> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # La Mercè 2026 to Feature Shanghai as Guest City - URL: https://barna.news/la-merce-2026-to-feature-shanghai-as/ - Published: 2026-09-01T21:45:53.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-01T22:22:09.000Z - Description: Barcelona’s annual festival will run from 23–27 September, with fireworks moving to the beach and new family zones at Port Olímpic and Glòries. - Author: Barbara Town - Tags: whats-on ## Fireworks Shift to Beach Amid Montjuïc Works The Piromusical, one of [La Mercè](https://barna.news/whats-on-la-merce/)’s most iconic events, will take place on Sunday, 27 September 2026 at Nova Icària beach, according to the Barcelona City Council. This relocation follows the ongoing transformation of Fira de Barcelona on Montjuïc, where the show has traditionally been held beside the Magic Fountain. The move is expected to continue through future editions until 2029 due to the scale and duration of the construction. > The Piromusical de La Mercè 2026 tindrà lloc el diumenge 27 de setembre a la platja de la Nova Icària, nou escenari de l’espectacle. The fireworks display will be synchronised to a curated soundtrack by Josep Montero, lead singer and creative force behind the Catalan band Oques Grasses. Marçal Cruz from Oido studio will handle sound design, while Pirotècnia Igual oversees pyrotechnic coordination. This continues a recent tradition of inviting prominent musical artists, following Rosalía in 2024 and Estopa in 2025. --- ## Shanghai Celebrated as First Asian Guest City Shanghai will be the guest city of honour for La Mercè 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of its twinning agreement with Barcelona. Over 100 artists from Shanghai and the local Chinese community will participate, bringing traditional music, acrobatics, dance, and drone shows to the festival programme. Performers include the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. The city council described this as a unique opportunity to experience the culture of a major Asian metropolis, the first from Asia to hold the guest city role. ### New Stages and Neighbourhood Focus Activities will take place across all ten districts, with new performance areas at Plaça de les Glòries, Plaça de Sarrià, and Plaça Comas. Thursday, 24 September, a public holiday in Barcelona, will focus on family-friendly street arts and cultural events. Port Olímpic will host dedicated family activities, part of a wider effort to reclaim the area for local residents after extensive public space renovations and the removal of nightlife venues. Park Güell will also feature prominently with a co-produced show by the city council and the Generalitat, celebrating both Gaudí Year and the park’s centenary. The performance, blending traditional Catalan culture with contemporary elements, will run on 24 and 26 September. Residents can now access free entry to Park Güell via a new pass for registered Barcelona inhabitants. --- ## Correfoc Returns to Passeig de Gràcia The Correfoc de la Mercè will return to Passeig de Gràcia on Saturday, 26 September, marking its fourth consecutive year on the avenue. The event will debut a new 'Porta de l’Infern' (Gate of Hell), serving as the starting point for the fire run. The spectacle begins at 8:30 PM, preceded by 'La Tabalada' drumming and a children's Correfoc in the afternoon. The fire route will span 600 metres along Passeig de Gràcia between Provença and Consell de Cent streets, featuring devils, dragons, and fire beasts. ### Festival Opens with Local Winemaker Antoni Falgueras, fourth-generation owner of Celler de Gelida in Sants and a respected figure in Catalan wine, will deliver the opening speech on Wednesday, 23 September. He will be joined by his daughter Meritxell, a sommelier and wine educator. The choice recognises long-standing local businesses embedded in neighbourhood life. ### Artistic Vision Reflects City’s Diversity Barcelona artist Cinta Vidal designed the official poster, depicting landmarks such as the Cathedral, Basilica de la Mercè, and Plaça del Rei in a multi-perspective composition. It represents all eleven districts and includes symbolic references to festival traditions, espadrilles, oil cruets, geese, and baritone horns. A symbolic eleventh element pays tribute to Palestine. The artwork will become a permanent 33-square-metre mural at the Francesc Candel Library. The full programme, including concert line-ups and exact schedules, will be announced in the coming weeks on the [official La Mercè website](https://www.barcelona.cat/lamerce/en?ref=barna.news). --- *Primary sources:* [*barcelona.cat*](https://www.barcelona.cat/lamerce/en?ref=barna.news)*,* [*ajuntament.barcelona.cat*](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/premsa/2026/08/31/josep-montero-cantant-i-anima-creativa-doques-grasses-signara-la-banda-sonora-del-piromusical-de-la-merce-2026/?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by El Nacional, lavanguardia.com, El Periódico Barcelona.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Oques Grasses to Score La Mercè 2026 Piromusical](https://barna.news/oques-grasses-to-score-la-merce-2026/) - [Festa Major de Gràcia 2026: Dates and Full Programme](https://barna.news/gracia-festival-2026-dates-and/) - [Free Entry for Children at White Rabbit Until 31 August](https://barna.news/free-entry-for-children-at-white-rabbit/) - [Horta Festival 2026: Full Programme Announced](https://barna.news/horta-festival-2026-full-programme/) --- ### Related on Barna.News - [What's On in Barcelona](https://barna.news/whats-on/)