Barcelona City Council has announced a new Bonus Consum campaign to support local and neighbourhood trade across the city. The scheme, agreed with the commercial sector, will invest €4 million and is expected to generate an estimated €12 million in the local economy.
The programme will run in two phases, with the first due to start in autumn 2026, alongside the new school year. The second phase will begin in early 2027, after the Christmas and sales period. The council says the staggered rollout is designed to spread the impact across about 30,000 local service establishments.
The city will put 92% of the €4 million directly into the aid for businesses, with the rest covering management costs. Residents will be able to buy a €10 voucher and use it on purchases of €30 or more in participating local shops. The council says this is intended to encourage larger purchases and increase the return for businesses.
The campaign is part of Barcelona's European Capital of Local Commerce 2026 designation and was presented during the Barcelona Impulsa commerce conferences. It also follows a similar Bonus Consum scheme launched in late 2021, after the pandemic, which also invested €4 million and generated an €8 million return for the sector. More Barcelona news
Eligibility covers everyday food and non-food shops, as well as daily service providers, with businesses required to have an establishment in Barcelona, a registered office in Catalonia, annual turnover below €50 million, a surface area under 800 square metres, and no more than 250 employees. For the first time, more than 40 municipal markets are included. The council also says each participating business can redeem up to 1,000 vouchers, worth €30,000, and that adults living in Barcelona can take part, with random checks to verify eligibility.
Some activities are excluded, including restaurants, fast-food chains, 24-hour shops, self-service businesses without staff, vehicle rental services, party venues, entertainment venues, gambling establishments, and shops selling tobacco or alcoholic drinks. CBD and cannabis derivative shops, vapers, franchises, and purchases of gift vouchers or cards with Bonus Consum are also excluded. The council will choose a financial entity with offices in Barcelona through a tender to run the platform, manage payments, and handle traceability and data protection.
The wider Barcelona 2026 local commerce programme includes more than 200 activities across the city's 10 districts, backed by more than 70 sector entities, commercial hubs and administrations. It has already included the Local Commerce Fair in Plaça de les Glòries in May, greater visibility for city trade during the Tour de France departure from Barcelona in July, and a communication campaign promoting civic pride in local commerce.
