Overview

• Mayor Jaume Collboni officially announced on July 24 that veteran actress Emma Vilarasau will deliver La Mercè’s pregón and revealed Lluís Danés’s fairground-inspired poster at a City Hall ceremony.
• A peaceful protest by activists at the Hivernacle prompted organizers to relocate the presentation of the pregonera and official artwork to the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona.
• Vilarasau, whose 45-year career includes a Creu de Sant Jordi and awards such as the Premio Gaudí, admitted she initially felt overwhelmed by the selection.
• Danés’s poster honors feriantes and the performing arts and will be accompanied by a dedicated video version to boost engagement on social media.
• Preparations are under way to weave the multimedia poster elements into the festival schedule ahead of Vilarasau’s speech on the eve of Barcelona’s principal annual celebration.