Over these 35 years, 26.8 million people have enjoyed more than 2,500 events held at Palau Sant Jordi and Sant Jordi Club
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of concerts as a result of the global boom in live music and major shows
This Sunday, 21 September, marks 35 years since the opening of Palau Sant Jordi. The venue, conceived for the Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games and designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, was handed over to the city on 21 September 1990 in an official ceremony that highlighted its advanced technology, the materials used and its versatility of uses. It was a space created and prepared from the outset to host all sorts of sporting activities, as well as major events such as concerts, operas, fairs and conferences.
Following that official presentation, there were three days of open days under the slogan “Come and see the greatest show on earth”, which gave the people of Barcelona the opportunity to discover what would become one of the main Olympic venues and, without doubt, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. A total of 270,000 people attended.
In the words of Isozaki, Palau Sant Jordi, together with its annexed hall – now the Sant Jordi Club – was intended to have “a universal character”, and so it has proved. According to the First Deputy Mayor and President of BSM, Laia Bonet, “35 years on, Palau Sant Jordi and the Anella Olímpica as a whole remain a benchmark for sporting events and, above all, a key stage for the live music sector, with a permanent programme of concerts by national and international artists of every style. And all of it under public leadership.”
As a public company of the Ajuntament de Barcelona, BSM took over the management of the Anella Olímpica in 2003 by mandate of the City Council. Since then, it has consolidated the Anella Olímpica as an international reference point in culture, sport and entertainment. Its experience and professionalism have been key to preserving the Olympic legacy and putting it at the service of the public and of Barcelona’s global standing.
More than 2,500 events and 26.8 million attendees
Since it opened, Palau Sant Jordi and Sant Jordi Club have hosted more than 2,500 events, attracting 26.8 million people. Almost half of these events (45%) have been concerts, followed by fairs and corporate events (35%), major sporting fixtures (13%), and other events such as family shows or film shoots (7%).
Live music is by far the fastest-growing type of event over the years. In the last decade, 7 out of every 10 events held at Palau Sant Jordi and Sant Jordi Club have been concerts. This is partly due to the shift in the music industry – with the rise of streaming driving demand for tours and concerts over recorded music – and partly thanks to the capacity and versatility of these arenas, which hold 18,400 and 4,600 people respectively, as well as the long-standing relationships the Anella Olímpica has built with more than 40 local and international promoters who make all these events possible.
A stage open to all audiences and musical styles
The first artist to perform at Palau Sant Jordi was Luciano Pavarotti. The Italian tenor took to the stage just a few days after the opening ceremony, on 29 September 1990. One of the hallmarks of this arena is the wide variety of musical styles it has welcomed since the very beginning, opening its doors to every audience. Opera, pop, rock, metal, classical, punk... All genres have found a place here, including electronic music, Latin sounds and new trends such as K-pop.
Palau Sant Jordi has also played an important role in the careers of national artists. For performers such as Rosalía, Rigoberta Bandini, Joan Dausà, Nil Moliner, Oques Grasses, Manuel Carrasco, Lola Índigo and Aitana, it was the first or one of the first major venues where they appeared. Others have made it one of their most frequent stages in Spain: Joaquín Sabina (18 concerts), Alejandro Sanz (16), Estopa (13), Fito & Fitipaldis (12), David Bisbal (11) and Pablo Alborán (10).
Among international artists, those who have performed most frequently at Palau Sant Jordi are Eros Ramazzotti (11 concerts), Madonna (7), Bryan Adams (7), U2 (7) and Laura Pausini (5).
There have been many memorable moments on the stages of Palau Sant Jordi and Sant Jordi Club, but one in particular has gone down in Barcelona’s musical history: the Love of Lesbian concert on 27 March 2021. It was the first large-scale concert of the pandemic era, following a year without live music.
A venue for a wide range of international sporting events
Sport has also played a key role in the history of Palau Sant Jordi. Before hosting the gymnastics and volleyball competitions at the Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games, it had already staged the international basketball tournament McDonald’s Open (1990).
These international events were followed by other major competitions such as the World Indoor Athletics Championships (1995), the FIFA Futsal World Cup 1996, the World Swimming Championships (2003–2013), the World Snowboard Championships (2011), the World Handball Championships (2013), the Basketball World Cup (2014) and the World Roller Games Barcelona 2019.
As with music, what stands out is the variety of sporting disciplines that have been held at Palau Sant Jordi over the years. These have included five-a-side football, American football, tennis, indoor athletics, climbing and judo, as well as handball, taekwondo, kickboxing, trial, enduro and karting, among others.
Also notable were the years when FC Barcelona’s basketball team played its home games at Palau Sant Jordi (1991–1994), along with events such as Dirt Track (1991, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) and Ski Indoor (1992, 1993 and 1995).
A stage for family shows with deep roots in the city
Family productions have been an integral part of Palau Sant Jordi’s history since the very beginning. Disney On Ice, for example, came to Palau Sant Jordi in 1993 and has since staged 29 editions. It is by far the event that has been held most frequently at the venue.
Another company that has chosen this stage many times for its shows is Cirque du Soleil, with eight shows at Palau Sant Jordi.
Another highlight in this field is the Esport i Dansa Ara gathering, the annual event that concludes what is now the educational sports programme with the highest participation among Barcelona’s schools. On that day, thousands of children fill the floor of Palau Sant Jordi and perform, in front of their families and teachers, the dances they have spent months rehearsing at school.
Around 50 artists will perform at the Anella Olímpica before the end of the year
The line-up at Palau Sant Jordi and Sant Jordi Club for the coming months confirms the strong position of these arenas on the national and international live music circuit. Between now and December, around 50 artists will perform here, and for some, this will be their only concert in Spain.
On the national scene, names set to appear at Palau Sant Jordi before the end of the year include Joaquín Sabina (2 and 4 October), Manuel Carrasco (10 October), Vanesa Martín (25 October), Los Pecos (26 October and 28 December), Leiva (8 November), Antonio Orozco (28 and 29 November), Mónica Naranjo (19 December) and Raphael (20 December).
As for international tours, highlights include Mora (23 September), with all tickets sold out; Lady Gaga (28, 29 and 31 October), Jamiroquai (6 November) and Mumford & Sons (23 November), who will not be performing anywhere else in Spain; as well as Katy Perry (9 November) and Anuel AA (22 and 26 November).
Also over the coming months, Sant Jordi Club will host, among many others, Daminano David (21 September), already sold out; Delaossa (4 October), Manuel Turizo (11 October), Los Planetas (17 October), Ojete Calor (25 October), Belén Aguilera (8 November), Lágrimas de Sangre (14 and 15 November), Roxette (16 November), Crystal Fighters (27 November) and Loquillo (27 December).
In sports, from 11 to 14 December, Palau Sant Jordi will host the Premier Padel Finals, featuring the world’s best padel.
Looking ahead to 2026, some of the first names confirmed for Anella Olímpica include Fito&Fitipaldis (16 and 17 January), Julieta (13 February), Mikel Izal (20 February), Hans Zimmer (27 March), Pau Vallvé (25 April), Dani Martín (25 April and 24 October), Eros Ramazzotti (2 May), El Último de la Fila (3 and 7 May) and Bad Bunny (22 and 23 May).
