Upcoming
UpcomingExhibition670 families interested
46 Museums and Monuments Open Free for La Mercè
Various venues
- When
- Dates to be announced
- Ages
- All ages
- Price
- Free
Upcoming: 46 Museums and Monuments Open Free for La Mercè
46 Museums and Monuments Open Free for La Mercè
Held every September — 2027 dates not announced yet
ExhibitionBarcelonaSants-MontjuïcCiutat VellaSant AndreuSarrià-Sant GervasiSant MartíEixampleLes Corts670 families interested
Where
Various venues
Ages
All ages
Setting
Indoors/outdoors
Plan for
Half-day to full day
Booking
Walk-in almost everywhere; Sagrada Família draw winners only (sign-ups closed Sep 20), Poble Espanyol residents with booking
What you need to know
- Thursday, Sep 24 is the big day: 40 museums and monuments open free at once, from CosmoCaixa and the Picasso Museum to Montjuïc Castle
- Some stay free all week: the old Montjuïc botanical garden, Santa Mònica and the Photo Archive are open Sep 23 to 27
About
Once a year, for La Mercè, Barcelona opens its museums and monuments for free, most of them on one day. Almost all need no ticket and no booking. Just walk in. CosmoCaixa's indoor rainforest is the big draw, but most families know it. A free day is the chance to try the rest: the Maritime Museum's full-size royal galley, the Roman tombs of Via Sepulcral, the Music Museum's instruments.
Schedule
From the 2026 edition — 2027 dates not announced yet.
Wed, Sep 23
- 10am to 2pm, 4pm to 8pmEspai Bombersthe firefighters' museum (Carrer de Lleida 30), with a free audio guide. Wednesday only.
- 10am to 7pmHistoric Botanical Gardenthe old terraced garden on Montjuïc. Open every day to Sep 27.
- 10am to 7pmPhoto Archive(Plaça de Pons i Clerch 2). Open every day to Sep 27, but only to 2pm on Thursday and Sunday.
- 11am to 8pmLa Virreina Centre de la Imatge(La Rambla 99), photography shows. Open every day to Sep 26.
- 11am to 9:30pmJoan Brossa Foundationthe free arts center in the Born (Carrer dels Flassaders 40). Open every day to Sep 27, to 6pm on Sunday.
- 11am to 8:30pm
- noon to 8pmLa Fabra Centre d'Art Contemporaniin Sant Andreu. Open every day to Sep 27; 11am to 3pm on Thursday and Sunday.
- noon to 8pmLa Capellayoung-artist shows in a Gothic hospital chapel. Open every day to Sep 27; 11am to 2pm on Thursday and Sunday.
Thu, Sep 24
- 9am to 8pm
- 10am to 8pmCosmoCaixa(Carrer d'Isaac Newton 26): the flooded rainforest, the Geological Wall and the whale learning space.
- 10am to 8pmNatural Sciences Museumthe Museu Blau at the Fòrum (Plaça de Leonardo da Vinci 4).
- 10am to 8pmMaritime Museum(Avinguda de les Drassanes 1), with a full-size royal galley.
- 10am to 8pmMontjuïc Castle(Carretera de Montjuïc 66), the ramparts and the harbor views.
- 10am to 8pm
- 10am to 8pmCaixaForum(Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 6), in Puig i Cadafalch's old factory.
- 10am to 8pm
- 10am to 8pmEthnology Museumthe Montjuïc site (Passeig de Santa Madrona 16).
- 10am to 8pmEthnology Museumthe Montcada site (Carrer de Montcada 12).
- 10am to 8pmMACBA(Plaça dels Àngels 1), contemporary art in the Raval.
- 10am to 8pmCCCB(Carrer de Montalegre 5), next door to the MACBA.
- 10am to 8pmEspai Capellathe chapel of the Convent dels Àngels.
- 10am to 8pmPalau Güell(Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3), Gaudí's early mansion with the rooftop chimneys.
- 10am to 8pmEl Borncultural center (Plaça Comercial 12), the excavated 1700s streets under the old market.
- 10am to 8pmCentre Martorell d'Exposicionsin the Parc de la Ciutadella.
- 10am to 8pm
- 10am to midnightPoble Espanyol(Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia 13), free for Barcelona residents with a booking.
- 10am to 7:30pmCity Historical Archive(Carrer de Santa Llúcia 1): the courtyard, the terrace and the lobby exhibition.
- 10am to 7pm
- 10am to 7pmMuseum of the History of Cataloniaat the Palau de Mar (Plaça de Pau Vila 3).
- 10am to 7pmMusic Museumat L'Auditori (Carrer de Lepant 150), hundreds of instruments from around the world.
- 10am to 7pmBarcelona Botanical Garden(Carrer del Doctor Font i Quer 2), with a bonsai show.
- 10am to 5pmPedralbes Monastery(Baixada del Monestir 9), the Gothic cloister.
- 10am to 3pm
- 10am to 2:30pmArchaeology Museum of Catalonia(Passeig de Santa Madrona 39), on Montjuïc.
- 10am to 2:30pmOlympic and Sports Museum(Avinguda de l'Estadi 60), across from the Olympic stadium.
- 10am to 2:30pm
- 10am to 2pm
- 10am to 2pmVia Sepulcral Romanaa sunken garden of Roman tombs in the Gothic Quarter.
- 10am to 2pm
- 11am to 8pmFrederic Marès Museum(Plaça de Sant Iu 5), with a show of old Festa Major posters.
- 4pm to 8pmSagrada Famíliadraw winners only; also Sep 25 and 27 4pm to 8pm, Sep 26 3pm to 6pm.
Fri, Sep 25
- 11am to 2:30pmArús Public Library(Passeig de Sant Joan 26), with an astronomy exhibition.
Sat, Sep 26
- 10am to 2pmFuneral Carriage Collectionat Montjuïc Cemetery, with a Playmobil display and a free tour at noon. Also Sunday.
- 10:30am to 2:30pm, 4pm to 7pmPalauet Albénizin the Joan Maragall Gardens (Avinguda de l'Estadi 65). Also Sunday.
- 11am to 6pmCan Framis Museum(Carrer de Roc Boronat 116), contemporary Catalan painting in Poblenou.
- 11am to 7pmEspais Volart(Carrer d'Ausiàs Marc 22), the Vila Casas Foundation's other gallery.
Where it is
Various venues
Resources
- Event websiteOfficial page from the organizer.
- No School Thursday planOur plan for Thursday Sep 24: giants in the morning, a free museum at midday, drones after dark.
- La Mercè weekend with kidsOur plan for Saturday and Sunday: seaside games, acrobats, the kids' fire run and fireworks from the new beach.
Common questions
More this weekend
See all events →More family picks, Friday to Sunday.
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A Film Festival for Kids, Judged by Kids
Sat-Sun Nov 7-22, Low-cost
Performance
The Nutcracker Goes Jazz at the Liceu
Sat-Sun Nov 7-8, From €10
Workshop
Free Sunday Workshops at the Botanical Garden
Through Dec 6, Free
Festival
Last Weekend of Halloween at Tibidabo
Sat-Sun Nov 7-8, From €15.50
Festival
Olot's Fire and Light Festival, One Last Time
Fri-Sat Nov 6-7, Free