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Barcelona turns blue and launches more than 40 plans for Europe Day
Barcelona is preparing for a visible change in the city for Europe Day, celebrated on 9 May. The agenda runs throughout the week, but that day concentrates the main events, with a programme directly connected to urban life and the 40th anniversary of Spain joining the European Union.
The epicentre will be the Museu del Disseny, where institutional representatives and European figures such as Romano Prodi will gather. The day focuses on current challenges and Europe’s role in citizens’ everyday lives.
Beyond the central event, the city is activating an extensive calendar of exhibitions, debates and educational activities. Proposals such as ‘Europa, el nostre espai comú’ travel through different areas, while surveys, conferences and meetings seek to measure and strengthen the relationship between Europe and citizens.
The programme also takes a participatory approach. More than 600 students are joining educational activities, and initiatives such as gymkhanas against disinformation or awards for young journalists are being organised. The idea is to involve especially those who will build Europe in the years to come.
Music takes centre stage in the street. The ‘Oda a l’Alegria’ will be heard at various points across Barcelona, and concerts such as FemJazz will fill squares with European talent. At the same time, fairs and local activities bring the celebration closer to neighbourhoods and everyday spaces.
The closing will also be visual. Emblematic buildings will be illuminated in blue and more than a thousand banners will cover Gran Via, making 9 May felt throughout the city. Barcelona thus turns an institutional date into an urban experience that blends politics, culture and daily life.