On Sunday 26 July 2026, Manchester Day, Manchester City Centre UK welcomes Catalan artists as part of this city-to-city cultural exchange.
Manchester’s biggest day of the year gets a Catalan twist for 2026!
Manchester Day promises a distinctly Catalan flavour to the day as performers from Barcelona head to Manchester to join in the festivities, marking the first time also that Manchester has welcomed international performers to join in with the Manchester Day festivities.
It follows Manchester’s Guest City role during Barcelona’s iconic La Mercè festival in September 2025, produced by XTRAX, and co-curated by Without Walls.
The Manchester Day FREE festival programme includes two XTRAX International Commissions:
- The Ultimate Player’s Handbook A UK Premiere – by Manchester’s leading contemporary dance company, Company Chameleon and Barcelona dance duo Clémentine & Lisard
- Bee for Barcelona by carnival arts specialists Global Grooves (MCR) and Catalan artists Pau Reig and Dolors Sans (CAT). Queen Bee Gigante and Worker Bee, two giant puppets, celebrating shared industrial heritage, cultural pride, and artistic exchange.
More Catalan highlights include: Pelat by Joan Catala, a dance, circus and theatre performance, Always Drinking Marching Band, The Hippos by Zum Zum Teatre, Too Much by Elelei Dance Theatre Company and Kamchàtka contemporary street theatre by Kamchàtka. Manchester will also welcome Catalan ‘Griffins’, legendary mythical creature puppets accompanied by Catalan flags in the enormous street-filled community parade.
TS Crew (Hong Kong), XTRAX Associate Artists will also present No Sugar, No Milk.
The Manchester Day 2026 programme is led by Walk the Plank, working internationally with XTRAX, bringing outdoor arts companies from the UK and Spain to Manchester.
Image: The Ultimate Player’s Handbook by Company Chameleon and Clémentine & Lisard performance at Manchester at La Mercè, photo by Marketing Manchester.
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XTRAX and Without Walls were proud to secure Manchester as Guest City for La Mercè, Barcelona’s biggest festival in September 2025.
#MCRxLaMerce took place from 23 – 28 Sept 2025, Barcelona.
La Mercè is Barcelona’s biggest annual outdoor festival, a huge traditional culture programme including street arts, music, dance, fireworks, the famous human towers (the Castells), and enormous parades.
Every year a Guest City is featured in La Mercè, and for 2025 we were delighted that it was awarded to the city of Manchester, UK.
2 cities. 6 days of events. Over 2 million visitors.
READ: Evaluation Executive Summary Report Manchester at La Mercè
Street arts, music and a cultural bond that’s here to stay.
HIGHLIGHTS – SHORT FILM: Manchester at La Mercè 2025
Manchester at La Mercè 2025 was produced by XTRAX, and co-curated by Without Walls, and dazzled over 2 million* people as the streets in Barcelona pulsed with energy. This landmark cultural collaboration brought two powerhouse cities together, in a spectacular celebration of free outdoor performance, creativity, diversity, and artistic innovation, in public spaces throughout Barcelona from 23 – 28 September 2025.
- 13 street arts projects
- 100+ artists
- 64 performances
- 6 new commissions
- 2 days of international street arts meetings for promoters, producers and artists
- 100 delegates from 10 countries
- A music programme presented by Manchester Music City, led by Brighter Sound
* An estimated 1+ million attended events which involved artists from Manchester.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, attended the festival and said: “Manchester is proud to have been the Guest City at La Mercè 2025. We’ve had the support of many, including the British Embassy and Consul General, who have helped make this possible. It has been fantastic to see Manchester artists perform in Barcelona, building connections that will have a lasting legacy here and back home in Manchester.”
Maggie Clarke, Director of Manchester-based XTRAX, added: “We are thrilled that Manchester was selected as Guest City for La Mercè, Barcelona’s famous annual outdoor festival. We’ve worked closely with Barcelona City Council, the British Council, and the British Embassy in Spain – and importantly, we’ll be welcoming artists from Barcelona to join us at Manchester Day in July 2026. This is a genuine, long-term city-to-city collaboration.
Image: Bee for Barcelona by Global Grooves (MAN) and Pau Reig & Dolors Sans (BCN), Manchester at La Mercè 2025, photo credit Barcelona City Council
Funders and Supporters
La Mercè is delivered by ICUB/Barcelona City Council
The programme for Manchester as Guest City is led by XTRAX and Without Walls.
The music programme is presented by Manchester Music City, led by Brighter Sound.
Supported by Manchester City Council, Arts Council England and Unlimited
In collaboration with ICEC/Catalan Arts, British Council and British Embassy in Spain.
