Barcelona has begun a sweeping redevelopment of the Fira de Montjuïc fairgrounds, with the first phase targeted for completion in 2029, the centenary year of the 1929 International Exposition. Demolition work started this week at the Palacios de Congresos and Palacio 4, clearing the way for a new multifunctional venue. Reports published by El Nacional say demolition began in July 2026, with machinery operating on site by late August. The works launch a change intended to modernize the historic exhibition grounds while keeping Montjuïc an urban fair venue.
The overhaul aims to modernize the exhibition area while preserving basic architectural elements. The Alfons XIII pavilion is being restored to house the future Palacio de Congresos de Barcelona, retaining the original structure by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Meanwhile, the Palacio del Vestido, facing Plaza Espanya, is set to become an new idea and economic activity center. Its iconic colonnade and basic façade by Josep Maria Jujol will remain as a public gateway.
City and regional officials say the project will not disrupt ongoing fairs or exhibitions, citing expanded facilities at L’Hospitalet. Generalitat Economy and Finance Minister Alícia Romero and Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni have reiterated the goal of completing the first intervention phase in 2029. The plan will modernize and reduce the Montjuïc fairground while keeping Fira activity on the site.
The redevelopment also links exhibition works to a wider neighborhood plan around Carrer de Lleida and Paral·lel. Collboni has pointed to 548 planned protected homes. The neighborhood plan also includes a new basic healthcare center (CAP) and a sports complex between Avenida María Cristina and Calle de Lleida. These homes and facilities belong to a longer-term urban-development phase, with the new neighborhood reported as planned for 2033; they are not all scheduled for delivery alongside the 2029 fairground key stage. The project aims to redirect some former exhibition land to housing and public facilities while keeping the site active.
Construction logistics are already visible on site. A 200-ton crane with a 60-meter arm, described in the project account as one of the largest in Europe, has been deployed to help demolition and extend Calle Guardia Urbana to Avenida del Paral·lel. The new multifunctional palace was designed by Smiljan Radić and Miquel Mariné Núñez, alongside Beatriz Borque and César Rueda Bonet. It will cover 20,500 square meters over two floors. The design team was selected through an architectural competition. The architects plan to reuse much of the concrete from demolished buildings. The structure will feature a lightweight metal frame and a landscaped walkway along Avenida María Cristina.
Work on the Alfons XIII pavilion is progressing, with asbestos removal underway and major construction scheduled to begin in September. The redesign, led by Forgas Arquitectes and Archambac (Arquitectura Sideral), also involves Álvaro Alejandro Fernández. It will introduce new spaces, a 6,670-square-meter garden courtyard and a 2,025-seat auditorium, with access from Plaza de Carles Buïgas.
The Palacio del Vestido’s change, managed by Bjarke Ingels Group and MIAS Arquitectura, will create a flexible, three-story, Z-shaped building surrounded by public gardens. The project also includes a 1,100-square-meter multipurpose community facility, intended to expand neighborhood amenities for Font de la Guatlla and Hostafrancs.
The first phase carries a €290 million price tag: €250 million for the new multifunctional palace and Alfons XIII pavilion, plus €40 million for the Palacio del Vestido. The works are scheduled for completion by 2029. A second phase, planned from 2030 to 2035, will focus on renovating the Palacio de las Comunicaciones and Palacio de la Metalurgia.
The wider Montjuïc program also includes a separate replacement for the Sant Jordi Club. Idealista News reports that the proposed venue, designed by Bruther and Jorge Vidal Studio, is budgeted at €70 million and covers about 17,000 square meters. It is planned to accommodate up to 9,000 spectators. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2027, with opening planned for 2029; the existing venue is expected to continue programming until spring 2027. The design includes two underground levels and fixed and retractable seating. It also provides separate public and logistics access, with acoustic isolation intended to allow simultaneous operation with Palau Sant Jordi.
Barcelona’s approach to urban renewal at Montjuïc echoes the city’s history of major transformations, including the 1929 Exposition and the 1992 Olympics. The current plan pairs heritage preservation with public infrastructure, while also adding housing. For context, the city’s developing governance and urban priorities were recently highlighted when David Bondia was reappointed as Barcelona’s ombudsman amid political debate.
Montjuïc’s redevelopment reflects the challenge of balancing historic preservation with contemporary urban needs. Fira de Barcelona remains a major venue for events and exhibitions, while planned homes and community facilities extend the project beyond the fairgrounds. The 2029 key stage covers the first phase of the exhibition-site change; the residential neighborhood follows a later timetable, with completion reported for 2033.
