Barcelona city hall chose Toni Falgueras, owner of the century-old celler de Gelida in Sants, as one of the official town criers for the 2026 La Mercè festival. Mayor Jaume Collboni announced the selection at the Albéniz Palace. Falgueras delivered the opening proclamation with his daughter, sommelier and communicator Meritxell Falgueras, in the Saló de Cent, Barcelona’s historic municipal ceremonial hall. Their appearance opened the city’s annual festival honoring Mare de Déu de la Mercè.
The five-day festival ran from Wednesday, September 23, through Sunday, September 27. September 24 was its basic day and a public holiday. El Nacional journalist Jordi Palmer framed the choice as a story of family-business continuity: Antoni and Meritxell Falgueras represent the fourth and fifth generations of El Celler de Gelida. Their proclamation championed traditional shops and neighborhood commerce, a message the pair returned to after the festival. In a 3Cat broadcast on October 23, Toni and Meritxell discussed the importance of local businesses and defended “the value of local commerce.”
For the first time, the 2026 program extended across all ten districts, bringing events closer to neighborhoods throughout Barcelona. Activities took place at sites including Plaça de Catalunya, Moll de la Fusta, Rambla del Raval, Bogatell, Avinguda de la Catedral, Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina and Teatre Grec. The program paired concerts with street performances and traditional events, including castells and the correfoc, the traditional fire run, alongside parades. It also introduced a new Porta de l’Infern for the children’s correfoc. Concert performers included La Pegatina, Love of Lesbian, Els Amics de les Arts, Els Catarres, Nacho Vegas, Aterciopelados and Maika Makovski.
Other announced highlights included family-friendly performances at Plaça de les Glòries on September 24 and a new spectacle dedicated to Gaudí at Park Güell. Construction work on Montjuïc prompted a move for the traditional pyromusical show, usually held on the mountain, to Bogatell beach.
The festival’s visual identity took a new turn with a 33-square-meter mural by artist Cinta Vidal, created for the official poster. The work features the city’s cathedral, Plaça del Rei and the Basílica de la Mercè. It was set to be unveiled at the Paco Candel library in the Marina neighborhood.
Shanghai was named the guest city for 2026, with more than one hundred artists from China expected to take part. The partnership marked the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona-Shanghai sister-city agreement and the first invitation of an Asian city to La Mercè. Barcelona’s efforts to encourage global cultural exchange also find expression in other Spanish regions, where leading culinary figures have shaped local traditions. The impact of Paco Ron on Asturian cuisine is detailed in this recent report on regional gastronomy.
Falgueras’s selection reflects his roots in Barcelona’s commercial and wine culture. Founded in 1895 by his great-grandmother Ton Falgueras, El Celler de Gelida remains a landmark on Vallespir Street. Over the years, Toni Falgueras has received the French Medal of Agricultural Merit and Spain’s Food Award. He is a founding member of Maestros Bodegueros de Cataluña and the Catalan Association of Sommeliers, and holds honorary membership in the Cofradía del Cava. Meritxell Falgueras is known for her work as a sommelier and communicator. Together, they represent a family legacy spanning 131 years.
During the announcement, Mayor Collboni noted that Toni Falgueras and his wife were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, drawing applause from those present. Toni and Meritxell also addressed the audience, emphasizing their commitment to representing Barcelona’s commercial community and the enduring presence of their family business.
La Mercè is one of Barcelona’s major annual celebrations, bringing together civic ceremony, cultural traditions and international programming. In 2026, the festival reached all ten districts and put the Falgueras family’s generational story, along with their defense of neighborhood commerce, at the center of its opening.
