L’Auditori closes a season that consolidates a cultural model integrating artistic excellence, education, and social commitment

L’Auditori demonstrates the strength of its project at a time of institutional leadership transition. It does so following a successful 2025–2026 season that closes with remarkable figures: 584 concerts, over 402,000 spectators, and an average attendance rate of 83%, in a year marked by the international reach of the OBC, the 140th anniversary of the Barcelona Municipal Band, the growth of the Educational Service, and a strong boost to contemporary creation.

Throughout the season, the venue reinforced its position as a leading benchmark for the country’s musical scene, combining high-quality programming with initiatives that expanded access to culture and consolidated its presence both within and outside Catalonia.

The OBC consolidates its international reach

The Barcelona Symphony Orchestra (OBC) has consolidated its artistic direction this season under Music Director Ludovic Morlot, who completed his fourth season leading the orchestra. The continuous work of recent years has resulted in a progressive renewal of the musicians, artistic consolidation, and ongoing technical improvement.

The ensemble performed 70 concerts, including a tour in Germany with performances in Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf, and returned to the Basque Country twenty years after its last visit. It also participated in Madrid’s prestigious Ibermúsica series, performing Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie under guest conductor Jonathan Nott to great critical and audience acclaim.

A historic year for the Barcelona Municipal Band

The Barcelona Municipal Band (BMB) celebrated its 140th anniversary with a season combining the honor of its heritage with the promotion of new artistic endeavors. Highlights included the commemorative anniversary concert, which brought together the BMB and the Escolania de Montserrat on the same stage for the first time in history. The season also featured a special concert marking the 40th anniversary of the Goya Awards, showcasing the musical heritage of Spanish cinema and demonstrating the BMB’s versatility in handling varied repertoires and reaching new audiences.

Diverse programming to reach all audiences

This spirit of openness was also evident in broad community initiatives such as Clàssica a la Platja, which drew over 30,000 people to Sant Sebastià beach for a concert performed by the OBC under the direction of Ludovic Morlot.

One of the country’s leading music education projects

The Educational Service continues to be one of L’Auditori’s greatest assets. This season, it organized 331 concerts that attracted 161,814 audience members, solidifying the project’s status as a key reference for music education in Catalonia.

The 37th edition of Cantània brought together over 44,500 children from more than 1,000 schools across over a hundred concerts throughout the region, 30,500 of whom performed in Hall 1 Pau Casals at L’Auditori. The season was also highlighted by the success of Música en dansa, the main family premiere of the year—a new production created in collaboration with the National Youth Orchestra of Catalonia (JONC) and the Institut del Teatre, bringing more than 80 young musicians and dancers to the stage in a show fusing music and dance. The year concluded with the inaugural edition of the Festa de la Primavera (Spring Festival), a fun-filled day of family shows and free outdoor activities, reaffirming L’Auditori’s commitment to encouraging musical discovery from an early age.