In September, the city of Barcelona throws its biggest party of the year, La Mercè. It’s the local festa major, or main festival, and is essentially a massive, city-wide send-off to summer. One of the best Spanish festivals in September, the whole celebration is held in honour of the Mare de Déu de la Mercè, one of Barcelona's patron saints. For a few days, the streets come alive with parades, music and traditional events that give you a proper feel for the city's character.
Main events and highlights of the La Mercè Festival
Most of the events are completely free and take place across the city in iconic spots like the Gothic Quarter, Parc de la Ciutadella, and up on Montjuïc hill.
The Correfoc
The Correfoc, or 'fire run', is exactly what it sounds like. Local groups dressed as devils (diables) and mythical beasts run through the streets, spinning fireworks and creating a tunnel of sparks. It is a loud, chaotic, and brilliant experience. A bit of friendly advice: wear old clothes with long sleeves, a hat, and some glasses to protect yourself from the stray sparks.
Gegants & Capgrossos
For something a bit more traditional and less fiery, you have the parade of the Gegants and Capgrossos, the Giants and Big-Heads Parade. These are enormous papier-mâché figures of giants, kings, queens, and other 'big-headed' characters that dance through the streets to the sound of traditional music. It’s a common feature of Catalan festivals and has a fantastic, family-friendly atmosphere.
Castellers
This is a classic Catalan tradition where teams, or colles, work together to build incredible human towers. It’s an amazing display of teamwork, strength, and balance that holds a lot of cultural significance here. The main event usually happens in Plaça de Sant Jaume, where different groups compete to build the most complex and highest towers. Watching the smallest child, the enxaneta, scramble to the very top is a real heart-in-your-mouth moment.
Alongside these big events, keep an eye out for sardanas (traditional Catalan circle dances), drone shows, and light projection shows on the facades of landmark buildings. Plus, many of Barcelona's top museums, like the Museu Picasso and Fundació Joan Miró, have open-door days with free entry until the 24th of September.
La Mercè Barcelona 2025 dates and programme
The dates for La Mercè 2025 are scheduled from Tuesday, 23rd September to Sunday, 28th September 2025. The main public holiday falls on the 24th, so you'll find many of the key events cluster around that time. This year's guest city is Manchester, so you can expect a few nods to English culture mixed in with the Catalan traditions. Here are the unmissable events:
Opening night (23rd September)
Things kick off at 7 pm with the pregón, the official opening speech, in the Saló de Cent at the City Hall. This year, it’s being delivered by the Catalan actress Emma Vilarasau.
Afterwards, head straight to Plaça de Sant Jaume for the Toc d’inici, where all the traditional figures like giants and beasts have their first ceremonial dance.
Also on the first night is the Xambanga at 8.30 pm, a chaotic parade where the city’s giants get dressed up in costumes and party their way from La Rambla to Plaça de Sant Jaume, surrounded by lights and confetti.
La Cabalgata de La Mercè (24th September)
This is the main parade of the festival, a huge procession with dance troupes, musical groups, themed floats, and all the traditional figures. The route starts at Avenida del Marquès de l’Argentera, goes along Paseo de Colom and up Avenida del Paral·lel, before finishing at Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina around 9 pm.
Piromusical Finale (28th September)
This is the spectacular closing ceremony. It’s a huge musical fireworks display at the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, which starts at 10 pm. After a long break due to drought, the water is finally back on at the fountain, so it should be extra special.
Music and Concerts for La Mercè Barcelona 2025
The music lineup is always brilliant and incredibly varied, with free concerts all over the city.
Here’s a selection of some of the most interesting acts to catch this year:
Tuesday 23rd September
The opening night is packed with great music from different genres.
- Rocío Márquez – Avinguda de la Catedral, 22:30 – A leading voice in experimental and contemporary flamenco.
- Pussy Riot – La Plaça de Catalunya, 23:00 – The legendary Russian feminist protest-punk group.
- The Ex – La Rambla del Raval, 23:00 – Influential and long-running Dutch post-punk veterans.
- Porij – Jardines del Doctor Pla i Armengol, 23:15 – An electronic dance-rock band hailing from the festival's guest city, Manchester.
- Lido Pimienta - Moll de la Fusta, 12.00 - Colombian-Canadian artist who creates a blend of art-folk music.
- Ladilla Rusa – La Plaça de Catalunya, 01:00 – A hilarious and hugely popular electropop duo known for their kitsch humour and party anthems.
Wednesday 24th September
This is a more relaxed day musically, focusing on local talent and community projects.
- Catalunya Freestyle – La Plaça de Catalunya, 17:00 – A four-hour showcase of some of the best local rap and freestyle talent.
- Orquestra Simfònica Vozes + La Maria – Plaça Major de Nou Barris, 20:45 – A community project orchestra teams up with a Valencian singer for a blend of classical and traditional sounds.
Friday 26th September
This is a huge night for concerts, with massive names playing across the city.
- Buhos – Avinguda Maria Cristina, 21:15 – One of Catalonia's biggest and best-loved festive pop-rock bands.
- Rigoberta Bandini – La playa del Bogatell, 23:00 – A Spanish pop superstar famous for her theatrical live shows and feminist anthems.
- Bongeziwe Mabandla – Teatre Grec, 23:30 – South African musician who masterfully blends Xhosa folk with modern soul and indie sounds.
- Queralt Lahoz & Werkha – Avinguda de la Catedral, 00:00 – A powerful fusion of flamenco, hip-hop, and urban pop from a local Catalan star and a British producer.
- Children of Zeus – La Rambla del Raval, 00:30 – A neo-soul and hip-hop duo from Manchester, representing the guest city.
- Lia Kali – La playa del Bogatell, 01:00 – A powerful vocalist and one of the fastest-rising stars in Spain's urban and soul scene.
- Villano Antillano – Moll de la Fusta, 01:30 – A trailblazing Puerto Rican rapper and a huge international name in Latin trap.
Saturday 27th September
The party continues with another massive lineup of Spanish and Catalan stars.
- Gregotechno – Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm, 20:15 – An unusual and experimental act that fuses Gregorian chants with techno beats.
- Bigwé – Plaza de Can Fabra, 21:30 – A smooth blend of R&B, jazz fusion, and pop from the promising local artist.
- Sidonie – Avinguda de la Catedral, 22:00 – True veterans and one of the most beloved bands on the Spanish indie-rock scene.
- DJ Lycox – La Rambla del Raval, 23:00 – A DJ set blending modern electronic sounds with high-energy Afropop and dance rhythms.
- The Tyets – La playa del Bogatell, 00:15 – Currently one of the hottest acts in Catalonia, blending reggaeton, pop, and traditional Catalan sounds.
- La La Love You – Avinguda Maria Cristina, 01:15 – A fun and energetic pop-punk band with a string of massive hits in Spain.
- Vicco – La playa del Bogatell, 01:45 – A pop singer who shot to fame with her viral Eurovision entry 'Nochentera'.
Sunday 28th September
The festival winds down with a more chilled-out vibe on the final day.
- Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet – Parque de la Ciutadella, 13:00 – A soulful folk-hop and jazz collective from Manchester.
- La Otra Rumba – Plaza de Can Fabra, 14:00 – An infectious mix of Latin American and African rhythms.
- Sonido San Francisco – Plaza de Can Fabra, 17:30 – An electronic cumbia act, bringing a modern twist to a classic Latin American sound.
- Sehar Gul Khan – Parque de la Ciutadella, 19:30 – A celebrated Pakistani singer blending traditional folk with contemporary pop.
- Havaneres Concerts – La Plaça de Sant Jaume, from 19:30 – Classic Catalan sea shanties performed in the historic square.
Practical information for attending the Barcelona Festival
Getting around Barcelona during La Mercè is actually pretty straightforward if you plan ahead. Your best bet is the metro, which usually runs non-stop over the main festival weekend. The city centre gets very crowded, so it's best to avoid driving or relying on taxis for short journeys.
Just a quick heads-up: the 24th of September is a public holiday in Barcelona. This means many of the regular shops, banks, and some smaller businesses will be closed for the day. The atmosphere is fantastic, but it’s always sensible to be mindful of your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings, as you would in any large crowd.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay, areas like the Gothic Quarter, El Born or Gràcia will put you right in the heart of the action. Be warned, though; after a few days soaking up this kind of atmosphere, you might find yourself looking into what it's like living in Barcelona and browsing through long-term rentals or even property for sale in the city.
The city is alive with celebrations throughout the year, from the whimsical book and rose traditions of St. George's Day to the fire-fuelled beach parties of the Sant Joan summer solstice festival. Spain is home to some of the most unusual festivals out there, which are well worth checking out.
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