The Generalitat de Catalunya is assessing the inclusion of renovation works at Girona's Palau de Fires in its 2027 budget, according to an official report published in the Butlletí Oficial del Parlament de Catalunya (BOPC) on 29 September 2026. The document outlines progress on a parliamentary resolution submitted by Junts in May 2026, which called for investment to modernise the facility and carry out structural reforms.
While no specific funding amount or final timeline has been confirmed, the report confirms that technical teams are currently updating economic assessments, comparing redesign options, defining the scope of priority investments, and determining associated financing needs. These steps are described as essential to inform any future investment decision.
Once updated cost estimates and defined actions are in place, the Generalitat will coordinate with relevant departments to assess available resources. At that stage, the 2027 budget cycle is identified as the first concrete opportunity to allocate funding for the project. The government states that financial requirements 'could be subject to analysis' during budget preparation, dependent on overall fiscal availability and investment priorities.
Parallel Planning Underway
Concurrently, the Fundació Fira de Girona has begun preliminary work on a partial redesign proposal for the Llotja building, currently used by the Chamber of Commerce. The Generalitat notes that both the Llotja and the wider fair pavilion have endured years of intensive use and require strategic investment to maintain facilities, improve energy efficiency and sustainability, enhance competitiveness, and meet current technical, regulatory and accessibility standards.
The government affirms it 'shares the need to continue working to ensure the viability and modernisation of Girona Fair facilities, given their economic and territorial significance'.
Funding Disparities Highlighted
The May 2026 parliamentary resolution also urged the Generalitat to equalise investment support across Catalonia’s fairgrounds, addressing what it described as a comparative disadvantage between Girona and Lleida. While the current compliance report does not specify new measures to balance funding, it notes a standing commitment of €75,000 per year from 2025 to 2028 for Girona, a figure already established in 2017 and reaffirmed in the 2019–2021 Strategic Subsidy Plan.
In contrast, Fira de Lleida has received significant extraordinary investments in recent years. In 2023, it was granted a direct subsidy of €1.7 million for the construction and operation of Pavilion 5, followed by a further €1.2 million commitment in 2025 for another pavilion, bringing total investment close to €3 million. The Generalitat clarifies that these are extraordinary infrastructure investments, distinct in nature from the regular operational funding allocated to Girona.
The resolution urged the government to review Girona Fair’s financing model and establish a multi-year investment plan to ensure a modern, competitive venue.
Beyond budget parity, the resolution called for a review of Girona Fair’s financing model to include extraordinary investments for renewal and modernisation, a dedicated allocation in upcoming budgets and subsidy plans for structural upgrades, and collaboration with Girona City Council and other foundation bodies to define a long-term investment strategy.
Reported by Departament d'Edicions del Parlament de Catalunya, firagirona.com, David Expósito J, Parlament de Catalunya, parlament.cat, seu.ddgi.cat, Diari de Girona.
