In Barcelona, September is the season of endings and beginnings. When the heat begins to ease slightly and the afternoon light turns a little more golden, the city stretches and prepares for its most anticipated event of the year. In 2026, La Mercè will take over the streets from Wednesday, September 23, through Sunday, September 27, expanding its program of celebrations to bring music, fire, and the arts to every single corner, ensuring that the festive atmosphere reaches all ten districts of the Catalan capital.
This year’s festival will be packed with milestones that redefine some of the traditions we’ve come to expect. With Shanghai as the guest city of honor—the first Asian city to hold this title, thus celebrating the 25th anniversary of its sister city relationship with Barcelona—the program will combine the usual venues with new locations such as Sarrià, Comas, and Les Glòries . In addition, the grand finale will move off the pavement to offer a closing show right on the sand, facing the sea.
The opening speech, a toast to the city
The spark that will ignite the festivities will have the flavor of grapes and earth. On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 23, master winemaker Antoni Falgueras will deliver the opening address. He won’t be alone at the microphone; he’ll be joined by his daughter, sommelier Meritxell Falgueras. Following this kickoff, Barcelona’s nightlife will host the first musical performances, kicking off five days of nonstop activity.
A lineup that connects Barcelona
The visual identity that will adorn the streets in the coming weeks bears the signature of visual artist Cinta Vidal. True to her style, the artist has designed a poster that captures the city’s most iconic spaces from an innovative perspective full of unexpected twists. The work seeks to represent a Barcelona built on discoveries and connections, uniting on paper what the city’s main festival will unite on the streets.
Glòries makes its debut, and Park Güell dresses up for the occasion
Thursday, the 24th, a local holiday, will be a day of nonstop excitement. Glòries Park will make its grand debut as the brand-new venue for the Mercè Arts de Carrer series, filling up with activities for the whole family to enjoy.
That same day—and again on Saturday, September 26— Park Güell will host another major highlight: a large-scale show co-created with the Generalitat de Catalunya. The event will fuse traditional folk dances performed by the city’s esbarts with contemporary rhythms and aesthetics. All of this will serve as the backdrop for a dual historic celebration: the Year of Gaudí and the centennial of the monumental site itself.
New Fireworks and a Grand Finale at Bogatell
Fireworks will take center stage over the weekend. After resuming concerts and pyrotechnic displays on the night of Friday, September 25, popular culture will unveil one of its biggest surprises on Saturday, September 26: the inauguration of a brand-new Porta de l’Infern. This new stage set will swing wide open to unleash sparks and welcome the city’s massive correfoc.
Finally, Sunday, the 27th, will bring the festivities to a close. After an intense day packed with events, Barcelona residents will have to change their usual route to bid farewell to the festival. For the first time, the highly anticipated La Mercè Fireworks Show will leave its usual location to light up the night from Bogatell Beach, bidding farewell to September right on the waterfront.
