Construction work around Fira de Montjuïc is pushing Barcelona’s traditional La Mercè piromusical to Bogatell beach this year. The show is scheduled for Sunday 27 September at 22:00, with fireworks set to music selected by Josep Montero of Oques Grasses. The venue change is the most visible adjustment in a five-day programme spanning all ten districts. El Confidencial, El Periódico, Time Out Barcelona and betevé have independently confirmed the move and the date.
The 2026 festival will run from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 September, with nearly 500 activities in streets, parks and squares. Its programme features free concerts, castells and giants, as well as correfocs, parades and events for children and families. Plaça de les Glòries will join the list of venues on 24 September, hosting activities designed specifically for family audiences.
Fireworks will launch from the espigó del Bogatell, while Nova Icària is also expected to offer one of the best viewing areas. The Bogatell setting gives the closing spectacle a distinctly coastal feel. Visitors checking Mediterranean conditions can also consult an earlier weather report. Montero’s musical selection will accompany the fireworks in a setup adapted to the Barcelona waterfront.
Music Mercè BAM and Acció Cultura Viva will bring more than one hundred performances to stages across the city. The announced artists include Nacho Vegas, Els Amics de les Arts, Els Catarres and Maria Jaume, alongside Svetlana, Sexenni, Buhos and La Pegatina. All concerts will be free, though some venues may restrict entry when they reach capacity. El Periódico also reports that Bogatell will host other large concerts during the festival, including performances by Miki Núñez, Buhos and Sexenni.
Access arrangements will also shape the festival’s open-door activities. Museums, historic buildings and cultural facilities will have different rules: some will admit visitors free of charge, while others will require advance booking or registration.
El Periódico says the 2026 programme includes 109 concerts, 55 cultural performances and 180 street shows across 32 venues. Those figures give a sense of the festival’s reach across all ten districts, even as major crowds gather around the Bogatell and Nova Icària waterfront.
The Sagrada Família will distribute 20.000 free tickets for visits on 24, 25, 26 and 27 September. A draw will allocate the invitations, which cover the basilica’s interior and museum, along with the Nativity and Passion façades. Information from Que.es, registration for the draw remains open until 20 September. Before travelling, visitors will need to check each venue’s timetable, ticket availability and entry procedure.
Popular culture will keep the festival tied to its traditional calendar. The Toc d’Inici opens celebrations on 23 September, followed by the parade and one of the casteller events on 24 September. On Saturday 26 September, the children’s correfoc and the city’s basic correfoc will take place alongside giants and bigheads, as well as traditional dances, festive beasts and street processions. A new Porta de l’Infern will act as the symbolic entrance for the devil groups and fire beasts.
La Mercè 2026 brings free performances across the city together with cultural visits, including a draw for Sagrada Família tickets. The move to Bogatell shifts the festival’s most recognisable night event to the coast because of work around Montjuïc. Visitors should plan for capacity limits and reservations, since not every activity offers unrestricted entry. Nearly 500 events will span all ten districts, with the programme focused on scale and public access.
