From 5 March to 1 April, Barcelona will once again be filled with music as it hosts the seventh edition of the Barcelona Obertura Ciutat de Clàssica festival — an event that transforms the city into a grand stage for classical music and opera. More than 500 artists will take part in 52 concerts across 29 venues in every district of the city.

The programme brings together major international stars and outstanding local talent, featuring both free concerts and ticketed performances in some of Barcelona’s most emblematic cultural venues.

This year’s highlights include artists such as Asmik Grigorian, Juan Diego Flórez, Martha Argerich, the Quartet Casals, Le Concert des Nations with Jordi Savall, and violinist James Ehnes, who will perform at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Palau de la Música Catalana and L’Auditori.

Classical Music Across All Districts

One of Ciutat de Clàssica’s defining features is its commitment to bringing music to the entire city. This year, 27 free concerts will take place across Barcelona’s 10 districts, in heritage buildings, museums, libraries and public venues.

These concerts will feature nearly 250 musicians, including:

Participating ensembles include the Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Banda Municipal de Barcelona, the OBC (Barcelona Symphony Orchestra), the Conservatori del Liceu and several choirs associated with the Palau de la Música Catalana.

Concerts will be held in a wide range of venues, including Casa Batlló, Torre Collserola, the Monestir de Pedralbes, Refugi 307, the Fundació Miró and Palau Güell. This year’s edition also introduces ten new venues, such as Casa Vicens, Torre Bellesguard, the Palauet Albéniz and the Museu Frederic Marés.

Three Artistic Themes for 2026

The festival’s free programme is structured around three thematic strands offering fresh perspectives on classical music.

Modernisme and the Gaudí Year

Marking the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, the festival presents a musical exploration of Catalan modernism. Concerts will revive works by composers contemporary to the architect, including Enric Morera, Francesc Tàrrega, Francesc Pujol, Narcisa Freixas and Carme Karr, among others.

This strand highlights the shared creative spirit that connected architecture and music at the turn of the 20th century.

Women Composers Between Two Centuries

The festival also focuses on recovering the legacy of talented women composers who were long overlooked. This year highlights three significant figures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries: Luise Greger, Margarete Schweikert and Johanna Müller-Hermann.

Their chamber music and art songs reveal a repertoire of remarkable sensitivity and artistic quality.

Karol Szymanowski

Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, one of the most important musical voices of the 20th century, is another key figure in this edition. His piano works, known for their boldness and poetic richness, feature prominently in several programmes.

Major International Artists at Barcelona’s Leading Venues

Alongside the free concert circuit, Barcelona’s main classical music institutions will present 24 ticketed concerts and operas featuring world-class artists.

Gran Teatre del Liceu

The Liceu’s programme includes a new production of Manon Lescaut by Puccini, staged by Àlex Ollé and conducted by Josep Pons, starring soprano Asmik Grigorian in the title role.

On 19 March, tenor Juan Diego Flórez will give a recital of Italian arias accompanied by pianist Vincenzo Scalera. The concert version of Händel’s Orlando, performed by Les Musiciens du Louvre under Marc Minkowski, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 are also among the highlights.

Palau de la Música Catalana

The Palau will host 12 concerts featuring a wide-ranging programme. Highlights include pianist Jan Lisiecki, soprano Julia Lezhneva with Il Giardino Armonico, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, Concentus Musicus Wien and pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja.

March will also see performances of Bach’s Passions, featuring the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir, as well as the ensemble Arcangelo.

L’Auditori

L’Auditori will present nine concerts during the festival, with a strong presence from the OBC under conductors Pablo González, Juanjo Mena and Ludovic Morlot.

Among the most anticipated events is the performance by legendary pianist Martha Argerich with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana conducted by Charles Dutoit, as well as appearances by the Quartet Casals and a special Holy Week programme with Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations.

Discover Barcelona Through Music

With concerts in major concert halls and unique venues across the city, Ciutat de Clàssica offers a distinctive way to experience Barcelona — discovering its heritage, neighbourhoods and architecture through music.

The combination of internationally acclaimed artists, emerging local talent and free performances makes the festival one of the highlights of Barcelona’s spring cultural calendar.