Barcelona is democratizing access to culture with the seventh edition of the“Barcelona Obertura Ciutat de Clàssica” festival. From March 5 to April 1, the city will host a total of 52 concerts, 27 of which will be free of charge. This initiative aims to bring the genre to all audiences at venues spread across the ten districts.
The program will reach 29 emblematic venues in the Catalan capital. In addition to the great temples such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Palau de la Música, music will be heard in historic buildings such as Casa Vicens, Torre Bellesguard, and Palauet Albéniz, the palace of the King and Queen of Spain when they visit the city.
Around 250 musicians will participate in these local events. Among the groups performing are the Orquestra del Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Banda Municipal de Barcelona, and the OBC. This year, the festival pays tribute to Any Gaudí with works by Catalan modernist composers.
Ticket raffle for free recitals
In view of the high demand in previous editions, the organization will change the reservation system. Places for free events will no longer be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, but through a raffle among all those registered.
Registration to participate in this selection will remain open on the official website barcelonaobertura.com/ciutat. This measure will ensure that more citizens can enjoy great figures such as soprano Asmik Grigorian and tenor Juan Diego Flórez, who head the international lineup.
The artistic line-up for 2026 will also focus on gender visibility. The festival will revive the works of 19th- and 20th-century female composers Luise Greger, Margarete Schweikert, and Johanna Müller-Hermann. Polish composer Karol Szymanowski willalso feature prominently in the repertoire.