Barcelona will deploy additional police patrols, cleaning crews and late-night metro services for the 2026 La Mercè festival, running from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 September. For festival-goers, residents near event sites and people travelling home at night, the plan will bring all-night metro operations on three nights, traffic restrictions in the city centre and increased security checks at major venues.

According to arrangements published by Barna.news, the Guàrdia Urbana, Barcelona's municipal police, will work alongside Mossos d'Esquadra, the regional police, Port Police and the city's emergency and fire-rescue service.

Police will increase checks at festival entrances

Patrols will be increased in busy areas and at access points, with the stated aim of preventing crime, antisocial behaviour and unauthorised street vending.

Under Operation Ferro, police will carry out intensified checks for bladed weapons and other dangerous objects at entrances and exits to major events. Officers will use handheld metal detectors, while alcohol and drug tests will be conducted on routes serving festival sites. Drones will provide aerial surveillance for emergency coordination.

The Guàrdia Urbana will also extend safer walking routes between leisure areas and public-transport stops during the night. Fixed and mobile purple points, staffed help points offering information, prevention advice and assistance after potential aggression, will operate during the festival.

A pilot mobile purple point will use NFC, or near-field communication, bracelets and keyrings that can discreetly trigger an emergency alert.

Metro will run all night on three festival dates

Public transport will be reinforced for expected crowds, with TMB, Barcelona's public transport operator, planning to increase metro frequency by about 30% at peak event times and strengthen selected bus services.

  • The metro will run all night on Wednesday 23, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September.
  • On Thursday 24 and Sunday 27 September, metro services will be extended until midnight.
  • A special traffic plan will introduce diversions and parking restrictions in the city centre and around major events.

People attending evening events can use the overnight metro on the three specified nights, while drivers should allow extra time for city-centre diversions and avoid relying on parking near major festival venues.

More than 1,100 cleaners will cover festival areas

Between 23 and 27 September, 530 cleaning teams comprising 1,156 workers will reinforce waste collection across almost 25 festival zones. The city will install 1,233 litter bins and 205 larger waste containers at key sites.

Cleaning will be intensified before, during and after events, particularly around concerts and other crowded locations. Night crews will use mechanical and manual sweeping, groundwater washing and waste removal, while beach cleaning and the city's graffiti-removal programme will continue.

Reported by barna.news.