Liceu de Mar Project Moves Forward with Formal Agreement

Barcelona city council and the Gran Teatre del Liceu have signed a collaboration agreement to advance the construction of Liceu de Mar, a new 72 million euro cultural facility on the Port Vell waterfront. The deal, signed on Wednesday 16 September 2026, sets a timeline for the next phase of development, with completion expected in 2031 and an opening planned for the fourth quarter of that year. The Liceu, a cultural institution jointly owned by the Spanish State (45%), the Generalitat de Catalunya (40%), Barcelona City Council (10%) and the Provincial Council (5%), will fund the entire project. The municipal infrastructure company BIMSA (Barcelona d'Infraestructures Municipals, S.A.) has been authorised to manage the design, construction, and supervision of the building.

Design Finalists Named Ahead of October Announcement

The final design will be selected through an International Architecture Competition now in its closing stage. After reviewing 55 initial entries, a jury chaired by urban planner Martha Thorne has shortlisted five teams:

  • SANAA with Camps Felip Arquitectura
  • Batlle Roig and Snøhetta Oslo (designers of the Oslo Opera House)
  • Barozzi Veiga, Maio and Burgos Garrido
  • Sou Fujimoto, GRAS and Aldayjover
  • DECAS, b720 and CeC – including David Chipperfield, Fermín Vázquez and Ana Bassat

Each finalist studio will receive 25,000 euros to develop their full proposals, due in September 2026. The winner will be announced in October, and the city plans to publicly exhibit all five models as part of Barcelona’s designation as World Capital of Architecture in 2026.

This project reaffirms Barcelona’s role as a leading European city for culture and architectural innovation.

Joint Oversight and Urban Integration

A Joint Monitoring Commission will oversee progress, meeting at least twice a year. It will be co-chaired by Valentí Oviedo, representing the Liceu, and Elisenda Rius for the city council. The commission will ensure coordination between all parties, including the Barcelona Port Authority (APB), which is responsible for redeveloping public spaces around the site. Liceu de Mar will occupy 9,000 square metres within a 46,000 square metre reorganisation of Moll d'Espanya. The neighbouring Aquarium and Maremagnum complex will remain unaffected. The new venue is intended to host Petit Liceu, stage contemporary opera, run a stable dance season, and establish an International Centre for New Creation Opera. While BIMSA leads construction of the building, APB will handle urbanisation of external areas, continuing a cooperation framework established in 2024.

Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.

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