Bilbao City Center to Be Closed for Free Iberdrola Concert. On Friday, the center of Bilbao will be partially inaccessible due to the large-scale Iberdrola concert. Authorities will close key streets and bridges, reroute public transport, and restrict access to parking areas.
On Friday, June 14, central Bilbao will face major traffic restrictions due to a free concert organized by Iberdrola to celebrate its 125th anniversary. The event will take place on the Abandoibarra promenade and is expected by authorities to attract thousands of spectators. In connection with this, the city administration is introducing strict measures: from early morning until midnight, key streets and two main bridges—Deusto and La Salve—will be closed.
The greatest inconvenience is expected in the evening. From 20:00 to 23:59, not only Abandoibarra but also University Avenue, Euskadi Square, Ramon Rubial Street, Lendakari Leizaola Street, and the stretch of Mazarredo Avenue from Alameda Rekalde will be completely closed to both vehicles and pedestrians. The La Salve Bridge will become inaccessible even for pedestrians, which is extremely rare in Bilbao. This will affect movement between the riverbanks at the height of the festival.
Restrictions will begin to take effect during the night. From midnight to 4 a.m., Abandoibarra, both bridges, Ramon Rubial Street, and the Pedro Arrupe footbridge will be closed for stage and equipment installation. From 16:00 until midnight, traffic will be restricted on the section of Abandoibarra between Lendakari Leizaola and Sagrado Corazón, as well as on the Anselmo Clavé promenade.
Residents and users of parking lots within the closed-off zones will face additional difficulties: entry to and exit from garages will be impossible for the entire duration of the restrictions. Parking spaces will temporarily disappear on Abandoibarra, on University Avenue near the La Salve Bridge, on Gran Vía at house number 73, on Mazarredo between Euskadi Square and Alameda Rekalde, as well as on Anselmo Clavé. On the latter section, the parking ban will remain in effect until June 16.
The evening concert will bring together Juanes, Antonio Orozco, and Rigoberta Bandini on one stage. The largest flow of spectators is expected in the afternoon and evening. Authorities recommend planning routes in advance and using public transport: several Bilbobus lines will change their routes, and the perimeter of the closures may be adjusted according to the situation and security requirements.
Large-scale city events with road closures and changes to transport schemes are not uncommon in Spain. For example, a recent special concert by Niña Pastori for the Pope in Madrid also involved temporary restrictions and drew a large number of spectators and participants in one of the city's central public spaces. In Bilbao, such events require residents and visitors to pay special attention to the organization of movement and parking.
For reference: Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country, where the transport infrastructure is traditionally under strain during major events. The Deusto and La Salve bridges are considered key routes for movement between districts, while the Abandoibarra promenade is a popular venue for city festivals and concerts. City authorities regularly announce temporary changes through official channels and recommend following updates on the day of large events.
