A year after the opening of the new Port Olímpic, the anchoring of artificial reefs, the submersion of 20 gabions in the port and the naturalisation of the Sea Wall’s breakwater blocks are helping establish the site as a leader for marine regeneration and sustainability

A year after being installed, the 50 artificial reefs anchored in the waters of Port Olímpic have proved highly successful in restoring marine biodiversity along the Barcelona coastline. The structures, installed in spring 2024, are now fully colonised by algae and other marine species, and have become a refuge and breeding ground for more than 100 species. 

Invertebrates such as molluscs, crustaceans and sponges, together with fish from the wrasse, blenny and seabream families, are among the species whose presence has increased significantly in these coastal waters. This is another step forwards for Port Olímpic, managed by BSM, in its goal of fostering marine biodiversity and helping to regenerate the Barcelona coastline, positioning itself as a leading port in this field. 

‘Barcelona has always been a city connected to the sea, and the Port Olímpic has a duty to care for and restore our coastline, as well as to lead projects that reverse the effects of years of human activity on the flora and fauna of our coast’, said Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni. ‘That’s why Barcelona City Council, through BSM, has made the recovery of marine biodiversity one of our top priorities in the entire Port Olímpic transformation project’.

To monitor the ongoing colonisation of these reefs, Port Olímpic will carry out regular underwater surveys, alongside scientific monitoring of biodiversity recovery and seabed regeneration. The project is led by the Barcelona Zoo Foundation in collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council’s (CSIC) Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC).

A port that prioritises marine ecosystems and is committed to sustainability

In recent years, a range of initiatives have transformed Port Olímpic into a renovated, sustainable space where popular sailing, the blue economy, food, culture and family leisure all come together. Caring for marine ecosystems has been a priority throughout this process, with several measures establishing this marina as a leader in the field. 

As part of efforts to promote marine regeneration, in 2021 the blocks designed to make up the submerged breakwater of the Sea Wall were treated to encourage colonisation by marine organisms. In 2024, 50 artificial reefs were installed to create a new marine biotope off the Sea Wall, thereby boosting local biodiversity. That same year, 20 gabions filled with mollusc shells were also submerged in the port’s waters. A year later, these structures have fostered the proliferation of native fauna and flora – particularly the presence and development of fish larvae and invertebrates commonly found in port environments.

Other kinds of sustainability have also been central to Port Olímpic’s transformation. A key example is the shift to renewable energy sources through the installation of four pergolas covering the entire Balcó Gastronòmic culinary balcony, equipped with more than 1,500 photovoltaic panels which will soon supply green energy to other BSM facilities through a shared self-consumption system of 620 kW. 

To drive the electrification of sailing, two ultra-fast Endolla Barcelona charging points have also been installed for electric boats. Powered by zero-kilometre renewable energy, these chargers make Port Olímpic a pioneer in the electrification of urban recreational sailing and contribute to the energy transition of maritime mobility. Another noteworthy initiative is the replacement of the concrete jetties at Moll de Xaloc, which began in 2025. To adapt this maritime infrastructure and make it more resilient to the effects of climate change, all the port’s jetties will become floating structures.

These climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are complemented by other circular economy strategies, such as using eco-designed construction materials in the transformation works, building a drought-resilient groundwater network that reduces potable water consumption, and harnessing seawater to cool HVAC systems.

The new Sant Jordi Club will become the first large venue in Spain designed to elevate the experience of live music and medium-scale shows

The goal is to offer the highest possible technical, acoustic and visual quality while prioritising sustainability and the audience experience. With flexible capacities ranging from 3,500 to 9,000 spectators, it fills a gap in Barcelona’s current cultural offering

With a total investment of €70 million, the new Sant Jordi Club is coming into its own and will emerge as a new national standard-bearer for live music and culture 

Barcelona is launching the transformation of the Anella Olímpica as part of the New Montjuïc project presented by Mayor Jaume Collboni at the start of 2025. The first phase of this transformation will be the renovation of the Sant Jordi Club to turn it into the first specially designed large-scale venue in Spain. With 16,500 square metres, the new Sant Jordi Club will be able to host flexible events with capacity numbers ranging from 3,500 to 9,000, an option unlike anything else currently available in Barcelona. This transformation of the Anella Olímpica in general and the Sant Jordi Club will specifically benefit local audiences, who accounted for over 80% of eventgoers at the Anella in 2024. Specifically, 40% of audience members were from Barcelona and its metropolitan area, while 43% were from the rest of Catalonia.

The transformation of the Sant Jordi Club will be carried out through an international architecture contest and will involve a planned investment of 70 million euros, funded entirely by BSM’s business profits.

“Today we’re kicking off the transformation of the Anella Olímpica,” said First Deputy Mayor and BSM Chair Laia Bonet in statements to the media. “After several years, we’re starting to renovate and modernise the Anella, and we want the new Sant Jordi Club to be much more than a concert venue; we want it to offer something completely new for the city, with first-class technical infrastructure.”

The commitment to transforming Montjuïc, presented by Mayor Collboni last February in his “L’alcalde respon” talk, seeks to turn the mountain into a major metropolitan park and green lung for the city, culture and sport, with the renovation of Plaça d’Espanya, Fira, the gardens and the Palau d’Esports, in addition to the Anella Olímpica. This transformation will be accompanied by enhanced public transport at a site now to be served by the L2 metro line, which will connect the city centre to the airport through Montjuïc and La Marina.

1.    The current context: record-breaking years at the Anella Olímpica

After two consecutive record-breaking years (2023 and 2024), with over 2 million people attending over 170 events, the Anella Olímpica (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Palau Sant Jordi, the Sant Jordi Club and Esplanada Olímpica) is taking action to ensure that Barcelona continues to be a global leader in offering the best experiences at concerts, sports events and other large-scale cultural, entertainment and corporate events.

Of the 2.2 million visitors in 2024, 40% were from Barcelona and its metropolitan area, 43% from the rest of Catalonia, 10% from various parts of Spain and 7% from other countries around the world. These figures back up the Anella’s approach as a model of public-private management in making diverse, high-quality, accessible culture a key part of improving city residents’ quality of life. This initiative, then, is a by-Barcelona, for-Barcelona project that also has its sights set on the rest of the world. 

2.    The live music sector today: growth and globalisation 
 

Due to the rise of streaming, the live music sector worldwide is currently seeing a major increase in demand and is undergoing a profound process of globalisation. 

In this context, the Anella Olímpica is embarking on an ambitious transformation process so that Barcelona can address this growing public interest and continue to be a global leader for live music and large-scale cultural and sports events.

In our global world, culture is cementing its role as a cornerstone of social cohesion, encouraging critical thinking, creativity, empathy and innovation. Music in general, and live music in particular, have become the world’s most cross-cutting, multicultural, intergenerational and wide-reaching cultural phenomena.
In Catalonia, the music industry generates €857 million annually, 82% of which comes from live music. The sector is made up of 379 companies that provide over 4,000 jobs. 

3.    Barcelona’s positioning: the Anella Olímpica’s value proposition

The new Anella Olímpica is reinforcing its role as a city venue hosting the best shows all year round and for all audiences.
With more accessible connections from the rest of the city, including the L2 metro line reaching the top of Montjuïc, the Anella seeks to go beyond its reputation as a venue bringing the city the best national and international live music and sports to become an everyday setting where Barcelona residents can have a walk, play sports and exercise, as well as enjoy the city’s culture and food with new offerings. 

Based on a management model driven by public leadership and public-private partnerships, the new Anella aims to bring the best national and international shows to the people of Barcelona and Catalonia, in a world in which cities are competing to attract top events across a range of sectors. 

At the same time, the Anella aims to continue being a platform for projecting local talent to the world, highlighting its close relationship with over 40 local and international event promoters who make each year’s line-up possible. 
The Anella has already hosted major international concerts, including Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé and the world’s first socially distanced live music concert during the pandemic. It’s also seen Estopa, Rosalia, Bad Gyal and many other major names rise to fame. And it’s looking forward to much more.

In 1992, Barcelona showed the world that it can make even the most ambitious dreams come true. The Anella Olímpica was the grand stage for that Olympic dream. Now, over thirty years later, it is once again putting itself at the service of city residents, local talent and international figures.

4.    The transformation of the Sant Jordi Club, an auditorium designed for live music

The first space transforming its value proposition is the Sant Jordi Club, which will become the first large venue in Spain designed to elevate the experience of live music and medium-scale shows.
It will feature first-class technical design designed to guarantee impeccable acoustics, maximum comfort, universal accessibility, energy efficiency, versatility of use and, ultimately, the best experience possible not only for the audience, but also for all people who use it:  artists, event promoters and technical teams.

With a surface area of 16,500 m2, the new Sant Jordi Club will double its current capacity, offering the flexibility to accommodate 3,500 to 9,000 audience members – an option unlike anything else currently available in Barcelona. 

To carry out this physical transformation, Barcelona City Council, through BSM, will launch an international architecture contest to convert the Sant Jordi Club into a specially designed venue for live music and medium-scale shows. 

The space will also have its own architectural identity in harmony with the Anella Olímpica as a whole, especially the Palau Sant Jordi. Created by architect Arata Isozaki, this venue is an internationally recognised Barcelona landmark renowned for its heritage value. 

Ultimately, the goal of the competition is to find innovative architectural designs that prioritise the audience experience and environmental sustainability. 

5.    Calling all creatives everywhere  

The international competition will be launched on 17 July, and submissions will be accepted up to 30 September 2025. With a €70 million investment, funded entirely by BSM, construction work on the new Sant Jordi Club will begin in mid-2027 and is expected to be completed in 2029.  

The project seeks to bolster the Anella Olímpica’s position as a leading venue for live music, sports and other medium- and large-scale events, while also strengthening its connection with the city and the local community. This transformation is part of a series of projects to make Montjuïc and the surrounding neighbourhoods a new urban focal point, green lung and hub for the best cultural and sporting events for all audiences.

The free-fall ride will close its first year in the amusement park with over 200,000 users

Open-air shows, music and family activities bring more fun-filled, refreshing summer evenings to the top of Tibidabo mountain

The free-fall ride of Parc d’atraccions Tibidabo, Merlí, celebrates its one-year anniversary this summer, making it one of the star attractions of ‘Peak of Excitement’. To mark the occasion and celebrate International Youth Day, the amusement park will offer free access to this spectacular ride for everyone under 30 on 12 August.

The Merlí attraction, which welcomed more than 200,000 users in its first season, offers unbeatable views of the city, standing 500 metres above sea level and allowing visitors to enjoy a free-fall experience from a height of 52 metres. 

This initiative, organised for International Youth Day, forms part of the amusement park’s commitment to create thrill and excitement for the new generations and celebrate this international day in a special way. 

Summer shows for the entire family

This summer, the amusement park, managed by BSM, is also consolidating its cultural and entertainment programme to become the ideal space for families to enjoy fun-filled, refreshing evenings. The new programme fills the park with energy, music and colour, offering activities that invite both young and old to dance and enjoy summer evenings in a different way.

One of the main new events is Balambambú, a large family festival organised by the company Pentina el Gat. Inspired by traditional annual festivals, it invites the public to join in dancing, singing and games in a magical environment. This show will take place from 6–10 August. Also on the line-up is Glowdrums, by the group Brincadeira – a spectacular combination of percussion, LED lights and explosive rhythm, taking place from 13–31 August. Both shows will start at 9.15 pm each evening.

With these events, the park reaffirms its commitment to offering quality, inclusive and culturally enriching leisure activities, inviting visitors to share experiences and create unforgettable memories this summer in the magical setting of Parc d’atraccions Tibidabo.

Hydration, food and ventilation are some of the aspects that the Zoo has adapted during the warmer periods to ensure animal health and welfare 

Due to the periods of intense heat during the summer, Zoo de Barcelona, managed by BSM, has implemented a special protocol to alleviate the effects that the high temperatures have on the animals. These extraordinary measures complement the daily care provided by the zoo’s keepers and are fully aligned with the zoo’s goal of ensuring animal health and welfare. 

The zoo’s location, right beside Parc de la Ciutadella and surrounded by plenty of vegetation, is completely strategic and helps to ensure that the temperature across the premises remains up to 3 degrees lower than the city average. Even so, as with cold weather, it is essential to implement a special protocol to ensure that the different species can cope with the heat as well as possible. 

These extraordinary measures focus on hydration, food and ventilation

One priority is keeping the animals well hydrated. To achieve this, Zoo de Barcelona installs additional drinking troughs in its facilities for the animals and refills the water more frequently to ensure it remains cool. Efforts are also stepped up to clean and replenish the baths and mud patches used by some species, which play an important role in regulating the temperatures of animals like warthogs and elephants.

Other species, like bison, buffaloes and elephants, are sprayed with hoses or sprinklers, while the sleeping areas of other animals are equipped with air renewal systems to keep temperatures under control.

Food is also adapted during hot weather. Examples include frozen fruit and ice cream made of broth or fruit juice for primates, ice cubes with fruit for giraffes and worm-based iced drinks for mongooses and meerkats.

Five event promoters will organise the nine annual night-time music events, including both large- and small-scale festivals, based on criteria that ensure better harmony with the local environment

Barcelona City Council, through BSM, has completed the public tender process to organise the night-time music festivals to be held in Parc del Fòrum in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Specifically, the five successful bidders will organise nine annual night-time events, including small formats (9,000 attendees) and large format (30,000 people) and dates distributed throughout the year to guarantee better harmony with the surrounding area and the city’s regular activity.

This model is committed to high quality, regulated and responsible concerts that preserves the balance between cultural activity and neighbourhood rest. The distribution of dates and formats, as well as the new obligations in terms of acoustics, mobility or sustainability, reinforce the commitment of Parc del Fòrum to become a reference cultural space that generates a positive return for the region.

Confirmed dates for large-scale festivals:

• Associació Cultural TGK, the organisation responsible for Telecogresca and that maintains its commitment to large formats: 28 March 2026, 27 March 2027 and 25 March 2028.
• Autopark, the company that owns Sala Apolo that promotes QU4TRE, the Festival by Apolo, is a new concessionaire of large-format festivals: 7 and 8 August 2026, 6 and 7 August 2027 and 4 and 5 August 2028.
• B360 Produccions, the company that promotes Festival·B and that is making the leap to large-format festivals: 18 and 19 September 2026, 17 and 18 September 2027 and 15 and 16 September 2028.

Confirmed dates for small-scale festivals:

• The Project Music Company, a promoter that, for the first time, will promote the Salsón Barcelona festival: 2 and 3 October 2026, 1 and 2 October 2027 and 29 and 30 September 2028.
• Ex-Centris Production, the organiser of the Brunch Electronik Festival that, in the coming years, will work on the small-scale format: 30 and 31 October 2026, 29 and 30 October 2027 and 27 and 28 October 2028.

As can be seen in the confirmed dates, over the course of these three years, Parc del Fòrum will dedicate a maximum of 15 days per year to musical activities during cultural hours and 15 days with concerts running past 11:00 pm. Furthermore, Friday concerts will have to finish by 1.00 am to allow event-goers to take the metro home and minimise late-night disturbances for local residents. On all other weekdays and public holidays, performances must end by 11.00 pm, while on Saturdays and the eves of public holidays, they may continue until 3.00 am. 

The new restaurant will be set up in the historic Masia building and will serve food and drink to suit all tastes in the magical setting on the summit of Tibidabo 

Architect Dani Freixes has headed the Masia building rehabilitation project, turning the space into a unique restaurant that evokes the park's atmosphere and offers incredible views of the city

Renowned chef Rafa Zafra brings a new culinary offer to Parc d'atraccions Tibidabo, expanding the “Peak of Excitement” concept to go beyond the rides. Located in the historic La Masia building in Plaça del Tibidabo, the new restaurant will open its six doors to the public in the spring of 2026 to offer a unique culinary experience in the magical setting at the summit of Tibidabo. Its location next to the park offers panoramic views of the city and the updated menu will make this renovated restaurant the perfect place for all tastes.

The new restaurant, headed by one of Spain’s most renowned chefs, will be located on the ground floor of the building, with a capacity for 300 people divided into three different spaces: the indoor dining rooms for a maximum of 170 diners, the terrace with a capacity of 130 people and the scenic room offering views of the city's most beautiful sights. 

This high-quality, accessible culinary proposal designed for all guests is a clear commitment to expanding the overall experience of the park beyond its attractions. With this new space, Parc d'atraccions Tibidabo, managed by the municipal company BSM, consolidates the park’s position as a total experience, inviting guests to enjoy a day full of excitement, good memories and shared moments. The project was conceived with the aim of continuing to connect with the public through new ways of enjoying and rediscovering the summit of Tibidabo.

The best culinary offering at an amusement park

The reopening of La Masia will see the park offer a highly original culinary proposal. Rafa Zafra has designed a restaurant to suit all tastes and, most importantly, an establishment to provide excellent cuisine to adults and children alike. 

“Parc d’atraccions Tibidabo is a collection of memories, smiles and shared experiences. The opportunity to open a restaurant in this environment is an exciting challenge. We will serve an attractive, honest and fun menu, that makes adults feel like children and allows children to start appreciating good cuisine. In other words, we have to bear in mind both the kids’ excitement and adults’ knowledge. Opting for seasonal and local products, we will cast aside conventional children's menus to introduce them to flavours and textures that help them discover the pleasure of good food. We will make sure that this is an open space for everyone, where all members of the public feel at home,” explains Rafa Zafra.

With a proven track record at the helm of restaurants such as Estimar, Jondal and Per Feina, Zafra has earned recognition in the sector for his ability to adapt to different customers and environments without ever compromising on excellence. Each project he pursues is a response to the specific needs of its context, and the new Tibidabo restaurant is no exception: a unique and inclusive proposal, designed for families, couples and groups of friends, inviting visitors to enjoy a good meal in the most magical setting in Barcelona.

In the iconic and thrilling surroundings at the top of Tibidabo, the restaurant aspires to become a culinary benchmark within the city's family leisure attractions and to offer a total experience where cuisine, setting and excitement go hand in hand.

The concert, featuring a quartet of Conservatori Liceu students, will take place at the Moll de Mestral in the Port Olímpic on Friday, 1 August, at 7.30 pm

This Friday, 1 August at 7.30 pm, the Port Olímpic will host a new concert in the KBr Live series, the cultural programme linked to the agreement between BSM, Fundación MAPFRE and the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) to bring photography and the performing arts to the new Port Olímpic. 

The concert, a free event at the Moll de Mestral, will be performed by a quartet of Conservatori Liceu students—Daniel Roman (vocals), Roger Castells (drums), Ot Granados (double bass) and Sebastian Noren (guitar)—who will play a jazz-inspired set.

The event is linked to the current exhibition on the work of the photographer Edward Weston at the KBr Fundación MAPFRE photography centre. The selected repertoire will include a set of iconic jazz classics, evoking the soundscape of the era and the atmosphere immortalised by Weston's black-and-white lens.

The concert, which is open to all audiences and forms part of the KBr Live cultural programme, will feature artistic, musical and educational activities at the Port Olímpic throughout the summer, with the aim of turning this area into a new cultural meeting hub in the city.

The concert by a quartet of students from the Conservatori Liceu will be at the Moll de Mestral wharf at the Port Olímpic on Saturday, 26 July, at 7.30 pm

The Moll de Mestral wharf at the Port Olímpic is hosting a new concert as part of the KBr Live series at 7.30 pm on Saturday, 26 July. This cultural programme is part of an agreement between BSM, Fundació MAPFRE and the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) to bring photography and the performing arts to the new Port Olímpic. 

Four students from the Conservatori Liceu will be offering a free musical performance inspired by the exhibition by photographer Edward Weston, currently on display at the KBr Fundación MAPFRE photography centre. 

They musicians will be performing a selection of the most significant jazz standards, evoking the era and experiences that inspired the black and white images by the US photographer. The members of the quartet are Sergio Del Boccio (vocals), Elvira Barnadas (cello), Andrea López (cello) and Jana Gallifa (keyboards). 

Play-based family activities to explore the language of photography

The programme for the KBr Live cycle at the Port Olímpic also offers a morning activity for families, complementing the concerts by the Conservatori Liceu and the dance performances by the Institut del Teatre.

Children aged from 7 to 12 can discover the language of photography up until Saturday, 26 July, with participatory workshops combining the visit to the exhibitions at the KBr centre with practical activities inside and outside the workshop. Through play and experimentation with the camera, children will learn to observe, frame and interpret images. Places are limited and anybody wishing to take part should register in advance.

The public bike-sharing service records an average of 1.5 million journeys per month, with users covering over 47 million kilometres each year

This historic milestone coincides with the recent addition of 30 new stations across the city and the introduction of nearly 400 new electric bicycles

Barcelona's public bike-sharing service has set a new record, surpassing 100 million cumulative journeys since the launch of the new model in 2019. With this new milestone, Bicing, the service managed by BSM on behalf of Barcelona City Council, reinforces its position as an international model.  

The service operates a fleet of 8,000 bicycles, has over 164,000 subscribers, and records an average of 1.5 million journeys each month. On average, each bicycle makes 7.1 journeys per day, with the entire fleet covering over 47 million kilometres annually. Furthermore, since its launch, Bicing has experienced a continuous increase in subscriber numbers. In just the first half of this year alone, the service has grown by 7%.

These figure mean that Bicing ranks as the second-largest public bike-sharing system in Europe in terms of total journeys, behind Paris, and is the leading major city in the ratio of journeys per bike per day. This position further reinforces the key role of the service in both the present and future of sustainable mobility in Barcelona. 

For Laia Bonet, First Deputy Mayor and Chair of BSM, “surpassing 100 million journeys confirms that Bicing has become part of the daily routine for thousands of Barcelona residents. It clearly shows that shared cycling is a real, everyday, sustainable alternative, improving city connectivity and meeting the needs of more agile, healthy, and environmentally friendly mobility”.

Expansion of stations to strengthen service access in Barcelona’s hillside neighbourhoods

With the aim of improving connectivity between neighbourhoods, serving those parts of the city with the highest demand, and expanding the service to the hillside neighbourhoods, Bicing has introduced 30 new stations this year. This expansion is part of a wider rollout of 74 new stations planned for completion in the course of 2026. 

To bring the service closer to more residents, nearly 30% of these new stations have been installed in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and Horta-Guinardó districts. The remaining new docking points have been distributed across different parts of the city based on demand and accessibility criteria.

Firm commitment to the electric model

In addition to the new stations, the service recently added nearly 400 electric bicycles, increasing the fleet to 8,000 bikes, 5,000 of which are electric. This expansion focuses on electric models, as they are the most in demand due to the convenience they offer for navigating the city. Specifically, 8 out of every 10 journeys made with Bicing are on electric bikes.

The expansion of Bicing’s electric fleet between 2024 and 2025, along with the installation of the 74 new stations, has a budget of €2,800,000.