Barcelona closed out the 2026 La Mercè festival on Sunday night with an eclectic Piromusical display that shifted venues to the Nova Icària beach and featured a Catalan-heavy song selection curated by Oques Grasses frontman Josep Montero. The traditional fireworks and music showcase, which burned 1,500 kilograms of gunpowder, also featured a television broadcast hosted by influencer Dulceida on TV3.
Moving the Piromusical to Nova Icària Beach
For the first time, city organizers shifted the annual pyrotechnic display away from its long-running home on Maria Cristina Avenue. Moving the production to the Nova Icària coastline provided a marine backdrop for the five-block spectacle, which concluded Sunday evening’s festivities. The shift marked a notable logistical change for Barcelona’s summer festival finale.
Josep Montero Curates Catalan and International Soundtracks
Josep Montero, leader of the Osona-based band Oques Grasses, shaped the musical program around a heavy rotation of Catalan tracks. The lineup arrives just two weeks before the band’s four farewell concerts scheduled at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium for October 5, 7, 9, and 10.
During the five-part show, four Oques Grasses tracks echoed across the beach: “La gent que estimo” featuring Rita Payés, “Molta tralla,” “Torn a ser jo,” and “Coet.” The Catalan selection spanned generations, mixing classic numbers like Adrià Puntí’s “Ull per ull” and Joan Manuel Serrat’s “Fa vint anys que tinc vint anys” with contemporary pieces such as Rita Payés, Lau Noah, and Elisabeth Roma’s “No és la llum,” alongside La Troba Kung-Fú’s “Flor de primavera.” Rosalía’s “Milionària,” which the artist herself curated for the 2024 display, returned to the playlist.
Montero balanced the local focus with an eclectic mix of international hits and indie selections. Pop standards like U2’s “With or Without You” and The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” ran alongside Regina Spektor’s “Après moi” and Andrew Bird’s “The Privateers.” Current pop stars Aitana, Dua Lipa, and Billie Eilish also secured spots in the running order.
Television Broadcast and Closing Sequence
TV3 managed the live broadcast of the evening, placing influencer and television presenter Dulceida in the host chair. Wearing a form-fitting gown with a gold-scaled front designed to match the seaside venue, she repeatedly voiced her fandom for Oques Grasses during the transmission.
The display reached its dramatic climax with “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. The final bursts of the 1,500 kilograms of gunpowder gave way to the traditional closing traca, wrapping up both the night and the city’s summer festival.
International Guests and Future Plans
This year’s La Mercè festival highlighted Shanghai as its official guest city. During a Sunday interview with Betevé, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni announced that Mexico City will take over the guest city role for the 2027 edition of the capital’s major festival.
Worth a look
