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Panoramic view over Barcelona from Montjuïc hill, with dense blocks of flats and rooftops stretching towards the Collserola hills

Spain

Barcelona

Photo: Kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Barcelona is World Capital of Architecture for 2026, is preparing to join its two tram networks along the Diagonal, and is funding housing renovation and new public rental homes.

Updated · Checked against official sources

  • Population

    1,732,066

    municipal register, 1 January 2025

  • Mayor

    Jaume Collboni

  • EU programmes

    4

Latest

  1. Regeneration and housing ·

    Barcelona opens €10.5 million in grants for home renovation and building accessibility

    Barcelona City Council has opened two grant calls: €6 million for energy and adaptation works inside homes and €4.5 million for lifts and step-free access in shared areas.

    Facts and source
    • The home renovation grant call has a budget of €6 million.
    • The building accessibility grants have a budget of €4.5 million for lifts and removing architectural barriers.
    • Applicants can receive up to €6,000 of the cost of the works in their home.

    Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona, “Barcelona obre dues convocatòries per rehabilitar habitatges i millorar l’accessibilitat dels edificis”

  2. Mobility ·

    TMB puts Barcelona's first fully electric neighbourhood minibus into service

    Barcelona's public transport operator TMB has introduced its first battery-electric minibus on neighbourhood line 185, with four more due within weeks.

    Facts and source
    • The first electric minibus runs on line 185, between Canyelles metro and Vall d'Hebron.
    • Four more minibuses will join the service in the coming weeks.
    • The overall purchase of 23 zero-emission buses has a base budget of €19,239,000 including VAT.

    Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona, “TMB posa en servei el primer bus de barri elèctric”

  3. Culture ·

    Barcelona's World Capital of Architecture year reaches over 100,000 people in five months

    From February to June 2026 the World Capital of Architecture programme held 910 activities across Barcelona's ten districts and beyond.

    Facts and source
    • The programme held 910 activities in 295 venues.
    • 411 educational activities reached 11,000 pupils.
    • Barcelona will hand over the title to Beijing, which hosts the event in 2029.

    Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona, “Barcelona 2026, Capital Mundial de l’Arquitectura arriba a més de 100.000 persones durant els seus primers cinc mesos de recorregut”

  4. Mobility ·

    Barcelona and the ATM agree terms to join the city's two tram networks along the Diagonal

    An agreement between Barcelona City Council and the metropolitan transport authority clears the way to tender the Verdaguer – Francesc Macià tram link.

    Facts and source
    • The City Council will invest €99 million excluding VAT (€120 million with VAT) in its part of the works.
    • The works are expected to take 40 months.
    • Forecast demand is 62 million journeys a year.

    Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona, “L’Ajuntament de Barcelona i l’ATM aproven el conveni de col·laboració per executar la connexió del tramvia entre Verdaguer i Francesc Macià”

  5. Regeneration and housing ·

    Barcelona hands over 64 public rental homes in Trinitat Nova

    Barcelona has delivered 64 social and affordable rental homes in the Trinitat Nova neighbourhood of Nou Barris, bringing deliveries this term to 2,201.

    Facts and source
    • The handover covers 20 social rental and 44 affordable rental homes.
    • With this handover, 2,201 public homes have been delivered across the city during the current term.
    • Construction of 142 more homes in Trinitat Nova is planned to start in 2026.

    Source: Ajuntament de Barcelona, “Barcelona lliura 64 habitatges públics de lloguer al barri de la Trinitat Nova al districte de Nou Barris”

City briefs are drafted with AI from official sources; every fact is checked against the source text before an editor approves it.

Projects we track

5 projects · 2 completed · 1 under way

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Tram connection along the Diagonal, Verdaguer – Francesc Macià

    The second phase of joining the Trambaix and Trambesòs networks; the city and the ATM approved their agreement in July 2026, the last step before tendering the 40-month works.

    Budget €99 million excl. VAT (city) and €97 million excl. VAT (Generalitat de Catalunya) Funded by Ajuntament de Barcelona; Generalitat de Catalunya via ATM Mobility

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Housing renovation and building accessibility grants

    Two calls open until December 2026: €6 million for energy-efficiency and adaptation works inside homes and €4.5 million for lifts and step-free access in shared areas.

    Budget €10.5 million Funded by Ajuntament de Barcelona Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Trinitat Nova public rental homes

    Keys to 64 social and affordable rental homes in a 95-home public development in Nou Barris were handed over in June 2026, bringing deliveries this term to 2,201 across the city.

    Funded by Ajuntament de Barcelona Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    TMB purchase of 23 battery-electric buses

    TMB is taking delivery during 2026 of 18 double-decker buses and 5 low-floor minibuses, all battery-electric; the first electric neighbourhood minibus entered service on line 185 in September.

    Budget €19,239,000 (base budget, VAT included) Funded by TMB, with ATM financing Mobility

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    X1 express bus extension to Zona Universitària

    Since 21 September 2026 the X1 express line runs beyond Francesc Macià along the Diagonal to Zona Universitària, adding eight stops that serve university, health and office areas.

    Mobility

    Status checked 20 October 2026 · Source

Coming up in Barcelona

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