Barcelona’s Focus theatres launch a €14.5 million season featuring 60 productions and headline names like Josep Maria Flotats and Emma Vilarasau. The group celebrates its 40th anniversary after drawing over half a million spectators last year.
Barcelona’s theatre scene is set for a busy year as Focus, the city’s main theatre group, announces a €14.5 million season with 60 productions. This is the largest program in the group’s history, covering the Romea, Condal, La Villarroel, and Goya theatres. Focus is marking its 40th anniversary after drawing 534,000 spectators last season, and the group’s leaders say the new lineup is a push to keep Barcelona at the center of the performing arts.
This season brings back some of the city’s best-known names. Josep Maria Flotats will direct and star in "La promesa del alba" at the Romea. Sílvia Munt directs a new version of "Panorama desde el puente" at the Goya, with David Selvas in the cast. Lluís Homar appears in "El gran inquisidor," based on Dostoevsky’s "Los hermanos Karamazov." Emma Vilarasau returns to the Villarroel in "Els fills," joined by Jordi Boixaderas and Mercè Aranega, with Selvas directing. Focus CEO Isabel Vidal says these productions are meant to show the group’s creative ambition and the draw of its leading actors after four decades on stage.
"The 2026–2027 Focus season will feature a record 60 productions across four major Barcelona theatres, supported by a €14.5 million budget."
— El Periódico
The program goes beyond star vehicles. The Romea will also stage "El hijo de la cómica," a tribute to Fernando Fernán-Gómez with José Sacristán, and bring back La Zaranda with "Todos los ángeles alzaron el vuelo." The Goya’s schedule includes a third season of "Un sogre de lloger" with Joan Pera, "Una idea genial" starring Lluís Villanueva, and "Los días perfectos" with Leonardo Sbaraglia. At the Villarroel, audiences will see "Les filles," a tragicomedy by Jordi Casanovas, as well as new works like "Primera llei de Newton" and "Morning sun" by Pau Roca. According to La Vanguardia, this mix is a deliberate effort to reach a wide range of theatre-goers and keep Focus at the center of Barcelona’s cultural life.
Family shows are also part of the plan. Adaptations like "El monstre de colors" by Anna Llenas and "Alícia al país dels móvils" by Marta Buchaca join the lineup, along with "Sopa de lletres" and "Tinc un volcà." The Condal opens with Cesc Gay’s "53 domingos," followed by "Bons i dolents" with Joel Joan and the musical "Germans de sang." Other highlights include "Las trece," about women who fought fascism, and the return of "Shampoo." BroadwayWorld Spain notes that children’s and family programming is a key part of Focus’s plan to build new audiences and keep live theatre strong in the city.
Focus’s leaders say they are aware of the challenge. General director César Martínez credited the founders for the group’s long run and called the future a "dream" in progress. CEO Isabel Vidal described Focus as a central player in Barcelona’s culture, and president Daniel Martínez dedicated the season to the late Àngel Alonso, founder of the Villarroel. After five years of record attendance, the group is counting on continued public support.
"Last season, Focus’s four Barcelona theatres drew 534,000 spectators and generated approximately €14.77 million in box office revenue, the highest in the company’s history. This achievement has been widely confirmed by independent Spanish and Catalan media outlets covering the 2026–2027 season launch."
— La Vanguardia
Last season, Focus staged 68 productions with 1,402 performances and €14.7 million in box office revenue. These numbers put the group at the top of Barcelona’s performing arts scene, but also raise expectations. Focus’s ability to attract top talent and offer a varied program is a direct answer to the city’s growing interest in live culture, as seen in other areas like music, where Barcelona has become a magnet for major events.
The 40th anniversary season is both a celebration and a bet on Barcelona’s cultural future. By combining well-known actors, new works, and a record budget, Focus is aiming to set a new standard for theatre in the city.
