Barcelona City Council has partnered with Òmnium Cultural to eliminate significant waiting lists for Catalan courses in Barcelona by year’s end. This joint initiative addresses a backlog that left 1,714 people unable to access language training in early 2026. Therefore, the plan mirrors challenges seen in other public services, including the long waiting lists in Catalonia’s public healthcare.
The commitment followed the first official meeting between Mayor Jaume Collboni and Òmnium president Xavier Antich. Consequently, both parties expressed shared concern over the language’s current state in the city. Moreover, they set a clear goal to ensure everyone who wants to learn Catalan has the opportunity.
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Home » Catalan Courses in Barcelona: City Aims to End Waiting Lists
Investment to Meet Surging Demand for Catalan Courses in Barcelona
To achieve this goal, Commissioner Marta Salicrú announced a significant financial boost. An increased investment of €600,000 to €700,000 is planned for 2026. This funding will hire approximately fifteen new Catalan teachers. Therefore, it will substantially increase the capacity of the city’s language programmes.
Officials noted recent efforts have already begun to yield results. Despite rising demand for courses, the waiting list has been reduced by 30%. This progress follows an initial expansion of course availability. The new investment aims to build on this progress and clear the backlog completely. The official City Council announcement outlines the shared commitment. Additionally, it details increasing the city’s contribution to the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística.
A Shared Vision for Catalan Courses in Barcelona
During the meeting, Xavier Antich highlighted data showing only 35% of Barcelona residents regularly use Catalan. He emphasised transforming Barcelona into the “capital of Catalan.” Broader regional policies also support this vision. For example, government subsidies boost Catalan in businesses. He stressed that demand for learning the language currently outstrips supply. In fact, he stated, “There are more Barcelona residents who want to learn Catalan than those who actually can.”
Beyond formal courses, the plan promotes informal conversation spaces. This helps new speakers gain confidence. These measures align with other local initiatives. For instance, the city provides Catalan welcome packs for new arrivals. Meanwhile, this Barcelona initiative is part of a broader Òmnium Cultural campaign. The group meets with mayors across Catalonia in municipalities with long waiting lists for language courses.
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