La Mercè 2026

In September, Barcelona immerses itself in La Mercè, its major festival. With a huge programme spanning two dozen venues and nearly 500 cultural events, including concerts, theatre, monologues and circus, there is something for everyone.

One piece of great news is that most museums normally open their doors free of charge during La Mercè. This includes iconic places such as the Sagrada Familia, the MNAC and the Torre Glòries viewpoint. La Mercè pays tribute to Catalan and Barcelona popular culture with traditional events such as els Gegants, the Correfoc and the Sardanes. The festivities culminate in Plaça Espanya with a display of lights and fireworks accompanied by vibrant music.

What awaits us? The programme (2026)

In Barcelona, La Mercè unfolds beneath a radiant sky, a vibrant tapestry of festivity. The streets fill up, vibrating as giants march gracefully by, bearing tradition and history on their shoulders, while the capgrossos, with their oversized heads, look at the crowd, a mirror of the city's diversity.

The air fills with the resounding drums and the melody of the gralles, creating a soundscape that pulses with the rhythm of the city. In an act of trust and balance, the castellers rise to form human towers reaching towards the sky, bringing people together in an act of collective strength.

When night falls, the correfocs take to the streets with their fireworks, a spectacle of light and shadow in which fire dragons dance among sparks that illuminate the fascinated faces of spectators.

In every corner, the vibration of music can be felt, from traditional sounds that intertwine with flamenco and jazz to the modern vibrations of pop and rock echoing against the ancient stones of monuments. Concerts in the church of Santa María del Mar fill the air with notes that caress the soul, while in Parc de la Ciutadella, lights intersect with shadows, creating a meeting place for families and friends.

You can find the full programme selected by DondeGo's editors here, in our special list.

Photo by shutterstock.com

A Barcelona-flavoured town crier: Antoni Falgueras

La Mercè 2026 will have Antoni Falgueras as its town crier, one of the most beloved figures in the Sants neighbourhood and a leading figure in the world of wine in Catalonia. A master wine merchant and the fourth generation at the helm of the historic Celler de Gelida, Falgueras has dedicated his life to promoting wine culture from an establishment with more than 130 years of history.

Under his direction, the traditional family shop evolved into a specialist space with more than 5,000 wine and sparkling-wine references from around the world, without losing the close personal service that has made it a symbol of the neighbourhood. His career has been recognised with numerous awards, including France's Medal of Agricultural Merit and the Alimentos de España award.

Photo by barcelona.cat

A La Mercè 2026 poster that invites visitors to explore Barcelona from new perspectives

The official poster for La Mercè 2026 offers a different view of the city. Designed as a white surface that becomes a large urban relief, it brings together some of Barcelona's most emblematic spaces — such as the cathedral, Plaça del Rei and the Basilica of La Mercè — in a composition that invites visitors to discover the city from multiple viewpoints.

The eleven districts are represented through scenes that come to life thanks to people walking, dancing, playing and sharing experiences, alongside such characteristic natural elements as the sea, Parc de la Ciutadella and the Laberint d'Horta.

The poster is also a visual game: it hides six large objects spread throughout the illustration, including espadrilles, an oil cruet and a baritone, as a nod to the various cultural disciplines that form part of the major festival. The image reflects an open, diverse Barcelona full of corners to discover, just like La Mercè itself.

Shanghai, guest city of La Mercè 2026

The great international guest of this edition will be Shanghai, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the twinning between Barcelona and the Chinese metropolis. For the first time, an Asian city will take centre stage in La Mercè's international programme, bringing the public a display of its cultural wealth through music, dance, circus, street arts and tradition.

More than one hundred artists from Shanghai and from the Chinese community living in Barcelona will take part in the programme. Highlights include the Traditional Chinese Rolling Lantern Performance, parades with traditional dragons, shows by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, concerts by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, performances by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, dance proposals from the Shanghai Dance School and Kernel Dance Theatre, as well as contemporary projects such as Shanghai Restoration Project.

Shanghai's presence will also play a prominent role in the pyrotechnic and drone displays that will once again light up Barcelona's beaches, reinforcing the international character of a major festival that this year will build a cultural bridge between Catalonia and China.

Photo by unsplash.com