The Catalan giants have spent years working towards transforming their famous home into a modern stadium capable of hosting more than 100,000 supporters.
Much of that work has already become visible, with Barcelona gradually increasing the number of spectators allowed inside as different sections of the revamped ground become operational.
The next major step was expected to involve the new third tier, which has been one of the most significant additions to the renovated Spotify Camp Nou stadium.
Barcelona had previously envisaged bringing those seats into use gradually, allowing different parts of the upper level to become available as construction and licensing progressed.
However, the club has now reassessed how that process will work, with the latest plans taking into account both licensing requirements and the timing of the remaining construction work.
Barcelona have decided to keep the entire third tier closed for the rest of the current season and instead open it for supporters next season, according to SPORT.
The change represents a significant departure from the earlier plan, which envisaged the upper tier being opened in stages during the 2026/27 campaign.
One of the biggest issues has been the licensing process.
Barcelona had hoped the third tier could be authorised section by section, but the city’s requirements mean a single licence is needed for the whole area.
That means Barcelona cannot simply open one completed section while continuing to wait for the rest to be approved.
The club therefore faced a difficult calculation over whether it was financially worthwhile preparing the entire third tier for only a limited period of use during the current campaign.
With the necessary work and operating costs involved, the additional income from opening the seats for only the final part of the season would not make the plan attractive enough.
There is another reason behind the decision, with the next phase of the Spotify Camp Nou project set to bring the roof into focus.
The installation of the new roof is expected to take place after the 2026/27 season and will require significant work around the pitch.
Barcelona have previously said the major roof operation is expected to take several months.
Opening thousands of additional seats shortly before that work began would therefore have created another layer of logistical and financial complications for the club.
Barcelona are instead opting to wait until the stadium can make a much bigger step towards its completed form.
The decision also fits into the club’s wider financial planning for the redevelopment, with the change already accounted for in the budget approved by the Delegates’ Assembly.
It means supporters will have to wait longer to see the Spotify Camp Nou operating with its full upper tier, but the eventual opening should coincide with a more complete version of the stadium.
Recent construction updates have shown the third tier itself progressing rapidly, with seating installation already underway and the remaining work focused on preparing the various sections for future use.
Barcelona’s current season will therefore continue with a gradually increasing capacity rather than the entire stadium being made available at once.
The club’s official 2026/27 season-pass arrangements also reflect that the stadium remains in a transitional phase while the redevelopment continues.
The bigger picture, however, remains the same: Barcelona are working towards a Spotify Camp Nou that can eventually operate at its full capacity, with the roof and final elements of the redevelopment forming the last major pieces of the project.
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