Barcelona ended its La Mercè celebrations on Sunday with the announcement that Shanghai will be the guest city for the 2026 edition of the festival. The news, delivered by mayor Jaume Collboni, comes as the two cities prepare to mark the 25th anniversary of their official twinning.
Collboni praised Shanghai as ‘a great creative capital of China’, adding that its participation in La Mercè would strengthen cultural and commercial ties. The announcement followed a week packed with more than a hundred concerts, dozens of dance, theatre and circus performances, and 55 traditional cultural displays.
Highlights included major concerts on Maria Cristina Avenue and at Bogatell beach, drawing large crowds and showcasing both local and international talent. According to the council, enthusiasm and coexistence marked this year’s festivities, with a focus on diversity and artistic excellence.
The city also reported record engagement online. The official La Mercè website logged 1.5 million visits — up 20 per cent from last year — with 3.7 million pages viewed. Meanwhile, the municipal app attracted 43,000 users, almost doubling last year’s figures, with 250,000 sessions recorded.
The celebrations culminated with the Piromusical at Montjuïc, curated by Estopa, which attracted 110,000 spectators. With Shanghai now confirmed as the guest city, attention turns to 2026, when Barcelona will once again use La Mercè as a platform for international cultural exchange.
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