Event Details
Welcome to the Correfoc at La Mercè 2026
The Correfoc (Catalan for "fire run") is one of Barcelona's most intense traditions and one of the true highlights of the Festes de la Mercè. People deliberately walk among fire breathing dragons and performers dressed as devils, as sparks fly through the air and drums set the rhythm. This year the Correfoc takes place on Saturday evening, 26 September 2026, along the grand Passeig de Gràcia between Carrer del Consell de Cent and Diagonal.
Highlights
- Traditional fire run right through the crowd
- Fire breathing dragons and beasts (bestiari festiu)
- Devil troupes (colles de diables) with handheld fireworks
- A gentler children's Correfoc earlier in the evening
- New for 2026: a new "Porta de l'Infern" (Gate of Hell) from which the devils and dragons emerge
- Drumming and traditional music throughout
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What to Expect
The children's Correfoc starts around 6:00 PM and offers a toned down version for families. The adult Correfoc follows around 8:00 to 8:30 PM and runs until roughly 11:30 PM. The street is closed to traffic and given over entirely to the "Diables" (devils) and the crowd. Devil troupes move through the street with drums, firecrackers and sparklers; anyone who joins the runners gets deliberately sprayed with sparks. For 2026, a new "Porta de l'Infern" measuring roughly four by eight metres has been announced, through which the devils, dragons and fantastical beasts emerge at the start of the event, accompanied by percussion and pyrotechnics.
Tickets
The Correfoc is part of La Mercè's free public program and requires no ticket. Anyone planning to run among the devils should take proper protective measures beforehand (see the visitor tips below).
Visitor Tips
- Wear long, non flammable clothing if you plan to be in the middle of the action.
- A hood or scarf and protective glasses are strongly recommended; earplugs help against the noise from the firecrackers.
- If you only want to watch, stay well back from the street or toward the rear of the crowd.
- Travel by metro or bus, as the streets around Passeig de Gràcia are closed to vehicles.
- Arrive early, as crowds build up quickly along the route.
