Nishikori will await the victor of the other semi-final between top seed Rafael Nadal and Philipp Kohlschreiber.
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However, Nishikori rarely looked troubled after breaking to lead 3-2 before a second break sealed the first set 6-3.
The champion dominated the second set on the outdoor clay court, finishing the match with a total of five of nine break chances converted.
The Spaniard, who is eyeing back-to-back titles after winning in Monte Carlo earlier this month, said on the ATP Tour website: “Tomorrow I will play against one of the world’s best players and it will be complicated”.
Nishikori, the two-time defending champion, beat Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2.
Nadal saw off Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday to return to his first final here since 2013, when he won the tournament a record eighth time.
Nishikori started fast, racing to the first set with two breaks of serve.
“This year things are a little different, I am accepting every situation and I don’t have the feeling of being constantly nervous”, Nadal said of overcoming the second set deficit.
Nishikori, who extended his winning streak at the tournament to 13 matches, beat Santiago Giraldo in the 2014 final and retained his title a year ago with victory over Pablo Andujar.
Nishikori had to battle hard for the second set.
What’s at stake: Nishikori stressed he entered the tournament with a goal of nothing less than a three-time crown in Barcelona.
Dolgopolov, on the other hand, survived a three-set battle with Evgeny Donsky of Russian Federation 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 before fending off Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-5 in the third round. Paire stunned Nishikori at the US Open past year. After a rain delay before play could get underway, the two initially traded breaks of serve.
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The Nadal win took his record to 45-3 at his home event as he claimed his sixth victory without a loss over Montanes.
