The Catalan government and Fira 2000 have secured a €220 million loan from five financial institutions to complete the expansion of Fira de Barcelona's Montjuïc and Gran Via venues. This funding will help finish significant construction projects.
BBVA, Banc Sabadell, CaixaBank, Banco Santander, and l’Institut Català de Finances (ICF) participated in the syndicated loan. Of the total, €125 million is allocated for the first phase of Montjuïc's remodelling. The remaining €95 million will complete the Hall Zero project at the Gran Via venue, which is expected to be ready by early 2027.
Other institutional partners of Fira 2000, including Barcelona City Council, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council, and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), also approved the loan. The repayment period is 20 years, including a four-year grace period.
Funding Major Exhibition Projects
The overall expansion project for Fira de Barcelona has a budget of €615 million, according to the Department of Economy, led by Alicia Romero. Specifically, the Hall Zero construction in Gran Via represents a €365 million investment. The first phase of the Montjuïc remodelling will cost €250 million.
Work on the new Hall Zero pavilion reached its halfway point in early 2026, following two years of construction. This new exhibition space will add 60,000 square metres to Fira de Barcelona, which previously had 240,000 square metres. An accompanying office tower is also part of this development.
Future Growth and Milestones
The €615 million investment also covers the rehabilitation of the Alfons XIII pavilion and the construction of a new multi-purpose pavilion in Montjuïc. These are scheduled for completion in 2029, coinciding with the centenary of the 1929 International Exposition.
This expansion will position Fira de Barcelona among Europe's major exhibition centres, alongside cities like Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hannover, Munich, and Milan. Large events hosted annually, such as the Mobile World Congress and ISE, are looking forward to these new facilities, which will allow them to grow further in the Catalan capital. However, they will need to wait until 2028 to use the new pavilion.
Fira de Barcelona, a public-private institution, reported a record turnover of €350 million in 2025, an 8% increase. During the same year, the organisation hosted over 300 events, an 11% rise, and welcomed three million visitors.
