Barcelona lights up Christmas as the festive illuminations are lit simultaneously across all the city’s neighbourhoods
The simultaneous illumination of the lights on Passeig de Gràcia and the city’s neighbourhoods marks the start of Christmas in Barcelona, with a show that combined music, dance and lighting in an event shared across the city.
On Saturday 22 November, Barcelona kicked off the Christmas campaign as the Christmas lights were turned on in Passeig de Gràcia, as part of an event combining music, dance and large-scale light installations. The show brought together thousands of people and was part of Barcelona’s Christmas carol, Un cor que batega, the official soundtrack of Christmas in the city.
The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the mayor of Betlem, Maher Canawatique, together pressed the button that started the final countdown. This gesture also saw the lighting designs on Passeig de Gràcia turned on and, simultaneously, the launch of the signature light installations across the city became visible on screens.
From that moment on, the Christmas illuminations were turned on simultaneously across all the city’s districts. The illuminated figures and decorative elements incorporated this year have contributed to creating a festive and shared atmosphere across all neighbourhoods.
Several districts have held their own lighting ceremonies with shows and activities to welcome Christmas. Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó and Sant Andreu have organised street-side events to get citizens involved.
This simultaneous activation saw Barcelona launch a wide ranging programme of Christmas activities that will fill the city with light, culture and a festive atmosphere until the month of January.