The city of Barcelona is preparing for a new edition of La Mercè, featuring a music program characterized by its open, plural, and diverse nature. In total, the festival will present 109 concerts spread across 16 stages throughout the city, with artists from around thirty countries participating. This initiative aims to reflect the cultural diversity and richness of accents that define contemporary Barcelona.
This year's edition will mark two significant moments: it will be the final Música Mercè program curated by Gisela Sais, and the BAM – Barcelona Acció Musical will enter a new phase with Marta Mei and Aina Pociello as its new curators, reinforcing its commitment to innovative and cutting-edge proposals.
The international dimension is further enhanced with Shanghai as the guest city. The Chinese capital will showcase three acts: the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Jazz Ensemble, reinterpreting jazz from a prestigious institution; the Shanghai Restoration Project, blending electronics, hip-hop, and traditional Chinese music; and the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, dedicated to Chinese musical heritage. These performances will foster a dialogue between traditional instruments, jazz, and contemporary sounds.
The Música Mercè program will feature 34 concerts bridging tradition and contemporaneity, including Catalan rumba by Sabor de Gràcia, flamenco by María Terremoto, singer-songwriters like Luísa Sobral and Nacho Vegas, Latin American rock by Aterciopelados, psych-rock by Arp Frique, the unique voice of Maika Makovski, afropop by Def Mama Def, festive pop by La Pegatina, and new perspectives from La Paloma, Marc Vilajuana, Sorvina, and Pol Batlle. The lineup also includes experimental folk and avant-garde jazz from Fuensanta, alongside the Shanghai ensembles.
Meanwhile, BAM – Barcelona Acció Musical will present 39 concerts, acting as a radar for emerging music scenes. Featured artists include Uzi Freyja, The Slates, Sandra Monfort, alongside premieres by Brama, KIW & Mourad Belouadi, and Sandré. The festival will also host Barcelona debuts for La 126, La Valentina, Islandman, I AM ROZE, The Slates, Imarhan, and Daoud, covering genres from post-punk and electronica to folk, roots music, clubbing, and experimental rock.
BAM – Acció Cultura Viva will celebrate its tenth anniversary at Fabra i Coats, continuing its model of community governance and shared curation with local entities and collectives.
La Mercè will also serve as a platform for new releases, with eleven premieres from established and emerging artists, including Nacho Vegas, Luísa Sobral, María Terremoto, Aterciopelados, and La Paloma. Additionally, five original productions have been commissioned for this edition: La Barcelona Flamenca; a musical dialogue between Ana Rossi and Joana Queiroz; a symphonic concert by Vozes with Marco Mezquida; a performance by Carola Ortiz at Plaça de Sant Jaume; and the premiere of Poder de protesta, a new flamenco performance by Marco de Ana.
The joint programming of Música Mercè, BAM, and BAM – Acció Cultura Viva further underscores a commitment to gender equality and diversity of voices, ensuring a balanced representation of artists.
The musical map will unfold across 16 stages reflecting contemporary Barcelona. The Teatre Grec will host major auteur concerts and special productions; the Seu del Districte de Nou Barris will serve as the main symphonic stage; and the Avinguda de la Catedral will champion rumba, flamenco, and roots music. Other venues include the Jardins del Doctor Pla i Armengol, Passeig dels Til·lers, Platja del Bogatell, and Avinguda de Maria Cristina. BAM's programming will take place at Plaça de Catalunya, Moll de la Fusta, Rambla del Raval, and the Antiga Fàbrica Estrella Damm, while Fabra i Coats remains the hub for BAM – Acció Cultura Viva.
