Lorraine Williamson
At the end of September, Barcelona transforms into a vibrant stage for La Mercè Festival 2025, its “festival of festivals” honouring the city’s patron saint, Our Lady of Mercy. This year’s edition runs from 23 to 28 September, promising a six-day celebration of culture, music, tradition, and community.
What began centuries ago as a humble religious feast has grown into one of Europe’s largest free city festivals, drawing millions of visitors and locals into a whirlwind of tradition and modern creativity.
The festival takes its name from the Virgin of Mercy, credited in medieval times with saving Barcelona from a plague of locusts. Today, the religious origins remain in a few ceremonial acts, but La Mercè is far more a celebration of Barcelona itself—a chance for residents and visitors to reclaim the streets, squares, and beaches in a joyous affirmation of community.
Music, fire, and midnight magic
During La Mercè, Barcelona becomes a vast open-air stage. Dozens of neighbourhoods host concerts ranging from rock and pop to world music and experimental sounds, with many of the city’s most famous venues—Plaça de Catalunya, the seafront at Platja del Bogatell, Parc de la Ciutadella—transformed into arenas of sound and light. The celebrated BAM (Barcelona Acció Musical) programme will once again showcase both international acts and emerging local talent, ensuring music spills late into the night in every corner of the city.
Fire is La Mercè’s signature element. The legendary correfoc—literally “fire run”—sends troupes of devils and dragons through the streets, showering sparks into cheering crowds. As night falls, giant papier-mâché creatures breathe flame while percussion bands pound out relentless rhythms, creating an atmosphere that is part carnival, part medieval ritual. The festival’s grand finale, the Piromusical at Montjuïc, combines fireworks, music, and the newly restored Magic Fountain in a dazzling show that lights up the Barcelona skyline. This year’s soundtrack is being composed by Catalan favourites Estopa in collaboration with The Tyets, promising a mix of classic hits and new surprises to close the festival with a roar.
Living traditions in the heart of the city
La Mercè is also a celebration of Catalan identity, and some of its most striking spectacles come from age-old traditions. Human tower teams known as castellers form multi-storey towers of people in a feat of strength and trust that draws breathless applause. Elsewhere, giant figures representing kings, queens, and mythical creatures—the beloved gegants i capgrossos—parade through the old town, dancing to traditional music as children race alongside. Each event reflects Barcelona’s ability to honour its past while embracing the energy of the present.
This year, Manchester will join the festival as guest city, bringing its own artists, performers, and cultural exchanges to the programme. The collaboration adds a fresh international flavour to a week already rich with cross-cultural encounters.
How to experience La Mercè
For visitors, the festival offers a rare chance to see Barcelona at its most authentic and exuberant. The vast majority of concerts, performances, and exhibitions are free, and museums across the city often open their doors without charge. Days are best spent wandering from square to square, sampling street food, joining impromptu dances, or simply watching the city’s people fill their streets with life. Evenings, when the fireworks and correfocs begin, demand a sense of adventure and a readiness for noise, light, and the occasional spray of sparks.
Comfortable shoes are essential for covering the sprawling network of venues, and public transport operates late into the night to help festival-goers navigate the city safely. A light jacket is wise for cooler evenings by the sea, but the atmosphere is warm enough to keep even the most determined night owl energised.
A festival that defines a city
La Mercè is more than a party; it is Barcelona’s annual declaration of who it is—creative, communal, and unafraid to celebrate life in the streets. Whether you come for the music, the fireworks, the fire runs, or the simple joy of sharing space with millions of revelers, the La Mercè Festival 2025 promises a week where the city’s heartbeat is impossible to ignore. For six unforgettable days, Barcelona becomes not just a destination, but a living celebration of culture, history, and the irresistible power of community.