> ## 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. # Shanghai to join La Mercè 2026 as guest city - URL: https://barna.news/shanghai-to-join-la-merce-2026-as-guest/ - Published: 2026-07-22T11:55:59.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-11T15:09:14.000Z - Description: Shanghai will be the first Asian guest city at Barcelona’s La Mercè, which runs from 23 to 27 September 2026. - Author: Barbara Town - Tags: whats-on Shanghai will be the guest city for Barcelona’s [La Mercè](https://barna.news/whats-on-la-merce/) festival from 23 to 27 September 2026, making it the first Asian city invited under a tradition that began in 2007\. For residents and visitors planning the city’s main annual festival, the concert, piromusical and open-day timetables have not yet been published. The choice gives this year’s festival added significance because it coincides with the 25th anniversary of Barcelona and Shanghai’s sister-city relationship. Barcelona City Council says the relationship also includes economic and institutional links, while La Mercè will provide a cultural programme focused on Shanghai. ## First Asian city in La Mercè guest-city programme La Mercè is Barcelona’s largest annual city festival. Xinhua reported that Shanghai’s programme is expected to combine contemporary and traditional elements of the Chinese city’s culture. > “The Barcelona-Shanghai relationship is strategic,” said Xavier Marcé, Barcelona City Council’s councillor for Culture and Creative Industries, citing links particularly in culture and creative industries. Barcelona City Council said a recent institutional and business mission to Shanghai involved representatives of 16 Catalan businesses and start-ups. The council also cited a direct Barcelona-Shanghai flight launched by China Eastern Airlines in autumn 2025, and cooperation between the two ports. - **Festival dates:** 23 to 27 September 2026. - **Guest city:** Shanghai. - **Milestone:** the first Asian guest city since the annual invitation scheme began in 2007. --- ## Programme details are still to be announced The supplied festival information does not yet give dates, venues or artists for concerts, the piromusical, or the Portes Obertes open-day activities. It also does not set out any booking arrangements. Readers waiting for those details can check the [betevé La Mercè agenda](https://beteve.cat/agenda/programa-merce-barcelona/?ref=barna.news), which says it will be updated when programme information becomes available. Barcelona City Council’s 2025 festival closed with a music-and-fireworks piromusical, but no equivalent 2026 event details have been confirmed in the material currently available. --- *Primary sources:* [*Barcelona City Council*](https://www.barcelona.cat/infobarcelona/en/tema/economic-promotion/missio-empresarial-per-enfortir-relacions-amb-la-xina%5F1649990.html?ref=barna.news)*,* [*ajuntament.barcelona.cat*](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/cartells/en/2026/sant-jordi-2026?ref=barna.news)*,* [*Ramon*](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/premsa/2025/09/17/la-merce-posa-en-valor-el-patrimoni-cultural-material-i-immaterial-de-barcelona-i-catalunya-amb-una-programacio-especial-en-el-marc-de-mondiacult/?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by english.news.cn, Nuria Martínez, Elena Garrido, system, beteve.cat, Jordi Palmer, THE EXCLUSIVIST, lancastermoah.org, barcelona-tourist-guide.com, irbarcelona.org, thisisbarcelona.com, betevé.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Barcelona concert guide for summer 2026](https://barna.news/barcelona-concert-guide-for-summer-2026/) - [Gràcia and Sants festivals confirm August 2026 dates](https://barna.news/gracia-and-sants-festivals-confirm-augus/) - [La Clota residents to help design 4.6-hectare park](https://barna.news/la-clota-residents-to-help-design-4-6-he/) - [GRAVITEO festival to reach Montmeló on 17 July](https://barna.news/graviteo-festival-to-reach-montmelo-on-1/)