Every September, Barcelona is completely transformed to celebrate its main festival: La Mercè. What began as a festival in honor of the city’s patron saint has become a huge celebration that fills every corner with music, art, popular culture, and joy. If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, living the La Mercè festival 2025 is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the city’s soul.
At HCC Hotels, we know that a festival of this magnitude requires a good location to comfortably reach all the activities. That’s why we invite you to discover how our central locations offer the perfect starting point to enjoy every moment of this great festival. Get ready to discover Catalan culture in all its splendor and experience September festivals in Barcelona you won’t forget.
What’s New at La Mercè 2025: Key Dates and a Guest of Honor
This year, La Mercè 2025 is packed with surprises and long-awaited returns. The official celebration will run from Tuesday, September 23, to Sunday, September 28, with a short break on Thursday the 25th to recharge and continue the festivities throughout the weekend.
Prestigious Official Town Crier: The starting signal for La Mercè 2025 will be given by the renowned Catalan actress Emma Vilarasau, who will be the festival’s official town crier (pregonera). Known for her long and successful career in theater and television, Vilarasau is one of the most respected figures in Catalonia’s art scene.
Her selection for this honor is no coincidence; her career, talent, and deep connection to local culture make her the ideal person to kick off the city’s great celebration. Her speech, full of emotion and meaning, will mark the beginning of unforgettable days of festivity.
Manchester, Guest City: The city of Manchester will be the guest of honor at this year’s edition, contributing its vibrant music culture and street art proposals. You’ll be able to enjoy concerts by artists like Queralt Lahoz with Tom Werkha, Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet, and Children of Zeus, among others, as well as dance performances and shows.
The Artist’s Poster: This year’s poster, created by stage designer Lluís Danès, pays homage to the performing arts, inspired by the arrival of a circus that floods the city.
The Awaited Return: The biggest news of this edition is the return of the Montjuïc Fountains. After a three-year hiatus, they will be back in operation for the Piromusical, offering a visual and musical spectacle more impressive than ever.
An Immersion in Popular Culture: La Mercè 2025 Program
La Mercè is such a vast festival that it spreads throughout the city, filling squares and streets with its program. Here is a summary of the most important events so you can plan your visit and not miss the essentials.
The Start of the Festival and its Major Milestones
The festival kicks off with the Pregón, which this year will be delivered by the acclaimed actress Emma Vilarasau on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 23, in the Saló de Cent of the City Hall. Afterward, popular culture takes the spotlight with the Toc d’inici and the La Mercè Parade. The figures of the bestiary, the giants (gegants), and the rest of the Popular Entourage begin the festivities with a parade that announces the start of the celebration in the city’s streets.
Giants and Bestiary
The festivities start with the Toc d’inici, an act that inaugurates the celebrations. You can’t miss the great International Meeting of Gegants, where these large, centuries-old figures dance and parade through the city’s streets, accompanied by the rhythm of the grallas and tabals. In the courtyard of the Palau de la Virreina and other spaces, you can enjoy exhibitions of the Seguici popular, which include the Gegants de la Ciutat, l’Àliga, el Lleó, and el Drac, among other emblematic figures.
Fire and Tradition
For the most daring, the Correfoc is a spectacular show of fire and gunpowder that runs through the streets of Ciutat Vella. It’s a parade of diables (devils) and fire beasts that, to the beat of drums, dance and shoot sparks. It’s a vibrant experience that will make you feel the energy of the festival throughout your body. In addition, on the beaches, the fireworks offer an unforgettable visual spectacle.
Castells: The Human Towers
One of the most thrilling and representative moments of the festival is the castells. The castellers build impressive human towers, showcasing the strength, balance, and courage of their entire team. It is an ancestral tradition that symbolizes community cooperation and trust. The `castells` events will take place in Plaça de Sant Jaume on Thursday, September 24, and Saturday, September 27.
Music and Festivals
Music is the soul of La Mercè. The Barcelona Acció Musical (BAM) festival returns with a program full of independent and alternative music talent. The concert program will be active on September 23, 24, 26, 27, and 28, with artists such as Pussy Riot, Rigoberta Bandini, Mushkaa, and Tarta Relena. The city’s stages—such as the Parc de la Ciutadella and Castell de Montjuïc—will host a wide variety of bands. Furthermore, the gastronomic festival Terra i Gust will once again occupy the Parc de la Ciutadella from September 26 to 28.
The Piromusical: The Grand Farewell
The festival culminates spectacularly with the Piromusical de la Mercè. This grand fireworks show takes place on Sunday, September 28, on Avenida de la Reina María Cristina, with music as the main thread. The well-known brothers David and José Muñoz, Estopa, will be in charge of choosing the soundtrack that will play during the piromusical. The big news this year is that the light and sound show will once again feature the Montjuïc Fountains, which will reopen for the occasion, elevating the beauty of the spectacle to an unprecedented level.
Beyond the Festival: Art, Gastronomy, and Sports
La Mercè is an event that encompasses much more than popular culture, with an agenda that includes concerts, exhibitions, and activities for all tastes.
Open Doors
Taking advantage of the celebration of the patron saint, on Wednesday, September 24, and in some cases on the preceding days, many museums and cultural spaces in Barcelona open their doors for free. It’s a golden opportunity to visit exhibitions and collections in a completely accessible way.
Gastronomy and Culture
The Terra i Gust gastronomic festival returns to the Parc de la Ciutadella from September 26 to 28, championing local and proximity gastronomy. And for those who love reading, the Catalan Book Week (Setmana del Llibre en Català) coincides with the festivals again, offering a meeting place for literature.
The Cursa de la Mercè Fun Run
For those who enjoy running, the Cursa de la Mercè is moved up to September 21. It’s a popular race that brings together thousands of people through the city’s streets in a festive atmosphere.
La Mercè, Patron Saint of Barcelona
The history behind the city’s patron saint is as fascinating as the festival celebrated in her honor. The devotion to the Virgin of Mercè dates back long before the 17th century, to the 13th century, when it is said she appeared before Saint Peter Nolasco to ask him to found a religious order dedicated to freeing captives.
However, the official appointment of La Mercè as the city’s patron came from a historical event. In 1687, a terrible locust plague ravaged the fields of Barcelona and its surroundings, decimating crops and bringing the city to the brink of famine. Desperate, the people invoked the Virgin of Mercè, and upon seeing the plague disappear, the Consell de Cent (the city’s government) unanimously decided to proclaim her the patron saint of Barcelona, in a gesture of gratitude and faith.
Since then, the word “mercè,” which comes from the Latin mercede and means “reward” or “benefit,” has symbolized mercy, protection, and help. The great annual festival is not just an explosion of color and culture, but a show of gratitude and a reaffirmation of the community’s values. Thus, every September, the city pays homage to its patron saint and celebrates with her the history, resilience, and joy of its people.
Your Base in the Heart of the Festival: HCC Hotels
With so many events and activities, it’s essential to have a strategic place to stay. Our hotels in the center of Barcelona put you in the heart of the action, just a few steps from the main festival stages.
From our hotels, you can enjoy the decorated streets and the festive atmosphere, and then return to the comfort and tranquility of your room to rest. The public transport connections will allow you to get to any part of the celebration quickly and safely.
We invite you to plan your trip to Barcelona to experience La Mercè 2025 and make your stay with HCC Hotels the perfect experience. Happy Holidays!
