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Christmas lights switch-on transforms traffic on Passeig de Gràcia
The Christmas lights switch-on on Passeig de Gràcia comes with major traffic restrictions, affecting one of Barcelona’s busiest thoroughfares. Closures, diversions and changes to public transport will mark the opening day of Christmas 2025.
Barcelona welcomes Christmas 2025 with one of the year's most anticipated events: the official switch-on of the lights, which will take place on Saturday 22 November at 18:30 on the stretch of Passeig de Gràcia between Ronda de Sant Pere and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. This year, the show will be put on by the Brava Arts company, which will transform the avenue into a festive stage.
But the celebration comes with a significant impact on mobility in Eixample. From Wednesday 19 November at 07:00, the central carriageway of Passeig de Gràcia will remain closed to traffic and parking will be prohibited throughout the stretch, including motorcycles on the pavement. These restrictions will remain in place until Sunday 23 at 06:00.
On Saturday 22, the day of the switch-on, the disruptions will be even greater:
From 15:00 to 20:00, the side lanes of Passeig de Gràcia will be closed.
From 17:00 onwards, the Gran Via and Passeig de Gràcia intersection will be closed.
At 17:30, the closure will be total between Gran Via and Aragó Street, including central and side carriageways.
Vehicles travelling along Gran Via will have to take alternative routes such as Entença, Comte d’Urgell, Aribau or Balmes towards Besòs, and Roger de Llúria and Pau Claris towards Llobregat.
Public transport will not escape it either: seven TMB bus lines (D50, V15, 19, 22, 24, 54 and 67) will alter their routes and suspend stops in the affected area during the afternoon.
The switch-on marks the official start of a Christmas that will run until 6 January 2026, filling the city with a festive atmosphere and temporarily transforming mobility in central Barcelona.