
- Digital nomads looking for regular social activities during their stay
Whether you landed in Barcelona yesterday or have lived here for years, Keep Calm Community gives you a way to stay active, meet genuine people, and build real friendships, all through sport.
Core: Friendships Built to Last, Not Just for a Season
Barcelona is full of people passing through. Most expat groups are a revolving door: you meet someone once, swap a few messages, and never see them again. Keep Calm is built differently.
Core is the heart of our community: the members who stick around, show up, and give back. They are the steady, familiar faces who turn a sports group into a home, not a revolving door. Because the same people keep coming back, the friendships you make here actually last.
Core is invite-only and earned, usually over around six months of showing up and giving back. There is nothing to buy and no fee to pay. You become Core simply by being part of the community, week after week. It is our answer to Barcelona's biggest social problem: transience.
Pick an activity and start showing up. The rest follows naturally.
Join the Community
Start with our main community group, or jump straight into our two biggest sports. Every other activity has its own group too, listed below.
General Community
Our main hub for everyone. Announcements, socials, and all the latest across every activity.
Padel
Our biggest sport. Regular matches for all levels across courts in Barcelona.
Volleyball
Beach and indoor volleyball sessions, a great way to meet people by the coast.
Sports & Activities
Our most popular activities are padel, volleyball, and hiking, but we run a wide range of sports, all organised through dedicated WhatsApp groups so you never miss an event.
🎾 Padel
Our most popular sport. We organise regular padel matches for all levels across courts in Barcelona. Whether you're a beginner or experienced player, there's always a game to join.
More info →🏃 Running
Group runs through Barcelona's most scenic routes, along the beach, through Ciutadella Park, and up to Montjuïc. All paces welcome.
More info →🥾 Hiking
Weekend hikes in the hills and mountains surrounding Barcelona. From easy coastal walks to challenging trails in Montserrat and the Collserola hills.
More info →🏐 Volleyball
Beach volleyball at Barceloneta and indoor sessions. A fantastic way to meet people while enjoying Barcelona's coastline.
More info →🎾 Tennis
Tennis matches and sessions at courts around the city. Open to players of all levels looking for hitting partners or friendly competition.
More info →🏓 Ping Pong
Table tennis meetups at venues around Barcelona. Casual, fun, and a great way to socialise.
More info →⚽ Football
Casual football matches for all skill levels. No tryouts, no pressure, just show up and play.
More info →🎉 Social Events
Drinks, dinners, parties, and celebrations. The social glue that turns a sports group into a real community of friends.
More info →Where We Play
Our activities take place all across Barcelona and its surroundings. Common locations include:
- Barceloneta - beach volleyball, running along the seafront
- Poblenou - padel courts, football pitches
- Eixample - tennis, ping pong, yoga studios
- Montjuïc - running routes with panoramic city views
- Collserola & Tibidabo - hiking trails through natural parks
- Montserrat & Costa Brava - weekend hiking excursions
How to Join
Joining Keep Calm Community is free and takes less than a minute:
- Choose your sport - Browse the activities on our homepage
- Join the WhatsApp group - Click the link to join the dedicated group for that activity
- Show up and play - Events are posted in the groups regularly. Just reply and come along
Why Keep Calm Is Different
Not-for-profit and volunteer-run: We're not a company or a paid meetup. Keep Calm is built by the community, for the community, with no fees and no profit motive.
Built for lasting friendships: Our Core of regular members means you build long-term connections, not throwaway introductions with people who leave after a season.
WhatsApp-native: Everything is organised through WhatsApp, with no apps to download, no accounts to create, and no fees to pay. It's instant and familiar.
English-only: All communication is in English, so you never feel left out or lost in translation.
Recurring activities: These aren't one-off events. Sports happen every week, so you build real friendships with the same people over time.
Genuinely welcoming: We're not a corporate meetup or a networking group. People come to play, have fun, and make friends. It's as simple as that.
Free to join: No membership fees. Just join a WhatsApp group and start showing up.
What Members Say
“Very friendly and welcoming people! I had the best time always I came to play with them 🤍”
Laura S · via Google
“Super friendly English speaking sports group with good people and good vibes all around! Highly recommend joining them for a game if you see them playing”
Jessica C · via Google
“Great atmosphere! The group is fantastic! I highly recommend it for both recreational and serious pursuits. Suitable for all levels.”
Louise G · via Google
“Such an awesome group!!!! Fun to meet so many ppl from so many places”
Sophie B · via Google
“The best place with the best people ✨️”
Samado A · via Google
“Love the group and the vibe”
Norberts E · via Google
Ready to Get Started?
Join hundreds of English speakers who are already staying active and making friends in Barcelona.
Join Keep Calm Community