Barcelona once again looks to its most emblematic square to officially turn on Christmas. This year, the City Council and the Generalitat reaffirm their collaboration with an artistic proposal that transforms Sant Jaume into a great urban stage. The installation is called Symphony of Stars and turns the square into a space of contemplation where light, Christmas symbolism and historic architecture merge into a unique atmosphere.
Whoever passes through this representative place of the city between November 22 and January 5 will find an intervention that does not seek an easy spectacle, but an immersive experience. The square is illuminated with a living image, without beginning or end, which invites you to stay a while, breathe and let yourself be carried away by the details. The proposal maintains the Christmas spirit, although it revisits it from a current and surprising aesthetic, which shows that tradition can also dialogue with innovation without losing its essence.
An installation that reinterprets the Christmas imaginary
Symphony of Stars is based on two universal elements: stars and gold. The proposal rescues these symbols to project them simultaneously on the facades of the City Hall and the Generalitat. The lights embrace the square, run through its architectural forms and build a new skin that adapts to the lines of each building. The installation does not work as an ordinary mapping; it seeks a rhythm of its own, more leisurely, more intimate, more in keeping with the idea of a common space that invites us to pause.
The chromatic palette is sustained in golden tones that evoke warmth and closeness. Even so, the piece is transformed on key dates.
The installation is activated every day from 6.30 pm, with extended hours on weekends and the eve of holidays. Access is free and free of charge, which consolidates the municipal commitment to offer culture in the street and to continue feeding the inclusive spirit that characterizes Christmas in Barcelona.
A dialogue between cosmos, architecture and visual rhythm
The core of the work gathers 25 stars, a direct reference to the Advent calendar. These stars are illuminated gradually, each with its own tempo. The piece starts from an apparent chaos to reach a total synchrony, an artistic gesture that dialogues with the way nature combines order and disorder to create harmony. The evolution of these lights creates a visual rhythm that runs along both facades as if each building were wearing a custom-designed suit.
Sinfonía de Estrellas works in superimposed layers. First appears a dynamic background that evokes the cosmos. Then the 25 stars emerge and relate to each other. Later, a front layer softly illuminates architectural details. The work culminates with a final layer that incorporates the floral decorations installed on the facades. The result is a coherent, elegant composition designed for the specific space of the square.
The installation also transforms sound into image. The rhythms are translated into luminous pulses, which turns the piece into a visual “symphony” that beats softly. This approach allows us to experience the square from a less usual, calmer and more subtle perspective.
Technology and sensitivity to dress the city
The shimmer of gold inspires the overall aesthetics of the project. The golds are reminiscent of Klimt’s paintings, the reliefs of altarpieces or the delicacy of gold leaf. They also evoke the reflections produced by sequined dresses when they catch the light. All this creates a sense of understated luxury that blends well with the institutional architecture of the square.
The installation uses 240,000 lumens with low-power laser projectors and more than 50 million pixels, allowing for a very precise level of detail. This technical deployment, however, does not seek to saturate the space with spectacular effects. The aim is to generate a contemplative experience that highlights the dialogue between light, architecture and perception.
Barcelona takes advantage of this intervention to reinforce an idea it has been cultivating for years: to become a laboratory for digital arts. Light and technology serve here as cultural languages that expand the forms of expression of the city. It is not only about illuminating, but also about reinterpreting how urban life is experienced during Christmas.
Barcelona Llums de Nadal grows and consolidates its position
The Sant Jaume installation is part of a special edition of the Barcelona Llums de Nadal program, which expands its scope with 126 km of lights, an increase of 15% over the previous year. In addition, the city is unveiling five new signature designs in emblematic areas such as Via Laietana, Plaza Catalunya, Aragón, Gran Via and Passeig de Sant Joan. The designs were created in collaboration with ADI-FAD and reinforce the idea of lighting with its own identity.
The program has a total cost of 1.3 million euros and also includes the lighting installation of the Disseny Hub Barcelona. The lighting will keep its extended schedule: from 5.30 p.m. to 1.00 a.m., and until 2.00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays. Thus, the city reaffirms its commitment to a Christmas that activates trade, creativity and citizen participation without losing its cultural essence.
Xavi Bové Studio, the firm behind the light symphony
The piece bears the signature of Xavi Bové Studio, a team that has become a reference when it comes to creating emotional experiences with light, image and sound. Their work moves between tradition and innovation, between the organic and the digital, and always leaves room for reflection. Their approach combines artistic sensitivity and technical precision, which is perfect for a project like Sinfonía de Estrellas.
The studio is made up of professionals specialized in 3D design, interactive programming and audiovisual production. The team’s experience is reflected in the way each layer of the installation relates to the next, creating a visual narrative that needs no words to excite.
The international trajectory of the studio is extensive. They have taken projects to cities such as New York, Singapore, Rome, Florence or Graz, and have participated in festivals such as Luz BCN, Noor Riyadh or Bright Festival. Among their most outstanding works are
A Christmas that looks to the future without forgetting its symbolism
With Symphony of Stars, Barcelona is once again on the map of cities that are committed to light as a form of cultural creation. The installation fuses tradition, contemporary design and high-precision technology to offer a leisurely experience in the heart of the city center. Plaça de Sant Jaume, once again, becomes a space where the city celebrates its identity and shares it with anyone who passes by, without filters and without barriers.
