1837 saw the first attempts to create an independent musical institution in Barcelona. These did not come to fruition until 1886, when the Banda Municipal de Barcelona was set up with the aim of bringing the work of the great composers to the general public. In some ways, the band is the successor to the group of musicians who, from the Middle Ages onwards, made up part of the municipal processions.

In 1915, it broke away from the former Escola de Música de la ciutat, currently the Conservatori Municipal de Música de Barcelona, and became a benchmark musical institution. It was a time of much activity and high-quality concerts that were attended by great composers: Maurice Ravel, Igor Stravinski and Richard Strauss, among others. Strauss even conducted the Banda Municipal in 1925, at his own request, after having listened to their interpretation of a version of his symphonic poem Death and Transfiguration. Later, in 1927, Richard Strauss invited the band to perform a series of concerts in Germany.

The Banda Municipal de Barcelona's activity is strongly linked to the festive world, and it takes part in the big events in the city such as the Mercè and Santa Eulàlia festivals. It is typically present in the Grec festival concerts as well as performing all over Catalonia. The band is currently based at the Auditori, where it has a regular season. Its concert appearances include premieres, thematic programmes, and collaborations with conductors and soloists. The band is made up of some 50 wind and percussion players.