Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, also known as , formerly known as the Estadi de Montjuïc and Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc and also known in English as the Barcelona Olympic Stadium, is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city (and Barcelona's failed bid for the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Berlin), it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Paralympics. The stadium is named after Lluís Companys, the 123rd president of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia), who was executed by Francoist Spain.

With its current capacity of 55,926 seats (67,007 during the 1992 Olympics), it is the sixth-largest stadium in Spain and the second largest in Catalonia.

The stadium is located in the Anella Olímpica, on Montjuïc, a hill to the southwest of the city that overlooks the harbor.

History

Designed by architect for the 1929 Expo, the stadium was officially opened on 20 May 1929. The opening ceremonies included Spain's first official rugby international game against Italy, and a friendly football match between the Catalan national team and Bolton Wanderers, which the Catalan team won by a shocking score of 4–0 with goals from Josep Samitier (2), Martí Ventolrà and Manuel Parera.

It was meant to host the People's Olympiad in 1936, a protest event against the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, but the event had to be canceled due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

In the fifties, the stadium was the centerpiece of the 1955 Mediterranean Games, and in 1957 it hosted the only national football cup final between Barcelona and Espanyol, the two local clubs.

In the seventies, the stadium was disused and the stands deteriorated. When the Spanish Grand Prix and other races were held at the Montjuïc racing circuit, the stadium was used as a paddock for the teams. Due to safety concerns, the 1975 F1 race was nearly boycotted by drivers.

During Barcelona's bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics, the stadium was totally renovated with the involvement of Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti. The stadium was gutted, preserving parts of the original facades, and new grandstands were built. In 1989, the venue was re-inaugurated for the World Cup in Athletics, and three years later it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and all the athletics competitions of the Olympic Games and also the same functions during the Paralympics.1992 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 160–7.

The stadium served as the home of Espanyol from 1997 until 2009.

It also served as the home of the Barcelona Dragons American football team from 1991 until 2002. Because the size of the playing surface was slightly shorter than the regulation American football length, the stadium only had seven-yard end zones, three yards shorter than regulation NFL size in 1991 and 1992. They were later lengthened to the standard ten yards. The stadium also played host to the National Football League's American Bowl in 1993 and in 1994. The San Francisco 49ers played the Pittsburgh Steelers on 1 August 1993. The second game was played on 31 July 1994 between the Los Angeles Raiders and the Denver Broncos.

In 2001, the stadium was renamed after the former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya Lluís Companys, who was executed at the nearby Montjuïc Castle in 1940 by the Franco regime. In 2010, the stadium hosted the 20th European Athletics Championships.

For the 2023–24 and the 2024–25 seasons, the stadium served as the home ground for FC Barcelona during the redevelopment of the Camp Nou. Barcelona returned to the stadium at the start of the 2025–26 season, with the partial reopening of Camp Nou having been delayed multiple times. While the club are set to return to the Camp Nou before the end of the 2026–27 season, they are expected to play once again at the Lluís Companys stadium for a brief period at the start of the 2027–28 season while the installation of a new roof at their home stadium completed, with the Montjuïc stadium reserved for this purpose until December 2027.

Pope Leo XIV led a vigil in front of more than 40,000 people on 9 June 2026 during his Visit by Pope Leo XIV to Spain.

Events Sports 1929: Montjuïc hosted its first ever event, Spain's first official rugby international game against Italy.Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007, ); Chapter 6, Gathering Storms, p129 Spain won 9–0. 1935: Boxing match Paolino Uzcudun vs. Max Schmeling 1955: II Mediterranean Games. 1989: IAAF World Cup. 1992: Games of the XXV Olympiad and IX Paralympic Games. 1993: Rugby League European Cup Final, XIII Catalans 22–23 Huddersfield RLFC 1997: World Bowl '97 between Barcelona Dragons and Rhein Fire. 2003: World Police and Fire Games. 2009: On Saturday 20 June the Perpignan-based rugby league team, Catalans Dragons lost 12–24 to Warrington Wolves in the first Super League match to be played in Spain, drawing a crowd of over 18,500. 2010: 20th European Athletics Championships. 2011: 2010–11 Heineken Cup quarter-final match between Perpignan and Toulon with a crowd of 55,000. 2012: 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics.

Football 1930: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. 1933: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. 1934: National football cup final between Valencia and Real Madrid. 1939: National football cup final between Sevilla and Racing de Ferrol. 1944: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Valencia. 1945: National football cup final between Athletic Bilbao and Valencia. 1946: National football cup final between Real Madrid and Valencia. 1957: National football cup final between Barcelona and Espanyol. 1997–2009: Espanyol home fixtures in all competitions until the construction of the RCDE Stadium. 2004: National football cup final between Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza. 2023–2025: Barcelona home fixtures in all competitions due to the renovations of the Camp Nou.

Spain national team matches Date Opponent Score Competition 1 January 1930 1–0 Friendly match 26 April 1931 1–1 Friendly match 23 February 1936 1–2 Friendly match 30 May 1948 2–1 Friendly match 2 January 1949 1–1 Friendly match 29 March 2000 2–0 Friendly match 13 February 2002 1–1 Friendly match 18 February 2004 2–1 Friendly match

Andorra national team matches Date Opponent Score Competition 9 June 1999 0–1 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying 28 March 2007 0–3 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying 6 September 2008 0–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Catalonia national rugby league team matches Date Opponent Score Competition Attendance 20 June 2009 Czech Republic52–10 Friendly 18,150

Music

DateOriginArtistEventOpening ActAttendanceRevenue7 October 1989MecanoMúsica para vivirVíctor ManuelDuncan DhuMiguel BoséMercedes FerrerLa UniónLos RebeldesPochLos Toreros MuertosLa GuardiaDanza Invisible65,000 / 65,000—13 June 1990 The Rolling StonesUrban Jungle TourGun——14 June 199025 July 1990 PrinceNude Tour—49,455 / 49,455—1 August 1990 MadonnaBlond Ambition World Tour———5 October 1990Tina TurnerForeign Affair: The Farewell Tour———6 October 199024 September 1991AC/DCMonsters of RockMetallicaTeslaLegion——18 September 1992 Michael JacksonDangerous World TourRozalla60,000 / 60,000—11 May 1993Bruce Springsteen1992-1993 World Tour———5 July 1993Guns N' RosesUse Your Illusion Tour———6 October 1993Jean-Michel JarreEurope in ConcertEl Último de la Fila——27 July 1994Pink FloydThe Division Bell Tour———13 June 1995Bon JoviThese Days TourVan Halen——13 September 1997U2Popmart TourPlacebo60,096 / 60,096$2,281,16520 July 1998The Rolling StonesBridges to Babylon TourHothouse Flowers52,375 / 52,375$2,464,31917 May 2003Bruce SpringsteenThe Rising Tour———21 June 2003MetallicaSummer Sanitarium Tour———29 June 2003The Rolling StonesLicks World Tour———2 July 2003El Canto del LocoLa Oreja de Van GoghMoviStar Activa———21 June 2007The Rolling StonesA Bigger Bang TourJet, Biffy Clyro, Loquillo y los Trogloditas——30 June 2007RBDCelestial World TourDiego Boneta——27 September 2007The PoliceReunion TourFiction Plane54,553 / 54,553$5,554,3201 June 2008Bon JoviLost Highway TourNoWayOut, Sabia46,255 / 46,255$4,046,4217 June 2009AC/DCBlack Ice World TourThe Answer64,196 / 64,376$5,906,13821 July 2009 MadonnaSticky & Sweet TourPaul Oakenfold44,811 / 44,811$5,010,5574 September 2009ColdplayViva la Vida TourThe Flaming Lips63,306 / 64,376$4,554,0683 December 2009The ProdigyEuropean Stadium TourEnter Shikari——4 December 2009Marilyn MansonThe High End of Low TouresOterica——9 April 2011We Are ScientistsBrain Thrust Mastery TourEls Pets——29 May 2011ShakiraThe Sun Comes Out World Tour—24,112 / 43,500$612,98927 July 2011 Bon JoviBon Jovi LiveThe Rebels, The Monomes39,992 / 39,992$3,021,32517 May 2012Bruce SpringsteenWrecking Ball Tour—79,430 / 86,000$6,692,81818 May 20127 June 2013MuseThe 2nd Law World TourYou Don't Know Me——8 July 2014One DirectionWhere We Are Tour5 Seconds of Summer, Abraham Mateo40,333 / 40,333$3,391,56029 May 2015AC/DCRock or Bust World TourVintage Trouble60,000 / 60,000—26 May 2016 ColdplayA Head Full of Dreams TourAlessia CaraLianne La Havas111,261 / 111,261$9,734,13027 May 20163 August 2016BeyoncéThe Formation World TourChloe x Halle45,346 / 45,346$4,806,99518 July 2017U2The Joshua Tree Tour 2017Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds54,551 / 54,551$5,930,07627 September 2017 The Rolling StonesNo Filter TourLos Zigarros58,622 / 58,622$8,769,70320 June 2018 Bruno Mars24K Magic World TourDNCE——1 July 2018Guns N' RosesNot in This Lifetime TourVolbeat, Nothing More48,649 / 48,649$4,370,00011 July 2018Beyoncé Jay-ZOn The Run II Tour—46,982 / 46,982$4,733,5495 May 2019MetallicaWorldWired TourGhost, Bokassa51,799 / 53,760$5,285,9197 June 2019 Ed SheeranDivide TourAnne-Marie, James Bay54,658 / 54,658$4,126,5207 June 2022Red Hot Chili PeppersUnlimited Love TourNas, Thundercat——29 July 2022Iron MaidenLegacy of the Beast World TourWithin Temptation, Airbourne——28 April 2023Bruce Springsteen2023–2025 Tour———30 April 202324 May 2023ColdplayMusic of the Spheres World TourChvrchesPorij224,761 / 224,761$27,262,89625 May 202327 May 202328 May 20238 June 2023BeyoncéRenaissance World TourArca52,889 / 52,889$7,395,52912 July 2023 Harry StylesLove On TourWet Leg——20 July 2023The WeekndAfter Hours til Dawn TourKaytranada, Mike Dean54,017 / 54,017$5,484,11211 June 2024RammsteinRammstein Stadium TourAbélard50,183 / 50,183$5,376,56320 June 2024Bruce Springsteen2023–2025 Tour———22 June 2024——10 July 2024EstopaGira 25 Aniversario———9 June 2025Guns N' Roses2025 TourRival Sons——1 July 2025Imagine DragonsLoom World TourDeclan McKenna——10 July 2025Lola IndigoLa Bruja, La Niña y El Dragón———19 July 2025AitanaMetamorfosis SeasonJulieta48,000 / 48,000$3,438,26330 July 2025Kendrick Lamar + SZA Grand National TourMustard——9 August 2025BlackpinkDeadline World Tour———12 September 2025Post MaloneBig Ass Stadium TourJelly Roll——3 May 2026El Último de la Fila2026 Tour———7 May 2026——22 May 2026Bad BunnyDebí Tirar Más Fotos World TourChuwi——23 May 2026——23 July 2026Don OmarCook Music FestBeéle, Greeicy——1 September 2026The WeekndAfter Hours til Dawn TourPlayboi Carti, Prince 85——12 September 2026AteezEnhypenNmixxxikersNCT WishCortisAlpha Drive OneMusic Bank World Tour———7 October 2026Oques GrassesL'Últim concert———8 October 2026——9 October 2026——10 October 2026——3 June 2027Karol GViajando Por El Mundo Tropitour———4 June 2027——10 July 2027OasisLive '27 TourRichard Ashcroft——11 July 2027——

Notes

References

External links

Estadios de España