Art Nou 2025: The Revolution of Emerging Art in Barcelona and L’Hospitalet
A festival for discovering young talent
From 25 June to 4 September 2025, Art Nou returns — the festival of emerging art that transforms Barcelona and L’Hospitalet into a vibrant showcase of youthful creativity. In its 14th edition, the event is now firmly established as a cultural summer must, blending galleries, independent spaces and institutions, and presenting more than 30 solo exhibitions by around 40–60 artists under 35.
Organised by ArtBarcelona, Art Nou has become an essential professional springboard. New creators find genuine visibility platforms here, market contacts, dialogue with gallery owners and curators, and a unique opportunity to engage with the general public.
Distinctive venues and professional pathways
This year, over 36 venues are taking part: 21 galleries, 11 self?managed spaces and four major institutions, including Centre d’Art La Capella, Sala d’Art Jove, Sant Andreu Contemporani and the University of Barcelona.
This mix ensures a plural experience that’s deeply rooted in local dynamics, spanning galleries in the Eixample and Poblenou to emerging initiatives such as DOM Art Residence, Raccoon Projects and Espai Souvenir.
Voices and themes with creative urgency
The exhibitions at Art Nou 2025 explore a wide range of topics: identity, memory, migration, mental health, uncertainty and gender. Highlights include:
– “La irrupció no és sempre una explosió” (Campo Florido): Soledad Marcote, Gaby Lobato, Lorena Ruiz Pellicero and Aitanna Pascual Casaux delve into fragility and subtlety with art that “vibrates, approaches, trembles”.
– At LAB 36, “Turning up the light to see the darkness” by Julia Creuheras contrasts light and shadow, inviting us to discover that intimate, collective space visible only through creation.
– Artists such as Blanca Gracia, Alex Luz Palomares, Helena Ripoll, Can Lejárraga, Marcelline Mandeng Nken and Rocío Quillahuaman address hybrid forms as well as social, feminist and post colonial issues.
Extensive activity programme
Art Nou isn’t limited to exhibitions. The festival offers a rich side programme with guided tours, artist talks, openings, performances and screenings. These events foster close dialogue between creators and the public, encouraging an active, shared cultural experience.
There are also professional days held in collaboration with Fine Arts faculties, designed to showcase emerging collectives and projects — sometimes straight from the schools — and to foster institutional and market connections.
Awards and recognition: boosting emerging talent
The concluding event at La Capella will include several awards that reinforce the festival’s professional mission: a main prize (judged by figures such as Marta Sesé, Berta Caldentey and Joana Roda), the opportunity to be selected by SWAB fair, an exhibition residency courtesy of Hotel Wittmore, and an acquisition prize from Fundación Úniques.
This support system provides artists with visibility, resources and networks to advance their careers.
A window on international emerging art
Although focused on the Catalan Spanish scene, Art Nou also calls on international artists, bringing a global outlook. By tackling migration, feminism, sustainability and memory, the festival engages with emergent fields in European contemporary art.
Thanks to alliances with fairs such as SWAB Barcelona and Art O Rama in Marseille, the artists’ profiles now transcend local borders, propelling their work internationally.
The pulse of a new generation
As you’ll notice, Art Nou 2025 once again demonstrates that emerging art in Barcelona is vibrant, diverse and committed. Its ability to weave together artistic proposals, social reflection and professional support makes it an unmissable summer fixture.
In an increasingly competitive cultural landscape, the festival acts as a catalyst: driving careers, encouraging experimentation and connecting artists, gallerists and audiences in a shared journey.
We leave you with this year’s programme so you can plan your visits.
