Barcelona will host two major casteller events in Plaça de Sant Jaume during La Mercè 2026, with eight local groups due to perform at 13:00 on 24 September and three leading Catalan groups scheduled for 12:00 on Sunday 27 September.
Residents and visitors wanting to watch in the Gothic Quarter should arrive early for a viewing space. Both events will be broadcast on digital terrestrial television and streamed on the betevé municipal broadcaster's website.
Eight Barcelona groups perform on La Mercè Day
The 24 September performance is part of the popular-culture programme for La Mercè, Barcelona's annual festival in honour of the city's patron saint. Castellers build multi-storey human towers, with each colla being a team of participants.
The event will take place in Plaça de Sant Jaume, the square between Barcelona City Hall and the Palau de la Generalitat, the seat of Catalonia's regional government.
Historic event follows on 27 September
The Historic Casteller Event will bring together three established groups, which organisers expect to attempt top-category human towers:
- Castellers de Barcelona, the city's oldest casteller group and long-standing host of the event.
- Minyons de Terrassa.
- Joves Xiquets de Valls.
A parade by the participating groups will leave the Palau de la Virreina at 11:30 and travel to Plaça de Sant Jaume before the 12:00 performance.
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), the city's public transport operator, has not yet confirmed any extended La Mercè metro timetable for 2026. People travelling to the square can check the latest TMB metro and bus timetables before setting out.
Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, noticies.tmb.cat, tmb.cat, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). Reported by barna.news.
