Sagrada Família to kick off events commemorating hundredth anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death in October 2025 - Sagrada Família to kick off events commemorating hundredth anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death in October 2025

This morning, the Sagrada Família held a press conference to present its 2024 annual report, sharing the year’s results with full transparency. The event featured Mr Esteve Camps, Executive Chairman of the Junta Constructora de la Sagrada Família, and Mr Xavier Martínez, General Director. As Mr Camps announced, the commemorative events for the tower of Saint Barnabas will begin in October 2025, leading into those for the hundredth anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. These events will kick off with the opening of the academic year for Ateneu Universitari Sant Pacià, with a solemn mass, followed by an inaugural lesson by Dr Jordi Faulí, head architect.

In November, architects Jordi Faulí and Chiara Curti will give a talk titled “From the tower of Barnabas to the central towers”. Then will come the inauguration of the retrospective on construction of the tower of Saint Barnabas with its tubular bell on display inside the Basilica and an exhibition on the tower restoration process.

In late November, there will be a thanksgiving mass to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the completion of the tower of Saint Barnabas, with the lighting of the tower and reading of the Això farà goig manifesto. The tower, on the Nativity façade, was the first of the twelve bell towers on the Sagrada Família to be completed, while Gaudí was alive.

Visitors return, surpassing pre-pandemic levels

At the press conference, Mr Xavier Martínez shared that visitors have returned in force, surpassing the numbers from 2019. In 2024, 4,833,658 people visited the Temple, up 2.70% from 2023.

Once again, people came to the Sagrada Família from a wide range of countries: of the 4,833,658 total visitors, 87.3% were from outside of Spain. The country with the most visitors was the United States, with 18.55% of the total. They were followed by visitors from France (6.93%), Italy (6.53%), South Korea (6.18%), the United Kingdom (4.98%), China (4.52%) and Germany (4.25%). Visitors from Spain made up 12.67% of the total; from the rest of Europe, 14.88%; and from the rest of the world, 20.51%. Plus, the Temple welcomed 145,810 students.

In terms of financial numbers, the Sagrada Família finished 2024 with income of €133.9 million, 100% of which is from private sources. In terms of expenses, 51.9% of the funds went to construction and 29.9% to Temple management. It is also worth noting the annual contributions to the Diocese Common Fund and agreed-on payments to the Barcelona City Council.

In line with this consolidation of income, works have begun a decisive phase with the tower of Jesus Christ and the final phase of one part of the cloisters of the Chapel of the Assumption expected to be completed late this 2025.

Cultural programming for the people

Mr Camps noted the Junta Constructora’s desire to open the Basilica up to the people with an extensive programme of cultural, social and educational activities.

In 2024, 28,500 people got to enjoy the Open Doors Days for Santa Eulàlia and the Mercè festivities.

More than 44,500 people enjoyed the various illuminations, over 3,300 locals attended the Easter and Christmas concerts and nearly 3,500 boys and girls took part in the children’s workshops and activities. Also new last year, more than 13,000 people took advantage of the deal for locals who entered draws but didn’t win to get discounted tickets for specific time slots.

The Sagrada Família is also, and above all, worship and each year several international masses are held, open to all the faithful. There were a total of 80,072 worshippers at the 102 international masses held in 2024, and 273,998 people visited the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament at the Basilica. Last year, there was a beatification ceremony for priest Gaitetà Calusellas i Ballvé and holy layman Antoni Tort i Reixachs.

Throughout 2025, there will continue to be campaigns for locals and an extensive programme of cultural, social, educational and family activities to encourage the public to enjoy Gaudí’s work.

Social Action Fund endowed with 50% more funds

The full financial recovery has allowed the Foundation to use part of the surplus to increase the endowment of the Social Action Fund. In 2023, the Junta Constructora de la Sagrada Família Board of Trustees launched this initiative, which aims to help fund social initiatives and projects promoted by non-profit organisations. There was €2.3 million allocated for the first call, which jointly funded 56 projects. For the second call, launched last November, there is €3.5 million available. 530 projects were submitted, of which 269 are eligible. The call will be resolved on 10 March 2025.

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