Carillon Concert—La Mercè 2025

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The carillon is said to be the heaviest musical instrument on earth. Palau de la Generalitat carillon, photo courtesy of Generalitat de Catalunya, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons.

With its fifty bells and characteristic manual keys, the carillon in the Palau de la Generalitat is a magnificent concert instrument. The carillon has a bronze bourdon of nearly 900 kilos (the entire mechanism weighs nearly five tonnes) and was inaugurated in 1976 on the initiative of the carillon player M. Dolors Coll, who received the Cross of Sant Jordi 2000 for her work.

This year's program is a festive journey through time, from the Baroque to the 20th century, including works by Jean-Féry Rebel, Antonio Vivaldi, Antoni Soler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Courter and Leen't Hart. The concert culminates with a selection of arrangements for carillon by Catalan composers.

The event is free, but advance registration is required via the website of the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

What to Do for La Mercè

Celebrated in the days surrounding September 24th, the La Mercè festival program is packed with things to do and see. From parades and exhibits filled with gegants (giants), capgrossos (bigheads) and fire-breathing beasts to giant castells (human towers), traditional dances, correfocs (fire runs), drone light shows, fireworks displays and free concerts, you're sure to find something to delight and amaze you.

But if all the festivities of La Mercè get to be a bit too much, why not take a culture break? Many of the city’s museums observe the holiday with a jornada de portes obertes (open doors). To make the most of your time, take a look at our interactive map with all the locations that are throwing open their doors for free: Map of Barcelona Museums with Free Entry for La Mercè.

See our Guide to La Mercè for a list of the festival's events and discover the story behind one of the biggest celebrations on Barcelona's calendar and the many traditions that make this beloved Catalan holiday so special.

For more events during the Festes de la Mercè check our online events calendar.