The moment Barcelona gets going. The opening address launches La Mercè and the streets pick up the pulse of the festival. 🥁🏮

It all happens at once: while the address is delivered in the Saló de Cent, the Popular Parade makes its way down La Rambla towards the City Hall for the Toc d'Inici.

🥁 OPENING ADDRESS AND INAUGURAL PARADE

📅 Wednesday 23 September 2026

🕐 7.00 pm

📍 Saló de Cent and Plaça de Sant Jaume, Barcelona

🎟️ Free admission

📖 The opening address

This year it is given by Antoni Falgueras, master wine merchant at the Celler de Gelida, the shop on Carrer Vallespir founded in 1895 by his great-grandfather. He is the fourth generation to run it. He is joined by his daughter, sommelier and broadcaster Meritxell Falgueras.

The ceremony includes sign language interpretation and on-screen transcription, and is broadcast by betevé for anyone who prefers to follow it from home.

🏮 The parade and the Toc d'Inici

The route runs from Palau de la Virreina along La Rambla, Ferran, the Ensenyança passage and Plaça de Sant Miquel to Plaça de Sant Jaume. The Eagle, the giants, the bestiary and the dance and fire groups perform their ceremonial dances along the way.

Once in the square, with the address over, every figure dances in the traditional Toc d'Inici, to music from the Ministrils del Camí Ral, an ensemble that plays only at this moment of the year.

Shanghai, this year's guest city, appears from the very first minute with the Rolling Lantern Show: a dance inspired by the work of fishermen, with latticed spheres lit from within.

ℹ️ Good to know: the address is delivered in Catalan. The square fills up early, so arrive in good time. Open air, no booking needed.

✨ The exact instant the city's festival begins.