Had Camp Nou renovation work been completed on schedule, Barcelona would already be back playing in their old home, albeit with a reduced capacity. However, delays to the project meant the club has spent the last two seasons playing at the somewhat dated Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The new Barcelona stadium is almost ready to host competitive action again though, and there’s plenty for fans of the Catalan giants to be excited about, as we head into the 2025/26 season.
Here’s the latest on the Camp Nou renovation progress, as construction work continues to transform FC Barcelona’s old home into one of the biggest and best sports stadiums in the world.
When will Barcelona return to Camp Nou?
The initial plan was to be back at Camp Nou by the end of 2024. However, there have been significant delays to the project, the latest of which ensured they’d end up playing all of their 2024/25 home fixtures at Montjuic, as hopes of a return in time for El Clasico in May were scuppered.
The FC Barcelona schedule means it should be a relatively quiet summer, but speaking earlier this month Barca president Joan Laporta stated in an interview with TV4: “If there are no unforeseen events, next season we will be back at the Spotify Camp Nou.”
“Our desire is to do a pilot test in the Joan Gamper Trophy, which would be played on August 9th or 10th” he continued. “We are working with this hypothesis.”
While the previous delays will leave many feeling skeptical, it does now feel as though things are moving at a greater pace towards a return in time for the new campaign, with a pitch being installed and the club effectively moving out of the Estadi Olimpic now their lease has expired.
Barcelona may still ask LaLiga to start next season with a run of away games however, to allow for time to iron out any issues that may crop up during any test event such as the traditional Gamper Trophy match which looks set to be against Cesc Fabregas’ Como.
Even when they do return, Camp Nou will be only partially complete, with construction work to continue throughout the 2025/26 season on the higher tiers.
Camp Nou renovation timeline
- January 2014 – The club announces plans to renovate Camp Nou, having rejected proposals for a brand new stadium due to financial concerns.
- May 2015 – Formal plans unveiled for the new Camp Nou, with a proposed capacity of 105,000 and a canopy over the stadium.
- August 2020 – The project is hit by fresh delays as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with construction work pushed back.
- May 2023 – Barcelona play their final home game at the old Camp Nou, with Ansu Fati scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Mallorca. Demolition and extensive reconstruction work begins.
- August 2023 – The club moves into the Estadi Olimpic, the former home of city rivals Espanyol. Barca beat Cadiz 2-0 in their first competitive game at the venue.
- December 2024 – Barca miss their initial objective of returning to Camp Nou by the end of 2024, rounding off the year with three straight home league defeats at the Estadi Olimpic.
- January 2025 – An announcement is made indicating that Barcelona will continue to play at the Estadi Olimpic until at least the end of April, the latest delay to the Camp Nou plan.
- May 2025 – Further delays prevent Barcelona from returning before the end of their title-winning 2024/25 season, but Laporta is confident the club will be back in time for the new campaign.
The new Barcelona stadium – FAQ
What is the expected final Spotify Camp Nou renovation finish date?
Prior to the most recent delays, the full renovation of Camp Nou was expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, with home games operating at full capacity by the beginning of the 2026/27 season.
That timescale may have been pushed back slightly now, and a more realistic likelihood is that the new stadium will start operating at full capacity at some point in the 2026/27 campaign.
What will the Camp Nou capacity be after renovation?
The stadium is expected to initially open with a capacity of just over 60,000, while construction work continues. That would still be an increase on the current capacity at the Estadi Olimpic, with Barcelona’s 2024/25 league fixtures attracting only around 46,000 fans on average, less than the likes of Real Betis and Athletic Club, as well as the big two Madrid teams.
Therefore, Barca should immediately be able to generate greater revenues and count on more support when they move back in. Once fully complete, the new Camp Nou will have a capacity of 105,000.
How will it differ from the old stadium?
While it will still resemble the old Camp Nou to a large extent, the new stadium will have a slightly increased seating capacity, making it the only football ground in Europe with a capacity of over 100,000.
The other major design difference will be the introduction of a roof which will cover all sides of the stadium.
In addition, the Espai Barca project will see significant changes to the area surrounding the main stadium and will feature additional sporting venues and a “pioneering sustainability project”.
What is the Camp Nou renovation cost?
Despite huge existing debts, Barcelona have gone ahead with the costly renovation plan. There are mixed reports as to what the final bill will be, but estimates place the stadium renovation work at around €900 million, with the full Espai Barca project set to cost in the region of €1.5 billion.
The new stadium will ultimately see them make much greater revenue than was previously possible, and they see it as being the way out of their current financial issues.
How can you get Camp Nou tickets?
Details for the Joan Gamper trophy should be announced shortly, although given it will only be a test event, that’s likely to operate under stricter capacity limits, which may even prevent tickets from being on sale to the general public.
That should change when LaLiga 2025/26 kicks off and Barcelona start playing competitive matches in their new stadium again.
Ticketing details will be released nearer the time and tickets for FC Barcelona home games can be bought through the club’s official website, or via official partners such as sportsbreaks.com who offer package deals including accommodation.
It’s possible that tickets for Barca’s 2025/26 fixtures may be difficult to attain given the reduced capacity, and likely increased demand that may accompany their return home.
Fans or visitors to Barcelona would still have the option of using third-party sites such as Hellotickets to secure their seats, although any tickets are purchased at your own risk.
