A new edition of the Barcelona Christmas Festival was held from 17 to 30 December, this year with no restrictions relating to health measures or capacities.

In Nadal en familia, the morning session in Plaça Catalunya, 50,000 people attended the six activity stations: works by Shakespeare condensed into 8-minute shows, an interactive installation with hundreds of cardboard boxes, fancy dress costumes for literary figures, thousands of pieces for designing infinite urban spaces, fantasy hairdos and make-up and a Christmas card workshop inspired by Tàpies, Picasso and Miró. All this, concluded daily with music and clowning from Guillem Albà & La Marabunta.

Afternoon and evening sessions saw 250,000 people enjoy the street arts set in the square, with six companies and 29 artists involved. These included Soon Circus, Sound de Secà, Circ Panic, Cia. Vero Cendoya, Magí Serra & Anamaria Klanjscek and Compagnie Didier Théron. Music also played a central part, with fourteen concerts by new music formations and 25 musicians on stage.

Shows at night

Over 2,000 people filled the seating every night for La Torre de Nadal, created by Lluís Danés and co-produced with the Gran Teatre Liceu: a musical journey claiming utopia as a means of transforming the world, guided by Giacomo Puccini. A circus story with balancing, tight-rope walking, hair hanging, trapeze acts and dance.

In Plaça Universitat we were able to see Solstici, a digital arts installation from OFFF Barcelona.

Responsible Consumption and Social and Solidarity Economy Fair

The eighth edition of the fair regained its pre-pandemic attendance, attracting nearly 115,000 visitors over the 13 days it lasted. The specific route around the fair from 2020 and 2021 was maintained, with 47 companies and organisations operating stalls.