Mayor Jaume Collboni has presented plans for 75 new shade structures across Barcelona this summer, covering playgrounds, urban spaces, and school yards. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to adapt the city to rising temperatures and keep public spaces accessible throughout the year.
The installations will be distributed across 38 children's play areas, 21 urban spaces, and 16 school patios. The city council says they will bring the total number of shaded areas in Barcelona to 200 by 2027. The program has a budget of €11 million and is expected to create more than 40,000 square meters of shaded surface across the city.
Collboni said the priority remains planting more trees. Where that is not feasible, the city will use fabric canopies and other structures to reduce direct sun exposure. He said expanding shaded areas is impressive to protecting vulnerable groups and keeping public spaces usable at any time of day, especially during the hottest months.
Of the 75 shade installations planned for this summer, 38 will be in playgrounds, covering more than 8,500 square meters. Sites include plaza d’André Malraux, plaza de la Sagrada Família, plaza d’en Joanic, and plaza de la Verneda. The Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona will also oversee 16 new shaded areas in school yards, adding more than 1,300 square meters of protection at schools including Baixeras, Teixidores de Gràcia, Arc Iris, Pit-roig, del Mar, Anglesola, Splai, Eulàlia Bota, La Maquinista, Llacuna del Poblenou, Els Porxos, La Pau, Miralletes, Jaume I, Projecte, and Els Xiprers.
The plan includes 21 additional shade structures in urban spaces not designated as playgrounds, providing more than 5,000 square meters of coverage. Locations include plaza del Poeta Boscà, Pou de la Figuera, plaza d’André Malraux, the gardens of Doctor Duran i Reynalds, and the skatepark de la Marina.
The city has also announced three major shade projects for basic public spaces. They have a combined budget of €2.3 million and are scheduled for completion between 2027 and 2028. On paseo Marítim, two large canopies supported by columns will cover 1,600 square meters along the beaches of Nova Icària and Bogatell. They are expected to be ready by June 2027. The second project, in plaza Comercial near El Born, will feature a network of rhomboid fabrics supported by metal columns and concrete bases. It will cover 1,400 square meters and is planned for May 2028. The third project, the most technically complex, will be on avenida del Portal de l’Àngel. Hexagonal modules inspired by Gaudí’s tiles will shade 2,000 square meters. Completion is also scheduled for May 2028.
Collboni said the perceived temperature difference between sun and shade can exceed 12 degrees Celsius, making the measures impressive for comfort and public health. He also pointed to the city’s efforts to ensure all schools are climate-controlled by 2030. He criticized suggestions that children should simply wear lighter clothing, saying they do not adequately address heat in educational settings.
Schoolyard planning elsewhere in the Barcelona metropolitan area also includes shade and climate adaptation. A separate 2026 programme in Cornellà de Llobregat allocates more than €5 million to change school patios, with plans for more shaded areas, renaturalisation, biodiversity, accessibility, and inclusive outdoor learning spaces.
Barcelona’s approach is part of a growing trend among European cities adapting urban environments to climate change. The city is combining natural and artificial shade solutions to meet immediate needs while pursuing long-term sustainability. Eurostat reports that southern European cities have seen a steady rise in average summer temperatures over the past decade, increasing the urgency of such measures. Barcelona’s investment in shade infrastructure is part of a wider effort to make cities more resilient and livable as climate patterns shift.
The shade programme is separate from Barcelona’s broader public-space work during its designation as UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture 2026. The city’s programme describes selected interventions as a lasting urban legacy, with projects planned across city districts.
