Barcelona Delays Return to Nou Camp Once Again Ahead of New Season

The renowned football club’s return to their iconic stadium is once again postponed. The Nou Camp has been closed since 2023 due to extensive renovations that were initially scheduled for completion last November and then postponed to the upcoming month.

During these upgrades, Barcelona has been forced to play home matches at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, which also hosts their women’s and youth teams. Once finished, the renovations aim to make the Nou Camp the largest sports venue in Europe, with a capacity of 105,000 spectators.

The club had announced that the exhibition match against Como, the Joan Gamper Trophy, would mark the first game upon reopening, signaling the completion of the first renovation phase. However, licensing issues now hinder the club from hosting the fixture.

They are awaiting an occupancy permit from local authorities; without it, the match against Como is unlikely to proceed at the Nou Camp, although a final decision is expected soon. The city council has previously stated that the stadium cannot be issued a license until all renovation work is fully completed.

Barcelona is now aiming to reopen the stadium on September 14 for a match against Valencia. Even then, the capacity will be reduced to between 50,000 and 60,000 until further renovations, including a new third tier, roof installation, and surrounding area development, are finished by early 2026 or 2027.

Meanwhile, the team achieved their first La Liga title away from the Nou Camp last season under coach Hansi Flick.

Overall, the delay underscores ongoing challenges in completing the £1.3 billion project, with fans and stakeholders awaiting the stadium’s full reopening.