What to Do for La Mercè
La Mercè 2026
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Map of Barcelona Museums with Free Entry for La Mercè
La Mercè is here! Check out our interactive map with a comprehensive list of the Barcelona museums and institutions that observe the holiday by throwing open their doors for free.
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Joan Maragall Gardens, photo by Òscar Giralt courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Barcelona's Jardins de Joan Maragall & Palauet Albéniz
Sitting high above the city on Montjuïc Mountain. the Joan Maragall gardens are some of the most elegant and most peaceful in the city.
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Dancing devils at the opening ceremony of Mercè, photo by Laura Guerrero courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Celebrating La Mercè
Barcelona takes on a new life towards the end of the month, when its streets and plazas are awash with festivities in celebration of the city’s patron saint.
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The city's "gegants" and "nans" in Plaça Sant Jaume ready to celebrate La Mercè. Photo by Cesc Maymó courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
La Mercè, Barcelona’s Second Patron Saint
Just like every neighborhood has its "festa major," nearly every town in Catalunya has a city-wide festival in honor of its patron saint. Barcelona has two patron saints: Santa Eulàlia and the Mare de Déu de la Mercè—known simply as La Mercè.
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Detail of Virgin Mary from The Ghent Altarpiece, by Jan van Eyck 1432, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
5 Things to Know about Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is unquestionably the senior saint within the Christian tradition. Yet we know remarkably little about her.
La Mercè Opening Ceremony, photo by Laura Guerrero courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, photo courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Photo by Gisela Jané courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Dancing the sardana in front of the cathedral in Barcelona, photo courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona.
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Photo by Víctor Parreño Vidiella courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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The Bretolàs de Sant Andreu, photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Photo by Jordi de Temple courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Photo by Jordi de Temple courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Photo by Cesc Maymó courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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photo by Luis Clúa Chopo courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Dance of the new "gegants" of Sant Roc. Photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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El Nan Macer waves hello to a mom and toddler, photo by Mariona Gil courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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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.
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A ball de bastons in celebration of La Mercè, photo by Ariana Nalda courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Photo by Mariona Gil courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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Beyond La Mercè
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Oct 8, 2026Oct 11, 2026
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