Manchester to be guest city at iconic Barcelona festival next year

Image: La Mercè Festival, courtesy of Manchester City Council

Manchester has been chosen by its Catalan counterparts to be the first-ever English guest city at next year's event in a move that will see partners from the two cities working closely over the next 12 months to put together a spectacular programme of Mancunian-grown talent in outdoor arts and music for audiences in Barcelona. 

The invitation to be guest city at the festival is regarded as a big coup for Manchester and one that it's hoped will lead to a sustained relationship between the two cities that goes beyond next year. 

It follows a recent visit to Barcelona by a deputation from Manchester that included Leader of Manchester City Council Bev Craig and Deputy Leader of the Council Garry Bridges, for discussions with their Catalan counterparts including Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. 

It is further hoped that the year-long cultural partnership will help forge an even closer relationship between the two cities that extends beyond culture into other areas of shared policy interest.  

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We're honoured to have been invited by Barcelona to be the 2025 guest city at their historic La Mercè Festival. 

"Our two cities share very similar visions and through celebrations like the incredible La Mercè festival and our own Manchester Day and packed programme of year-round city-wide cultural activity, it's clear we both also value the importance of culture and the part it plays in helping build communities, pride and prosperity in our cities.

 "Our city-to-city friendship with Barcelona already spans several decades through various collaborations in culture and sport, as well as in areas like housing, higher education, digital technologies, and sustainability.  We're very much looking forward to now further strengthening our relationship with the city, both through the next year in the run-up to La Mercè 2025, and beyond."

Image: La Mercè Festival, courtesy of Manchester City Council