More than 350 theatre, dance and music shows on an 11-meter stage in Plaça Catalunya

BarcelonaWith Christmas just around the corner, Barcelona's Plaça Catalunya is gearing up to become the epicenter of the city's celebrations. From December 20th to 30th, the Barcelona Christmas Festival will fill the square with a total of 357 dance, circus, theater, and music performances under the artistic direction of Sergi Ots, with Jordi Duran curating the evening show. The festival will feature the collaboration of nearly 20 companies—the vast majority of them Catalan—nine musical groups, and around 20 premieres. In addition, the festival will include three performances in other parts of the city, specifically in the districts of Sant Martí, Gràcia, and Eixample. The stage to be installed in Plaça Catalunya is an 11-meter-high structure created by Carles Piera, which includes seating for 300 people. According to the artist, the set design aims to "recreate a dreamlike and magical space that evokes the typical emotions of the Christmas season," and to achieve this, it will feature more than 2,000 hand-painted slats that will rise to a height of 11 meters. Furthermore, the installation will play with light and color to become a dynamic and ever-changing space.

The Christmas Festival performances will be divided into four daily sessions: morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Admission is free and no prior reservation is necessary, as the performances take place outdoors. Mornings are designed for children, featuring visual theater; afternoons will focus on street arts; evenings will feature musical performances; and nights will combine the various disciplines for the daily festival closing.

The show will run from December 20th to 30th (excluding the 25th and 26th). Christmas Stations, From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., this family-friendly event is a collaboration between four Catalan companies and will consist of a series of short Christmas scenes. Each performance lasts seven minutes and will be repeated throughout the morning. In addition, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the company Atrapasomnis will present a live music performance. The Violet Planet

Circus, dance and music

In the afternoons – from 5 to 7 pm – Plaça Catalunya will host a series of performances focused on circus and dance. The shows will have a more mature perspective, addressing themes such as feminism and artificial intelligence, but are also designed for all audiences. Some of the offerings include ES de La Corcoles - Manolo Alcántara, who will perform a tightrope walking show on the 20th and 21st at 6:15 pm, and Banda à Tyrex, who will present their cycling ballet with live music on the 24th at 1 pm. The evenings of the Christmas Festival will fill the city center with live music, with concerts from 7 to 8 pm ranging from jazz and electronic music to Latin sounds and rap. Among the most anticipated performances are those of Alosa, who will perform on December 22nd, and sisters Judit and Meritxell Neddermann, on the 23rd, who will reinterpret popular Catalan songs. The evenings will feature the Cor de Teatre choir, which will present a fusion of music and theater in its show. Christmas, an unexpected journey, which can be seen every day of the festival (except the 24th) at 8 pm.

This year, the Barcelona Christmas Festival also includes activities in the districts of Sant Martí, Eixample, and Gràcia, with performances akin to street art. They will be presented by Bande à Tyrex and can be seen on December 22 at 12 pm in the Ronda de San Antonio with the Plaza del Peso de la Paja (Eixample), on the same day at 6 pm in the Plaza del 25 de Noviembre (Sant Martí) and on December 23 at 12 pm in the Centro Cívico La Sedeta (Gràcia).