Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys: Barcelona’s Temp Stadium Guide

Barcelona called Montjuïc home for two seasons while Spotify Camp Nou underwent its ambitious €1.07 billion facelift, packing fixtures across to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys — a stadium most visitors know from the 1992 Olympics. The move wasn’t a secret, but the daily mechanics of it (capacity shifts, transport quirks, seating maps) flew under the radar for many fans outside Catalonia. This guide puts all of that in one place.

Capacity: 55,926 seats · Location: Montjuïc hill, Barcelona · Built: 1929, renovated 1992 · Current use: FC Barcelona temporary home · Espai Barça cost: €1.07 billion

Why is Barcelona playing at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys?

FC Barcelona needed a home ground while Spotify Camp Nou underwent the most extensive renovation in its history. The Espai Barça project — a €1.07 billion overhaul running from 2022 through 2027 — closed Camp Nou in May 2023, leaving the club without its primary venue for consecutive seasons. The solution was Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Montjuïc hill, the stadium that hosted track and field events during the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Camp Nou renovation timeline

• May 2023: Camp Nou closes for Espai Barça construction (Stadium Seeker renovation guide)
• 2023–2024 season: FC Barcelona plays all home matches at Estadi Olímpic
• 2024–2025 season: Club continues at Montjuïc while Phase 1 work progresses
• February 2026: Barcelona returns to Camp Nou with 45,401 capacity for Phase 1B (Wikipedia Camp Nou)
• 10 February 2026: Phase 1C occupancy license granted, capacity rises to 62,652 (Wikipedia Phase 1C)

Montjuïc as temporary venue

The club played its first two 2025–26 league home matches at Johan Cruyff Stadium before the confirmed return to Camp Nou on 22 February 2026 against Athletic Bilbao (Wikipedia match record). This juggling act — shifting between three venues in under three years — tested the club’s logistical planning and fan patience alike.

Where is Barcelona’s temporary stadium?

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys sits atop Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, part of the Anella Olímpica complex built for the 1992 Summer Games. It’s about five kilometers west of Camp Nou, placing it on the opposite side of the city center from Barcelona’s traditional home.

Address and location details

• Precise location: Montjuïc hill, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
• Nearby landmarks: Estadi Olímpic sits alongside the Palau Sant Jordi and the MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia)
• Proximity advantage: The stadium is closer to Barcelona’s old city center than Camp Nou, making it more accessible for tourists and casual fans

Google Maps integration

Visitors can locate the stadium via most mapping applications by searching “Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys” or “Olympic Stadium Barcelona.” The venue’s official website also provides a match-night map showing entrances and designated seating by ticket category.

How to get to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys?

Getting to Montjuïc requires some planning, especially on match nights when the hill gets busy. Here’s what works best for visitors.

Public transport options

• Metro + funicular: Take Metro Line 1 (red line) to Paral·lel station, then transfer to the Montjuïc funicular railway. This drops you near the stadium entrance and is the fastest public option.
• Bus: Several TMB bus routes serve Montjuïc, including lines that connect from Plaça Espanya — a major transit hub at the base of the hill.
• Average travel time: From Las Ramblas, the journey takes roughly 25–35 minutes depending on connections.

Driving and parking

• Parking: Limited public parking exists near the Anella Olímpica, and spaces fill quickly on match nights. Pre-booking is not available through official channels.
• Traffic: Montjuïc hill has steep gradients and narrow roads. Arriving 60–90 minutes before kickoff is strongly advisable.
• Ride-share drop-off: Most ride-share apps allow drop-off near the main entrance on Avinguda Estadi Olímpic.

What is the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys seating plan?

The stadium organizes seating into three main zones: Corners, Lateral, and Tribuna. Each zone is subdivided into numbered blocks that correspond to ticket categories (Ticket-Compare detailed seating map).

Seat views and best sections

• Tribuna (central lower tier): 10 blocks (numbered 102–104), offering the closest views of the pitch. Premium pricing applies here.
• Lateral stands: 17 blocks (numbered 116–118), running along the sides of the pitch. These are the most common ticket categories for general admission.
• Corner sections: 27 blocks (numbered 105–107), filling the stadium’s corners. Views are more angled but prices tend to be lower.

Capacity breakdown

The gap between Estadi Olímpic’s 55,926 seats and Camp Nou’s phased capacities tells the story of the club’s growth ambitions.

Where Montjuïc felt temporary and cramped for a club accustomed to 99,354 seats, Camp Nou’s partial reopenings offered glimpses of something larger.

When will Camp Nou reopen and what is the renovation timeline?

The Espai Barça project follows a phased rollout with specific capacity milestones. Here’s where things stand based on verified sources.

Expected return dates

• 22 February 2026: FC Barcelona returns to Camp Nou at 45,401 capacity for the league fixture against Athletic Bilbao (Wikipedia match record)
• 10 February 2026: Phase 1C occupancy license granted, capacity increases to 62,652 (Wikipedia capacity data)
• 22 February 2026: Phase 1C activates against Levante, adding 14,000 new seats in the Gol Nord stand (FC Barcelona official announcement)

Phased refurbishment plans

• September 2026: Third Lateral Stand opens, pushing capacity to approximately 70,000 (Sempre Barca timeline)
• End 2026: Main Stand Third Tier and VIP sections operational, total capacity near 80,000
• April 2027: Full operational capacity expected with all stands and VIP complete (Sempre Barca completion details)
• 2027 roof installation: A four-month roof project may require temporary relocation at the start of the 2027–28 season

How to navigate the Espai Barça renovation phases

For fans planning to attend matches, understanding which sections of Camp Nou are open during each phase is essential. The club’s official site publishes updated seating charts as phases activate (Stadium Seeker section guide).

Step-by-step guide for attending a match

1. Check the official schedule: Visit fcbarcelona.com to confirm venue — matches shift between Camp Nou, Johan Cruyff Stadium, and Estadi Olímpic depending on phase.
2. Purchase tickets one month early: Camp Nou tickets go on sale approximately one month before matches, with prices ranging from €30 (upper tier) to €200+ (premium) (Stadium Seeker pricing).
3. Select your section: Interactive seating charts are available via 3D Digital Venue interactive map and SeatPick row finder for detailed row and seat numbers.
4. Book accessibility seating: Wheelchair-accessible areas are located in the Gol Nord Lateral and designated zones per tier. Book through official club channels only.
5. Plan transport: For Camp Nou matches, Metro Line 3 (green line) stops near the stadium. For Montjuïc matches, use the Paral·lel funicular approach.

Members who held season tickets through the relocation period learned to navigate three different venues in three years — a logistical burden the club absorbed with varying degrees of communication.

FC Barcelona reaffirm the commitment to members with 14,000 new seats at the Spotify Camp Nou.

— FC Barcelona Official Club Statement

The long-awaited Phase 1C — which would bring the capacity up beyond the current 50,000 seats — has been pushed back to early 2026.

— Elena Fort, Vice President of Institutional Affairs

The Espai Barça project reshaped how Barcelona experiences its home ground. For two seasons, Montjuïc served as an imperfect but functional replacement — closer to the city center, smaller in scale, and free of construction noise. The phased return to Camp Nou has been a slow relief: starting at less than half the stadium’s historic capacity and climbing toward a target that won’t peak until 2027.

Related reading: Barça’s Temp Stadium Guide

The Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, serving as FC Barcelona’s venue amid Camp Nou’s renovation, features detailed coverage in this Barcelona’s temp home guide on capacity and access.

Frequently asked questions