23rd – 28th September
XTRAX is proud to have secured Manchester as Guest City for La Mercè, Barcelona’s biggest festival, in September 2025.
La Mercè is Barcelona’s biggest annual outdoor festival, featuring street arts from around the world in the MAC (Mercè Arts de Carrer), music of all styles and genres in BAM (Música Mercè), and a huge traditional culture programme including music, dance, fireworks, the famous human towers (the Castells), and enormous parades.
Every year a Guest City is featured in the Mercè, and this year we are delighted that it will be our home city of Manchester. XTRAX is working with the organisers at La Mercè and colleagues at Without Walls to present a selection of some of the most exciting street arts, music and art from Manchester at the festival.
This incredible festival offers the opportunity to see around 250 performances by 80 companies from Catalonia, UK and internationally, including new commissions and collaborations between Manchester and Barcelona artists. The programme will be announced soon.
We invite you to join us for the festival from 23-28 September and for professional meetings during the festival (mostly on 26th September) including
- Panel discussion on community engagement through outdoor arts festivals.
- Programming disabled artists, led by Unlimited
- Pitch sessions from UK and Catalan artists.
- Receptions and networking events.
To register for this event please complete this form.
Find out more about La Mercè here.
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La Mercè is delivered by ICUB/Barcelona City Council
The programme for Manchester as Guest City is led by XTRAX and Without Walls
Supported by Manchester City Council, Arts Council England and Unlimited
In collaboration with ICEC/Catalan Arts, British Council and British Embassy in Spain.
