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Barcelona limits festivals at Fòrum marina platform from 2027

The City Council promises citizen uses for 11 months a year for the area after its renovation, sparking neighborhood debate.

Aerial view of the Fòrum marina platform in Barcelona.
IA

Aerial view of the Fòrum marina platform in Barcelona.

The Fòrum marina platform in Barcelona will undergo renovation starting in 2027, with a budget of 52 million euros, limiting musical festivals to a single annual event.

The Fòrum marina platform, a 12.7-hectare space currently underutilized in Barcelona, will be remodeled starting in 2027 with the aim of opening it up to new citizen uses. The project, with a budget of 52 million euros, plans to transform the area into a "multifunctional" space for events, but has generated debate between the municipal government and neighborhood associations in the Sant Martí district.
The government of Mayor Jaume Collboni argues that the new esplanade will have primarily citizen use for 11 months a year, featuring promenades and tree-lined areas. According to the municipal executive, no more musical festivals are planned beyond the one already held annually, the Primavera Sound, which occupies the plot for a month including setup and dismantling.
Despite the promises, neighborhood associations such as the FAVB and the Xarxa Veïnal Contra el Soroll (XAVECS) express reservations. They fear that once developed, the platform will be primarily dedicated to large-scale events, causing noise and crowd-related disturbances. They propose prioritizing the creation of a large park for the enjoyment of residents in nearby neighborhoods.
During an open session on the works, the council denied that the plot would be dedicated to festivals. The councilor for Sant Martí, David Escudé, assured that only one festival uses the platform and there will be no others, guaranteeing that the rest of the time will be for citizen use and improving access, including the extension of the Rambla Prim.
Neighborhood representatives such as José Manuel López (Maresme Neighborhood Association) and David Jiménez called for the project to be reoriented, removing the large central area to create a park. They questioned whether access would be permitted during scheduled events and criticized the potential privatization of the space for festival business when residents are claiming it for their use.
The municipal architecture team defended the renovation as an opportunity to create a less harsh central plaza with more surrounding public spaces, reserving a portion to relocate the Agapito Fernández football field. They indicated that the preliminary project is being drafted and a participatory process will be opened to define its uses.
In parallel, the construction of the maritime promenade between Bac de Roda street and the platform continues, expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Movimiento Diagonal Mar has requested that picnic tables not be installed to prevent public drinking.

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