La merce 2025
By Charlotte Stace
As summer comes to a close and festival season winds down, La Mercè steps in to prove Barcelona always has one more celebration up its sleeve. The city’s iconic “festival of festivals” combines street arts, music, cultural traditions and performances, transforming the city into a colourful and shared stage.
Expect: Mercè Arts de Carrer (MAC) - a mix of street installations, circus, dance and immersive visual shows; Música Mercè and BAM (Barcelona Acció Musical) - free concerts and performances showcasing the city’s embrace of diversity, inclusion and intercultural creativity; and the monumental fireworks finale - a dazzling display set up by the famed Muñoz brothers.
More than a celebration, La Mercè is at the heart of Barcelona’s history; where centuries-old traditions meet contemporary creativity. From gegants (giants) and human towers (castellers) to correfocs (fire runs), cultural parades, drone shows and open-door access to museums and historic sites, this festival invites everyone to experience all the city has to offer.