La Mercè Festival Dates and Public Holiday
The annual La Mercè festival in Barcelona will take place from Wednesday 23 September to Sunday 27 September 2026, according to the city council's official press release. The official public holiday for the city falls on Thursday 24 September, which is designated as the feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, Barcelona’s co-patron saint alongside Saint Eulalia. As a local holiday, 24 September is a non-working day for residents, confirmed by the Barcelona city government and listed on the official 2026 holiday calendar for the city.
Opening Ceremony and Pregoner
The festivities will begin on the evening of 23 September with the traditional opening address, the pregó, delivered by master cellarman Antoni Falgueras, a renowned figure in Catalan winemaking. He will be joined by his daughter, sommelier Meritxell Falgueras, during the ceremony, as announced by the city’s press service.
Artistic Highlights and Cultural Programme
This year’s festival poster has been designed by visual artist Cinta Vidal, featuring iconic city landmarks with an innovative perspective. Shanghai is the guest city of honour for La Mercè 2026, marking a cultural partnership between the two global cities. A major new production will commemorate both the Gaudí Year and the centenary of Park Güell. This large-scale performance, co-produced with the Catalan government’s Department of Culture, will blend traditional music and folk dances with contemporary elements. It will be held at Park Güell on 24 and 26 September, involving local folk groups. Families will have dedicated programming on 24 September at Parc de les Glòries, which debuts this year as a festival venue. Additional new stages will be set up at Plaça de Sarrià and Plaça Comas, expanding the festival across all ten city districts.
Street Arts, Correfoc and Fireworks
The popular street arts programme, Mercè Arts de Carrer, will make its debut at Parc de les Glòries on 24 September. The Passeig de Gràcia will once again host the fiery correfoc parade, featuring the premiere of a new 'Porta de l’Infern' (Gate of Hell) on Saturday 26 September. The closing piromusical fireworks display will be held on Sunday 27 September, but for the first time, it will launch from Bogatell Beach. This change is due to ongoing transformation works at the Fira Montjuïc site, which has historically hosted the event. The new location aims to offer broader viewing access across the city.
How to Follow the Festival
The full programme, including concert line-ups, open-air theatre, and free-entry cultural site visits, will be published on the Barcelona Cultura website. Updates will also be available via the city council’s official communications channels.
Primary sources: barcelona.cat. Reported by newfizz.es, diaricatalunya.cat, barcelonaexpatlife.com, Betevé.
