This year, Barcelona is preparing for a brighter Nadal than ever, with a lighting plan that includes more streets, more hours of light and the incorporation of new decorative structures in the form of luminous totems. In addition, Christmas routes will be launched that will highlight the most emblematic stores in the city, illuminating their facades and enhancing the festive spirit. The Barcelona City Council, aware of the positive impact that Christmas lighting has on both social life and commercial activity in the city, has increased the budget allocated to these decorations by 13% compared to last year, reaching 3.3 million euros.
More light for more neighborhoods
More light for more neighborhoodsOne of the great novelties of this campaign is the extension of the lighting to new parts of the city, including neighborhoods that have traditionally received less attention. Totems with Christmas motifs will be installed in 22 different locations throughout the city, distributed among the 10 districts, with the aim that more corners of Barcelona enjoy the magic of Christmas. These totems complement the enllumenat with Barcelona’s own design, an innovative proposal that began in 2021 and has established itself as a hallmark of the city during the holidays. Barcelona wants to create its own Christmas image, highlighting its unique character and helping to promote commercial activity in less central neighborhoods. Raquel Gil, councilor of Comerç, Mercats i Restauració, explained that this year more kilometers of streets will be illuminated and the lights will be expanded to almost all neighborhoods, which is an important boost for areas that, during the rest of the year, have less commercial activity. “Not only will there be more Christmas lights, but also more totems and more luminous structures in emblematic spaces of the city,” summarized the councilor.
Lighting in singular buildings
An important part of this lighting project will be the decoration of 14 iconic buildings distributed throughout the city. These include the Torre de les Aigües del Besòs, the Masia de Torre Llobeta, the Viaducte de Vallcarca and the Casa Golferichs. These points will receive special lighting, bringing a unique Christmas touch to their historic facades. In addition to these buildings, the facades of 39 municipal markets will also be dressed in light, an action that, as every year, seeks to strengthen commercial activity in these important spaces for the life of the neighborhoods.
Routes through emblematic stores
This year, as a novelty, special routes will be launched through emblematic stores in Barcelona, with a lighting project that will highlight both the uniqueness of the products and the architectural value of the establishments. These routes will include stops in the Gòtic and the Raval, with visits to iconic sites such as the Cafè de l’Òpera, the pastisseria Brunells and the bar Marsella, among others. The initiative seeks not only to celebrate Christmas, but also to preserve and promote the stores that are part of the city’s cultural heritage. In the future, it is expected that these routes will be expanded to include other neighborhoods and emblematic establishments, such as historic cafés and bars.
More daylight hours, more Christmas atmosphere
Another new feature this year is the increase in the hours of illumination. The lights will be turned on from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holiday eves. In total, there will be 322 hours and 30 minutes of lighting, which will help citizens to enjoy the festive atmosphere in the streets for longer. This adjustment responds to the requests of the commercial and catering sector, which see Christmas lighting as a key factor in boosting the local economy during the holidays.
Efficient and sustainable lighting
Barcelona continues its commitment to sustainable lighting, with the use of LED bulbs in 100% of municipal facilities. This type of lighting not only reduces energy consumption, but also contributes to keeping the city at the forefront in terms of sustainability. In addition, the City Council maintains for the fifth consecutive year the extraordinary subsidy of 75% for Christmas lights installed by trade associations. This support, which amounts to 1.4 million euros, allows many commercial areas to enjoy Christmas lighting, encouraging shopping in local businesses and strengthening the neighborhood economy.
Barcelona, city of light and design
The design of Christmas lights in Barcelona is another of the city’s great attractions. Since 2021, the collaboration of the City Council with design entities such as ADI-FAD has made it possible to create a unique and distinctive enllumenat, combining creativity and functionality, always maintaining a connection with the identity of the city. This year will be the last year in which the light designs created by Estudi Antoni Arola will be on display in emblematic places such as Plaça Catalunya, Gran Via and Carrer Aragó. For 2025, new proposals are already being prepared, which will be the result of a design competition organized by ADI-FAD. The winners of this competition, including studios such as ARTEC and SMLXL, will be in charge of renewing the Christmas decoration of these important spaces.
More budget, more Christmas
The increase in the municipal budget for this Christmas campaign reflects Barcelona’s commitment to festive lighting. The 3.3 million euros earmarked for this purpose include items for the production, installation and maintenance of the lights, as well as subsidies for commercial associations and aid for emblematic stores. The ultimate goal is clear: to make Barcelona shine brighter than ever during the festivities, creating a unique atmosphere that enhances both economic activity and citizen enjoyment.
