Every September, Barcelona comes alive for La Mercè, the city’s most iconic festival. Officially celebrated on September 24, it honors Mare de Déu de la Mercè (Our Lady of Mercy), the patron saint credited with protecting the city from plagues and hardship. What began in the 17th century as a solemn religious feast has transformed into a vibrant celebration of Catalan identity.
The first La Mercè festivities were rooted in religious processions through the Gothic Quarter, centered on the Basilica de la Mercè. Over time, the holiday shifted away from church rituals and became a civic event. Today, La Mercè is Barcelona’s largest street festival, lasting several days and filling plazas with concerts, parades, gegants (giant figures), castellers (human towers), and the famous correfoc, or fire-run.
Fire and Food: A Shared Language
If there is one element that defines La Mercè, it’s fire. The correfoc is a “fire run,” where people dressed as devils march through the streets with fireworks, sparklers, and flaming torches, filling the air with smoke, noise, and light. Food speaks in the same vocabulary. The most traditional dishes of La Mercè depend on flame: the crackle of a sausage on the grill, the smoky heat that caramelizes vegetables for a coca de recapte, or the wide pans of fideuà cooked over open fire. Just as fire drives the festival’s spectacle, it also shapes its flavors.
What to Eat During La Mercè
For visitors eager to taste Catalan tradition during the celebrations, these are the essentials:
Botifarra amb mongetes: Grilled sausage with white beans, often served in sandwiches (entrepà de botifarra) from temporary street grills.
Fideuà: A noodle-based cousin of paella, prepared outdoors for sharing.
Coca de recapte: Rustic flatbread with roasted vegetables and anchovies, easy to eat on the move.
Sweet cocas and early panellets: Some bakeries bring these festive pastries out during La Mercè, alongside seasonal variations.
Where to Find It in 2025
Terra i Gust – Parc de la Ciutadella (Sept 26–28, 2025): The sustainable food fair during La Mercè, hosted in Parc de la Ciutadella. Expect around 30 stands focused on local, seasonal, and organic produce.
Born Street Food: An open-air food festival organized by the Barcelona Born Gourmet collective, where top chefs cook live in Pla de Palau. Expect fire-grilled meats, seafood, and tapas with a market-to-table feel, right in the historic Born district.
La Mercè is a festival of fire in every sense: fire in the streets, fire in the pan, fire in the grill. To experience it fully, follow the flames!
