

La Mercè is Barcelona's patron-saint festival and the city's biggest free party, five days when the streets themselves become stages across all ten districts. The 2026 guest city is Shanghai, the first from Asia, bringing around 110 artists including the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, and Chinese dragons dancing alongside Barcelona's own gegants. For families, Mercè Petita offers dedicated children's workshops, theater and circus, the daytime castellers and gegants parades in Plaça Sant Jaume suit small kids, a separate Correfoc Infantil gives a gentler fire run, and this year's closing piromusical launches from Barceloneta beach, visible from across the city.
More family picks, Friday to Sunday.

Festival
Festa Major del Poblenou 2026
Daily Sep 10-20 · Free

Festival
Horta's Festa Saves a Whole Day for the Kids
Through Sep 13 · Free

Performance
7 K-pop Groups at Olympic Stadium
Sat Sep 12 · €65+

Performance
Cirque du Soleil's Steampunk Circus Under the Big Top
Through Oct 18 · €45+

Festival
Catalan Flags and Sardanes to Celebrate Catalunya Day
Fri Sep 11 · Free