Event Details
Welcome to La Mercè 2026 in Barcelona
From 23 to 27 September 2026, Barcelona celebrates its biggest city festival in honour of its patron saint, La Mercè. The official public holiday falls on Thursday, 24 September; around this date the Catalan capital turns into a giant open air stage for a full week, with traditional parades, fire runs, concerts and family programming across almost every neighbourhood.
Highlights
- Castellers: Catalan human towers on Plaça de Sant Jaume
- Correfoc: fire run with fire breathing dragons and devils on the evening of 26 September
- Over 100 free concerts across fourteen stages throughout the city
- Cursa de la Mercè: major public run through downtown on 20 September
- Piromusical: grand closing fireworks show set to music at Bogatell Beach (27 September)
- 2026 guest city: Shanghai, bringing its own cultural program
- Giants (Gegants) and traditional parades through the Old Town
- Free entry to many museums and cultural venues on 24 September
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Program
The sporting kickoff is the Cursa de la Mercè on Sunday, 20 September, a public race through downtown Barcelona. The main festival program runs from 23 to 27 September, with concerts on fourteen music stages across the city; artists from around thirty countries perform this year. On the official public holiday itself, 24 September, many museums and cultural venues open their doors for free. On Saturday evening, 26 September, the famous Correfoc winds through the Old Town as fire breathing dragons and devils turn the streets into a sea of flames. The festival closes on Sunday, 27 September, with the Piromusical, a grand fireworks show set to music, which this year moves to Bogatell Beach due to construction work at its usual site.
Tickets
The main La Mercè program, including the human towers, parades, Correfoc, concerts and the Piromusical, is entirely free to attend. Only a few theatre performances or extended concert formats within the wider program may occasionally require a ticket. The full program is published by the City of Barcelona and available on the official website.
Visitor Tips
- Wear closed, fire resistant clothing plus a hat and protective glasses if joining the Correfoc.
- Arrive early for the big concerts and the Piromusical to secure a good spot, as crowds get large.
- Late September in Barcelona is still warm during the day (around 21 to 26 degrees) but cools noticeably in the evening; bring a light jacket.
- Eat before the evening events, as restaurants near the main venues fill up quickly.
- Use public transport, since many streets in the centre are closed for the parades.
