Street arts, circus, and family shows fill one of the major festivals of Barcelona’s Festa Major: Mercè Arts de Carrer. Around eighty shows by artists and companies from across Europe form part of the program in this edition of La Mercè, focused on diversity and featuring, as a major novelty, a dedicated venue for circus: the Parc dels Auditoris del Fòrum, with its own stage design.

The programming team includes Jordi Duran, Jordi Querol, Cristina Cazorla, Sergi Ots, and Tortell Poltrona (Clowns Without Borders), curators who have designed the artistic offer in the different Mercè Arts de Carrer spaces.

This year, due to improvement works at Montjuïc Castle, the site cannot serve as one of La Mercè’s usual stages. In its place, the new Parc dels Auditoris del Fòrum space debuts, offering a fresh setting for contemporary circus. On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September, expect breathtaking acrobatics, evocative performances, and powerful imagery. Movement is the central theme of Veus de vent, a scenography by Queralt Suau, which makes the invisible visible. Highlights include:Copenhagen Collective, a team of 19 acrobats presenting The Genesis, a tale of compassion and community in times of conflict and division, Le p’tit bras, with their aerial western, Motionhouse, creating an urban forest in Wild, Wilbur, blending acrobatics and humor and Nacho Flores, reimagining taming in the spectacular Domte.

Parc de l’Estació del Nord and Parc de la Trinitat

The Parc de l’Estació del Nord (Sept 23, 24, 26, 27, and 28) and Parc de la Trinitat (Sept 26, 27, and 28) once again spotlight diversity and present stories rarely found in conventional programming.

At Estació del Nord, you’ll be greeted by a giant about to awaken, created by Marc Salicrú. From here one the park might show you several sides: Morning sessions feature family-friendly programming, followed by afternoon shows for all ages, and evening cabaret-style performances. Not to miss: Glam Canalla: Nits al Nord, a late-night show for adults.

Daytime highlights include: Komunumo, the new piece by Eléctrico 28, Guest companies from Manchester, La Mercè’s invited city, such as Company Chameleon, with both their own choreography and a joint piece with Lisard Tranis & Clémentine Télesfort, Parking Shakespeare, staging The Comedy of Errors, Projecte Iglú, with El lloc del desig and Thomas Roper & Marga Socias, with Agència de la bona sort.

At Parc de la Trinitat, Manchester’s presence continues with Walk the Plank’s Jardí de foc, a warm and dazzling nighttime walk among fiery flowers (don’t get too close to flowers as they burn), featuring rotating performances by Trio Goldbergh, Delahuerta, and Edwin Freestyle. Also there: A sound installation by Oxford Contemporary Music, Ro-tes, a wheelchair dance piece by Stopgap Dance Company and Ikebanah installation by Patx-work Productions, A community-driven theatre-dance piece by La LabOriosa (Anna López and Triana Doce specialised in theatre, dance and community theatre). They bring to life an artistic piece of day to day life. Other must-sees: Répliques by La grand jeté, and Akri by Manel Rosés (circus… and a ladder).

Young audiences and hijacked buses

At the Olympic Port (September 27 and 28), the family-friendly program takes center stage once again, with a steady flow of performances by the sea that transform the space into a small paradise for children and the adults accompanying them. Workshops, activities, and shows — such as Lua by Alba Sarraute, ¡Qué buen día! by Maite Guevara, or Woof by Pere Hosta, to name just a few — are part of the schedule. At the Moll de Mestral, families will also find a safe space where kids can enjoy the beach and the sea up close.

The program at the Joan Maragall Gardens, within the Palauet Albéniz grounds, is also family-oriented, offering intimate and sensory pieces. The shows here are text-free, feature reduced sound volume, and guarantee accessibility. Highlights include the latest creation by Els Escarlata, just premiered at FiraTàrrega, as well as performances by Toti Toronell, Circ Pànic, and the Portuguese company Concorda.

Finally, the Parc de l’Aqüeducte in Ciutat Meridiana will be taken over entirely by laughter and celebration on September 24, as Clowns Without Borders host a full day of performances. Expect some familiar faces among the guests, including actress Clara Segura and TV personality Andreu Buenafuente. And since Eduard Fernández is also joining, they’ll even re-enact the famous hijacking of Bus 47. Ready?

If you want to know more about the programme of the festival Mercè Arts de Carrer check La Mercè website.