Barcelona lights up Christmas lights in Passeig de Gràcia ceremony with thousands

Barcelona lit up the Christmas lights during a ceremony at Passeig de Gràcia boulevard on Saturday night, with thousands in attendance. The event peaked when city mayor Jaume Collboni and Bethlehem mayor Maher Canawaty jointly switched on the lights.

At an event starting at 6 pm with a large stage set at the bottom part of the famous boulevard, many marked the beginning of the 2025 Christmas festivities.

The performance lasted around 25 minutes and was a show with different elements, including a large 14-meter Christmas tree, as well as a big lighted box hanging from a large crane, and several large screens spread across the boulevard.

The countdown featured a large, transparent box flying above the stage, with several acrobats wearing red and white. When the clock ticked to 0, fireworks were lit, and the lights were switched on, to applause from attendees.

Aside from lights, the show combined music and acrobatics to symbolize the city's transformation during the Christmas festivities.

Thousands of people attended the event next to Plaça Catalunya, causing a bit of chaos when the ceremony concluded.

Aside from the Passeig de Gràcia, nearby streets enjoy 'Llums d'autor' (distinguish lights) such as Plaça Catalunya, Via Laietana, Aragó street, Gran Via boulevard, and Passeig de Sant Joan boulevard.

The Bethlehem mayor came as a representative of the District 11 Ciutat de Palestina set by the city council in the last months. Both pressed the button to light up the city's lights.

Opening times

The lights will follow the same schedule as last year.

From November 22 to January 6, 2026, they will be on daily from 5.30 pm to 1 am.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and festive days such as December 24, 25, 31, and January 5, the lights will stay on an extra hour, until 2 am.

This year, the Christmas lights will cover 126 km of the city, 16 km more than last year, with a budget of nearly €4 million, 15% higher than in 2024.