New Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

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The extension of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), founded in 1934, is scheduled to open in 2029, coinciding with the centenary of the Barcelona International Exposition. With an estimated budget of 112 million euros, the project significantly increases the building’s gallery space and addresses a long-standing lack of space that had up to now made it difficult to display a significant portion of its collections to the public. Palau Victòria Eugènia, exterior view of the entrance to the new MNAC The winning scheme in the international competition, announced in 2025 and recently unveiled, is titled ‘Passatge del museu’ (Museum Passage). It was drawn up by the studio Harquitectes, working from Sabadell (Barcelona), in collaboration with the Swiss firm Christ & Gantenbein, based in Basel. The jury selected it from among a pool of thirty entries and then a shortlist of five designs, highlighting its ability to connect the museum with its urban surroundings and open the complex to the city. The same team is currently busy with the expansion of MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona).