Farewell to La Mercè 2025: six days of festivities conclude with Estopa’s music and fireworks

La Mercè went smoothly all around the city, with no cancellations. There were activities in new spaces such as the Parc del Fòrum, offering dance and circus shows. Drone displays also played a part, with a significant dose of English culture in the programme too as Manchester was the guest city. Next year’s local festival will have Shanghai as the guest city.

Diverse music line-up with different sounds

The concerts with the largest crowds were in Av. Reina Maria Cristina and at the Bogatell beach, with a programme offering a good balance between audiences and featuring groups such as The Tyets, Mushka, Rigoberta Bandini and Figa Flawas. One of the most iconic moments for this year’s La Mercè was at the stage in Av. Catedral, with a concert paying homage to El Pescaílla, one of the fathers of Catalan rumba.

Consolidation of street arts

Over seventy companies performed their shows at different points in the city. Circus shows changed their usual venue of Montjuïc Castle (currently undergoing work) and moved to the Parc del Fòrum, where they were very well received. Port Olímpic consolidated its role this year as a space for families. Elsewhere, the Parc de l’Estació del Nord and the Jardins del Palauet Albéniz reaffirmed their importance, while the Parc de l’Aqüeducte again placed a special emphasis on solidarity, with Pallassos sense Fronteres.

Another of the city’s iconic parks, Park Güell, played a significant role in the programme too. As part of Mondiacult, the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, Park Güell offered a premiere of the show Immaterial, by the Voël company, paying homage to Catalonia’s intangible heritage.

Bees join traditional beasts

The beast and the giant inspired by the bee, a symbol of Manchester and created especially for La Mercè, were present at key moments in fifty traditional culture activities such as the starting ceremony (Toc d’Inici), the beasts’ stroll (Passejada de Bèsties), the entourage (Seguici) and the procession (Cavalcada), which followed a new route starting in Pl. Catalunya. The festivities also celebrated the 75^th anniversary of the Obra del Ballet Popular with a meeting of traditional dance groups from all over Catalonia, and the 75^th anniversary of the Sports Sardana Competition.

La Mercè on the website, the app and social media

Over the days of the festival, the municipal website for La Mercè barcelona.cat/lamerce received 1,5 million visits, some 20% more than last year, with over 3.7 million page visits. Over 43,000 users downloaded the app for La Mercè, some 79% more than in 2024, and 250,000 sessions were recorded. Municipal social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Telegram, WhatsApp, YouTube) published 340 posts about La Mercè, with 5.5 million views.