Activities were held in new locations, such as the Port Olímpic, with dance and circus displays, and Nova Icària beach, with a large-format show from Marc Salicrú’s company. There were also drone displays and Moroccan culture for La Mercè 2024, with Casablanca as the guest city.

The street arts section was based in the Parc de l’Estació del Nord for the second year running, where the MAC – Mercè Arts de Carrer offered dance, theatre and circus shows to captivate audiences of all ages. Locations such as Montjuic Castle and the Palauet Albéniz also reaffirmed their importance, while the Parc de l’Aqüeducte, with Pallassos sense Fronteres, again placed a special emphasis on solidarity.

This year’s festival included new locations such as the Port Olímpic and the Nova Icària beach within the context of the Cultural Regatta for the America’s Cup, featuring large-format family shows such as those by Sola Picó and Marc Salicrú. The programme also featured the stage in the Parc de la Trinitat, regained at the request of local residents, and reaffirmed Plaça Major de Nou Barris as an extraordinary open-air music venue.

Music played an important part in the festival, with a rich and diverse array connecting with audiences of all ages and tastes. The stage in Plaça Catalunya made a return, surprising spectators with some vibrant acts, while the Bogatell beach hosted the acts that drew the biggest crowds. The concert in homage to Zeleste in Av. Catedral, jointly produced by Barcelona City Council and the Government of Catalonia, was one of the high points in the programme, bridging generations of Barcelona musicians and consolidating this location as a place of memory and of musical tributes.

The various musical acts had thousands of spectators buzzing in places such as the Bogatell beach and Plaça Catalunya, while Av. Catedral firmed up its role as a space for commemorative concerts and musical tributes with the concert Els 50 de Zeleste and the concert by Maalem Hassan Boussou and Raúl Rodríguez Ensemble

Plaça Sant Jaume hosted the traditional human towers gatherings, the opening ceremony and the 650^th anniversary of the city’s eagle figure (Àliga), as well as the International Giant Meeting, marking 600 years of the tradition of giants in the city.