culture
Barcelona Museums Face Strikes, Launch New Exhibitions This Season
Attendance figures, strikes at several venues and a new exhibition season shape access to Barcelona's museums right now.
How we reported this
Barcelona's municipal museums and exhibition centers recorded nearly 3.8 million visitors in 2025. The Museu Picasso Barcelona led the count with over one million attendees.
Visitor Attendance Trends
These figures come from the city's official cultural records and show sustained interest in the municipal network. The Picasso museum's share alone exceeded one million visits during the year. Visitors planning trips can use this context to gauge crowd levels at popular sites.
Impact of Recent Strikes
Eight top contemporary art museums including MACBA, Fundación Tàpies and Fundació Miró were shut down during the tourist season. An indefinite strike by subcontracted workers caused the closures. The Museu de l'Art Prohibit closed its Barcelona building last month after union protests led to a 75 percent revenue loss and unsustainable operational disruptions. Most affected sites are expected to resume normal operations soon.
Expansion and New Exhibitions
Catalonia's National Art Museum (MNAC) is undergoing a major expansion project to extend into the Pavelló Victòria Eugènia. Works are estimated to conclude in 2029 with a total investment of €100 million. Barcelona's museums are launching an exhibition season with more than forty proposals. This includes an event marking the 700th anniversary of Pedralbes along with new shows at the CCCB, MACBA and the newly immersive White Rabbit museum.
Advice for Planning Visits
Visitors should check current opening status before heading to contemporary art venues affected by the strike. The broad exhibition program offers alternatives across multiple sites even while some locations remain closed. Updates on the MNAC project and the new season appear on the official Barcelona cultural channels listed in the sources below.