From 20 to 24 September. The annual festival kicks off with the reading of the Opening Speech (Pregó) and the Opening Ceremony (Toc d’Inici) on the evening of Friday 20 September, at 7 pm in Plaça de Sant Jaume. The festival ends on Tuesday 24 September at 10 pm with the La Mercè musical fireworks display on Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina.
Yes. All activities organised by Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Institute of Culture are free of charge.
The shows and activities in the squares, streets and parks are held on 20 September between 7 pm and 2.30 am the next day; on Saturday 21 September between 10 am and 2.30 am the next day; on Sunday 22 September between 10 am and 12 midnight; on Monday 23 September between 7.30 pm and 1.30 am the next day; and on Tuesday 24 September between 8 am and 10.30 pm. You can check all the activities on the La Mercè website by morning, afternoon/evening and night time.
In the districts of Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sants-Montjuic and Sant Martí.
The events associated with Folk Culture (giants and giantesses, fireworks, human towers, falcons, folk-dance groups, sardanas) are being held on Avinguda de la Catedral, in the La Mercè square and basilica, in the El Born Culture and Memory Centre, on the Rambla, on Passeig de Gràcia, in El Pati Manning (Centre d’Estudis i Recursos Culturals), in Plaça de Sant Jaume and in the Palau de la Virreina.
The concerts in the Música Mercè festival are being held on Avinguda de la Catedral, on Carrer de Menéndez y Pelayo (Les Corts), in Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol, on Bogatell beach, on Passeig dels Til·lers in Parc de la Ciutadella, in Plaça Major in Nou Barris and at the Teatre Grec.
The BAM festival concerts are being held in Plaça de Catalunya, in Plaça Reial, on the Rambla del Raval, on Moll de la Fusta, in the Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm, in Plaça de Can Fabra and in the Recinte Fabra i Coats.
The street art shows in the MAC – Mercè Street Arts festival are being held at the Montjuïc Castle; in the Palauet Albéniz; in the Estació del Nord, Trinitat and Aqüeducte parks; in the Port Olímpic (Moll de Mestral); and on Nova Icària beach.
The light and fire spectaculars are being held on Espigó del Gas beach and Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina.
The La Mercè website contains information organised by days, times, venues, types of activities, accessibility and district. You can also download the programme booklet in PDF format or check each activity with more detailed information, location and a map of the venue.
At the Citizen Culture Office (Palau de la Virreina, La Rambla, 99). Seven days a week from 10.15 am to 8.15 pm in person, or by phoning 933 161 000.
By calling the freephone 010 from 7 am to 11 pm every day of the week. From outside the Barcelona metropolitan area, phone 931 537 010 at the ordinary rate.
On social media: @bcncultura, @festivalBAM, @culturapopularbcn and @culturavivabcn, or using the #LaMercè tag.
Yes. There is nonstop metro service from Friday 20 September until Sunday 22 September at midnight, and from Monday 23 September until the service ends on Tuesday 24 September.
There will be increased service on metro lines 1 and 3 for the musical fireworks display on Tuesday 24 September.
For updated information on the public transport service, check the website www.tmb.cat
To go to Bogatell beach:
- On Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, we recommend the metro (L4, Llacuna) and also bus lines 6, 59, 136, H16, V23, V25, V27, V31, B20 and B25.
- Night bus service (N6, N8 and N28).
To go to Montjuïc Castle and the Palauet Albéniz:
- On Saturday 21, Sunday 22 and Tuesday 24 September, the service on bus line 150 will be increased between 11 am and 9 pm; this line connects Plaça d'Espanya, the Palauet Albéniz and Montjuïc Castle.
To get to the Parc de l’Aqüeducte:
- On Tuesday 24 September, we recommend the metro service (L11, Ciutat Meridiana) and also bus lines 62, 76, 104 and 183.
Via the social media channels @barcelona.cat (@bcnCultura, @festivalBAM, @culturapopularbcn and @culturavivabcn, and notifications on the La Mercè app and website.
The lamerce.cat website will periodically post messages or alerts on the upper part of the home page. Remember that rain can often be sporadic and brief and can have either partial or more widespread effects, leading to a variety of situations: concerts or activities may occasionally be halted and then resumed; activities may be postponed to a different time and later resumed or cancelled, and so on.
The organisers reserve the right to cancel or change any show in the schedule for technical or meteorological reasons.
All venues used for La Mercè are accessible. All the music venues have a space set aside for people with disabilities (limited capacity), as do certain venues in the parks where shows in the Mercè Arts de Carrer festival are held, as long as the characteristics of the terrain make them possible. La Mercè venues have entrances and toilets set up for people with disabilities.
You can check the activities with accessibility measures using the ‘Accessibility’ search tool in the Programme menu on the La Mercè website.
You can request information on the accessibility of the venues and shows by phoning 933 161 000 or emailing infoicub@bcn.cat.
You will find the following measures or information with the corresponding icon:
- Accessible for people who are hard of hearing
- Sign language
- Braille
- Tactile support
- Artists with functional diversity
- Accessible for people with reduced mobility
- Relaxed session: activities or shows with reduced noise, movement and light.
La Mercè has two information points for raising awareness about and taking coordinated action in the event of sexual and/or LGBTI-phobic assaults. These points are located on Bogatell beach and Carrer de Menéndez y Pelayo (Les Corts). There are also travelling purple points at different venues in the La Mercè festival.
If you notice a situation that could directly affect you or someone else, or if you see a person in a situation of vulnerability, do not continue celebrating but instead ask for help and phone 112.
Several purple points (Punt Lila) will be set up in diferents places:
At two large concert venues:
- C/Menéndez y Pelayo. Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September from 7.30 pm to 3.30 am
- Bogatell Beach. Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September. Friday and Saturday from 7.30 pm to 3.30 am. Sunday from 7.00 pm to 1.00 am.
- There are also travelling purple points at different venues in the La Mercè festival.
Purple point will be operating at the end of the adult fire run (correfoc). Passeig de Gràcia (Diputació- Consell de Cent). Saturday 21 September from 9.30 pm to 11.00 pm.
Purple point at the Marina Station on Metro Line 1. Friday from 10.00 p.m. to 02.00 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday and Monday from 11.30 p.m. to 03.30 a.m.
In Parc de la Ciutadella and on Avinguda de la Catedral purple points will be operating on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm.
There will also be a daytime purple point on Bogatell beach from 12 noon to 6.00 pm, from 12 September to 27 October, every day of the week.
These purple points will be run by professionals whose role is threefold: to raise public awareness, provide advice on male violence against girls and women and to offer assistance or refer people to specific services in cases of sexual harassment or male violence. This initiative forms part of the package of anti-sexist measures “Barcelona antimasclista”, which is coordinated in conjunction with the police and health services.
If you notice a situation that could directly affect you or someone else, or if you see a person in a situation of vulnerability, do not continue celebrating but instead ask for help and phone 112.
The main venues at La Mercè have emergency medical services ready to attend you if you do not feel well, have an accident or have any medical incident.
According to the type of event, prevention resources support any point of activity or adjacent areas, to offer emergency care and facilitate transfer to a health center if necessary.
For residents, shops and services:
- Remove all vehicles from the streets on the route.
- Protect windows and displays, and keep windows and doors closed.
- Lower the blinds: close windows and lower blinds.
- Plan on receiving and dispatching goods before 12 noon.
- Take out waste when the Fire Run has finished to prevent possible incidents with fire.
For participants and spectators:
- Wear long sleeves and trousers. If you're going to head into falling sparks, wear a cotton scarf on your head. Avoid wearing clothing made of synthetic material. Wear a cap to protect your head. Wear appropriate footwear (trainers, hiking boots, etc.).
- Carefully protect your eyes and ears. If you have mobility issues, watch the Fire Run from a safe location.
- No alcohol or glass: drink alcohol-free liquids and avoid glass bottles and glasses.
- Children should be kept away: children have the best time at the Fire Run when they're little, but if you're taking them there, keep them away from the first row and the fire.
- Don’t throw water onto the people watching the Fire Run.
- If you have an emergency: If you’ve been burned or don’t feel well during the celebration, there are always medical services and ambulances stationed nearby to help you.
Municipal museums and cultural facilities offer free admission during La Mercè. Some of them include activities like workshops, guided or dramatised tours, which may be free or paid. The La Mercè website (+ Mercè section) offers general information on these activities. If you need more detailed information on conditions of access and advantages, please contact each museum or facility directly.
On the La Mercè app you can explore the upcoming activities depending on your geolocation and desired distance. You can also receive notifications and updates in real time and create your list of favourites by choosing the themes, venues, days or times of the activities that best match your interests. The activities that correspond to your selection will be the first to be shown when you open the app. Available for both iOS and Android.
There is free entry for activities in La Mercè 2024. However, some venues may require you to book in advance. You can check the conditions on each centre’s website.
On Sunday 15 and Monday 16 September, the paper programme is inserted into the leading newspapers in the city of Barcelona free of charge. Starting 16 September, you can collect a paper programme at the Sala Ciutat (C/Ciutat, 2) or at the Citizen Culture Office (OCCU) at the Palau de la Virreina (La Rambla, 99).
On the days of La Mercè, there are two information points, at Montjuïc Castle and at the Parc de l’Estació del Nord, where you can collect the programme or paper sheets summarising the activities there. You can also go to the Citizen Help and Information Office (OAC) at your district head office. You will find dispensers where you can get a paper programme in Plaça de Sant Jaume, on Avinguda de la Catedral, in Plaça de Catalunya and in the Port Olímpic.
You can download the digital version in PDF on the La Mercè app and website so you can always have it handy on your mobile phone.
Please prioritise using the digital programme (either in PDF or on the website/app) and leave the paper programmes to individuals and groups who choose paper because reading digitally is difficult for them. Please use the programmes in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
Starting 12 September, you can collect a paper copy of the La Mercè 2024 poster, created by Canadà, free of charge (50 x 70 cm) at the Sala Ciutat (C/Ciutat, 2) or at the Citizen Culture Office (OCCU) at the Palau de la Virreina (La Rambla, 99). They will be available until stocks run out.
You can download the La Mercè poster free of charge and the variations on the poster for the MAC, Folk Culture, Música Mercè, BAM, Casablanca Guest City and La Mercè Fun Run free of charge, all measuring 50 x 70 cm, from the municipal website.
