The city of Barcelona is already planning for Christmas 2026-2027, a year that will be special due to its designation as the European Capital of Christmas. In addition to this distinction, the festive campaign will introduce significant novelties in the lighting of major commercial hubs and busy streets.
One of the most notable innovations will be the installation of poem-shaped lights on Passeig de Maragall. These verses, still undergoing final definition, will be hung in the center of the roadway but oriented towards the sidewalks, inviting pedestrians to discover the message. The first two known lines are: “He who walks unhurried through the Christmas city also discovers what the world hides from those who rush.” This illumination will be located in the section between Plaça de Maragall and Ronda del Guinardó.
The Rambla de Prim will also feature new, specific Christmas lighting, consisting of a proposal of light beams in various colors, according to a virtual recreation presented.
As part of the 2026 Christmas campaign, students from schools in Barcelona will actively participate in designing the lighting. Approximately one hundred children's drawings will be selected and projected in front of the Mercat de la Marina, on the Passeig de la Zona Franca. This initiative aims to foster creativity, citizen participation, and a connection with local commerce, complementing the Christmas lighting already installed in the city's markets.
Furthermore, Barcelona plans to install 14 large ornamental figures in the streets during the 2026 Christmas campaign. Although their design has not yet been revealed, it is speculated that they already exist and the council is seeking a company for their transport and installation. These figures will be added to the twenty installed during Christmas 2024-2025. The deputy mayor for Economic Promotion, Raquel Gil, will provide more details on these new features this Thursday.
