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Availability in prime locations remains at around 3%, while food and beverage, services and leisure lead demand.
Of the available supply, 54% is marketed for rent and 46% for sale, with significant differences between districts.
Retail units of less than 200 sq m account for almost 68% of commercial demand in Barcelona.
Barcelona’s retail premises market entered the first half of 2026 on solid foundations, with high levels of activity along the city’s main High Street locations. According to FORCADELL’s latest report, availability in prime sections remains very low, at around 3%, limiting supply and intensifying competition for the best-positioned assets.
However, the market continues to show clear segmentation by location and property type. Retail units located on the main commercial streets have a strong absorption capacity when they offer good frontage, an efficient layout and rent aligned with market conditions. By contrast, secondary streets and some neighbourhood retail areas are experiencing more price-sensitive demand and longer marketing periods.
Overall availability is divided almost evenly between rental and sale properties. Of the available premises, 54% are marketed for rent and 46% for sale, although the distribution varies by district. Rental supply predominates in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Eixample and Gràcia, while Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Horta-Guinardó have a higher proportion of properties for sale.
Around 68% of demand is focused on premises of less than 200 sq m. Units of up to 80 sq m account for 35%, while those between 81 and 200 sq m represent 33%. Premises ranging from 201 to 500 sq m account for approximately 25% of demand, and spaces larger than 500 sq m represent around 7%.
Operators prioritise properties with strong visibility, regular layouts, commercial frontage and a high proportion of usable ground-floor space. For food and beverage businesses, smoke extraction systems, the possibility of installing an outdoor terrace and planning compatibility remain decisive factors.
By sector, food and beverage leads demand with approximately 29%, followed by services at 20%, leisure at 18%, food retail at 17%, fashion and personal goods at 8%, and home-related retail at 4%.
Jordi Fandos, Director of Retail Premises at FORCADELL, said: “The market remains active, although operators are becoming increasingly demanding when selecting spaces. Location continues to be essential, but so are the commercial efficiency of the premises, their visibility and whether the rent is aligned with their potential.” “Properties with limitations require repositioning strategies and competitive pricing in order to remain attractive,” he added.
Investment in retail premises has remained active throughout 2026. During the first quarter of the year, retail investment in Spain is estimated to have reached €1.14 billion, of which €231 million corresponded to retail premises. Barcelona accounted for approximately €93 million of this investment volume.
Property companies, family offices and private investors remain the main buyers, accounting for around 85% of the volume invested in High Street assets, with domestic capital predominating. However, the shortage of prime supply continues to limit the number of transactions in the most established commercial locations.
Following the recovery process that began in 2022, the market is entering a consolidation phase. Portal de l’Àngel records a prime rent of €265 per sq m per month, while Passeig de Gràcia stands at €250 per sq m per month. These figures refer exclusively to the best premises in the most prominent sections and cannot be extrapolated to each street as a whole.
Looking ahead to the coming months, forecasts point to a stable environment, with moderate and selective growth. The highest-quality assets will continue to concentrate demand, while the rest of the market will need to compete through rent adjustments, refurbishment investment or repositioning strategies.
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