Barcelona will probably remember 2026 as the year in which the world once again turned its eyes to the Sagrada Família, to the city, and to the work of Antoni Gaudí. The culmination of the tower of Jesus Christ, the visit of Pope Leo XIV and the centenary of the architect's death have made this an especially significant year for the legacy of the modernist genius. Perhaps for this reason, it could hardly be any other protagonist of one of the most consolidated Christmas events in the Barcelona calendar: Christmas at the Port.
The eighth edition of the Christmas event, which will be held from November 27 to January 6, will feature Gaudí as its big star. The main attraction will be an inflatable installation inspired by the tower of Jesus Christ of the Sagrada Família, which will rise in the Plaça del Portal de la Pau, transformed into a monumental Christmas tree. Thus, one of Barcelona's most emblematic silhouettes, protagonist of one of the most remembered episodes of the year, will have an unexpected Christmas version by the sea.
The choice of Gaudí as the common thread, beyond celebrating a significant year for the architect —the centenary of his death— also aims to recover a perhaps lesser-known facet of the genius: his relationship with the Barcelona coastline. A commemorative plaque in the Plaça del Mar recalls how the modernist architect frequented the port area and stopped there to observe the water, the boats, and nature —that which later ended up inspiring his work—.
For this reason, Gaudí will not only be present in the large Christmas tree. His work will also inspire much of the decoration of the Port Vell, which will be filled with thirty three-dimensional figures, also inflatable, illuminated, and more than 150 decorated lampposts. Among the elements that will be distributed throughout the enclosure will be a warrior inspired by the chimneys of La Pedrera, in the Maremagnum shopping center; the well-known dragon of Park Güell, at L'Aquàrium, and several spheres that will evoke the trencadís at the Palau de Mar and the World Trade Center Barcelona itself. A large star will also be installed at the World Trade Center, another warrior at the Nova Bocana, and three chimneys at the Christmas Fair on the Moll de la Fusta.
One of the most prominent elements of the decoration will be the large light canopy that will cover the Moll de la Fusta. Inspired by Gaudí's trencadís, the installation will combine light and music in a show that will be repeated three times every day, at 6:30 PM, 8:30 PM, and 10:30 PM. The project is conceived under the creative direction of Fèlix Ferrer.
Port Vell starts the countdown to the holidays
The Christmas —and Gaudian— magic of Port Vell will begin to take shape at the Moll de la Fusta in a few days: next Friday, November 27, at 6 PM, it will be inaugurated with the traditional lighting of lights, just one day after Barcelona also illuminates the entire city with the traditional lighting of lights with a show on Passeig de Gràcia.
At the Port, the lighting will serve to debut the large light canopy inspired by Gaudí's trencadís and will be accompanied by music and literature. More than a hundred voices from the Associació Messies Participatiu, together with the Catalan Baroque Orchestra, will perform a selection of pieces from Händel's Messiah, while actor Jordi Subirà will read fragments of Stefan Zweig's The Resurrection of Händel. A celebration that will also end with a popular hot chocolate party.
A Christmas to play, discover and navigate
As usual, the Christmas route at Port Vell, beyond Gaudí, will be completed with the Christmas market, the traditional Ferris wheel, a sustainable ice rink, and various gastronomic proposals. The Sabors de Nadal fair will also return to Passeig de Joan de Borbó, with festive food, crafts, local commerce, and children's activities, organized by the Associació de Comerciants i Industrials de la Barceloneta (ACIB).
Another of the great novelties will invite visitors to discover the Port Vell in a different way: through El secret del Port Vell (The Secret of Port Vell), a digital scavenger hunt that will propose solving riddles and questions about architecture, Gaudí, and the history of the port. With the help of an interactive map and QR codes distributed at different points of the enclosure, participants will have to follow an itinerary of clues until they uncover its secrets. An activity that, like any good scavenger hunt, will also have a reward: among the prizes will be tickets for the Circ Raluy Legacy —another regular at Port Vell, but which this year premieres a change of location, moving to the Barceloneta pier—, Las Golondrinas and L'Aquàrium, gastronomic experiences, nautical activities, or even a stay at the Hotel Eurostars Grand Marina. All of them, experiences located in Port Vell.
Another of the proposals aimed at families will be La Fada del Mar (The Sea Fairy), a dramatized route that premieres this year. In this adventure, children will have to help reconstruct the Star of the East, which has fallen into the sea, so that the Three Wise Men can reach Barcelona. As a souvenir of the mission, each one will receive a star to assemble and hang on the Christmas tree.
Beyond the recreational proposals, Nadal al Port (Christmas at the Port) will once again take advantage of the holidays to bring maritime activity closer to the public. It will do so, among other initiatives, through fifteen free educational tents, promoted by entities, associations, educational centers, and companies from the port community. In these spaces, visitors will be able to participate in workshops and activities to learn first-hand about the trades and professions linked to the port. Among the novelties will be Peixet, d’on vens? (Little Fish, where do you come from?), an activity by the Barcelona Fishermen's Guild that will explain to the little ones where the fish that reaches their tables comes from and what the work of fishermen is like.
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