Free festive event runs 27 November to 6 January
Nadal al Port 2026 will take place from Friday 27th November 2026 to Wednesday 6th January 2027 at Moll de la Fusta and other areas of Port Vell, offering 40 days of free family-friendly activities. The event will run daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with free admission throughout. The opening ceremony will be held on Friday 27th November at 6 p.m. at Moll de la Fusta, featuring the traditional lighting of the Port Vell Christmas decorations. This year’s theme, 'El Nadal més salat' (The Saltiest Christmas), celebrates the meeting of architecture, sea, and festive tradition, coinciding with Barcelona’s designation as both World Capital of Architecture and European Capital of Christmas in 2026, as well as the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death.
Gaudí-inspired lights and inflatable installations
The festival’s centrepiece will be a large inflatable installation at Plaça del Portal de la Pau, designed to resemble the Tower of Christ from the Sagrada Família and serving as a unique Christmas tree. Additional inflatable figures inspired by Gaudí’s work, including spiral forms from Casa Milà and warrior-like figures from La Pedrera, will be placed across Port Vell, alongside illuminated spheres and columns. A major highlight will be the 'sky of light' covering Moll de la Fusta (Bosch i Alsina dock), which will recreate Gaudí’s signature trencadís mosaic style through an immersive light and music show. The display will be activated for the first time during the inauguration.
Digital gincana and cultural programme
A new mobile app in the form of a digital treasure hunt will invite families to scan QR codes on the festive installations. Each code unlocks quizzes, riddles, and challenges related to Gaudí, architecture, and the secrets of Port Vell. Participants who complete the challenges will enter a draw for prizes including Aquarium tickets, meals at local restaurants, and entry to Circ Històric Raluy Legacy. The opening night will conclude with El Mesies Participatiu, a large-scale choral concert featuring over 100 singers from Associació Messies Participatiu Barcelona and musicians from Orquestra Barroca Catalana. They will perform excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, accompanied by actor Jordi Subirà, who will recite passages from Stefan Zweig’s story 'Handel’s Resurrection'.
Additional seasonal events at Port Vell
Throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy the 7th Christmas Market at Moll de la Fusta and Drassanes Pier. From 19th December, the historic Circo Raluy will perform at Barceloneta Pier. On 25th December, the Club Natació Barcelona will host its traditional New Year’s Day swim at Portal de la Pau. The festivities will close on 5th January with the arrival of the Three Kings at the same location, organised with the support of ICUB and the Ajuntament de Barcelona. The full programme will be published soon on the Port de Barcelona website.
Sources: betevé, portdebarcelona.cat, eventland.eu.
