Behind the Scenes of the Casa Batlló Light Show: An Interview with CEO Gary Gautier Bernat

On February 1-2, 2025, Barcelona once again hosted a globally acclaimed visual spectacle—the digital art light show at Casa Batlló. Over two days, it attracted more than 110,000 residents and tourists. Nearly 300 mainstream media outlets and TV stations worldwide provided in-depth coverage, including Spain's El País and La Vanguardia, the UK's Financial Times, and the US' Architectural Digest. Social media posts and interactions related to the show exceeded 12.7 million, fully demonstrating the international influence of this art event.

Behind this stunning light show lie carefully planned details. What new breakthroughs will the 2026 light show bring? With these questions, we interviewed Gary Gautier Bernat, CEO of Casa Batlló, to uncover the behind-the-scenes story of this visual marvel.

The latest digital art light show at Casa Batlló was a great success—congratulations! Among all the gratifying data and feedback, which aspect excites you the most?

Gary Gautier Bernat: What touches me the most is that this is the third consecutive year Casa Batlló has hosted the digital art light show. Looking back at the journey, we have not only witnessed the growth of this art project but also seen how it has gradually become a cultural landmark of Barcelona. What excites me the most is always the audience's reaction—when they stand on the street, holding their breath to appreciate every frame of light and shadow, applauding with excitement, and even staying for another round after the show ends, I sincerely feel the shock and emotional resonance brought by this spectacle. This is not just a visual feast but also a cultural exchange connecting the city with the world.

As ordinary tourists, we only see the dazzling light show on the facade of Casa Batlló. Can you share some lesser-known behind-the-scenes stories?

Gary Gautier Bernat: Actually, the first light show originated from a special occasion—it was partly to celebrate Casa Batlló's successful auction of an NFT work at Christie’s. At the time, we just wanted to try using digital art to give the building a new form of expression, but unexpectedly, the project received great welcome and praise. Therefore, we decided to invite different artists each year to breathe new life into Gaudí's masterpiece.

To our delight, these contemporary artworks not only invigorate the building but also allow Gaudí's legendary spirit to transcend time and reach a new generation of audiences. From digital art to immersive experiences, Casa Batlló is undergoing an unprecedented artistic transformation.

We saw on Chinese social media that many people discussed the impact of the small trees in front of Casa Batlló on the projection and the difficulty of coordinating the light show. This free public light show must be costly. Why does Casa Batlló insist on holding such an event?

Gary Gautier Bernat: Indeed, trees are a major challenge when producing the light show. The first two shows were held in May, but we later found that the dense leaves of the plane trees (Plataneros) along the street affected the projection. Therefore, starting last year, we deliberately adjusted the timing to winter (January or February) when there are fewer leaves, allowing for clearer projections.

Despite the challenges, we persist in holding this free light show because it has become a source of cultural pride for Barcelona's citizens. Every year, over 100,000 people gather in front of Casa Batlló to enjoy this spectacle of light art. From young people to families, from art lovers to ordinary tourists, everyone can find their own emotion in this show. This connection with the city and its people is the greatest motivation for us to continue the light show.

Of course, we also look forward to collaborating with more international brands, cultural institutions, and art-loving partners to jointly promote this globally recognized art event. If Chinese brands are interested, we can explore deeper cooperation, making this event an important bridge between Chinese and Western cultures.

The 2025 light show was so successful—do you have any regrets? What elements will continue into 2026?

Gary Gautier Bernat: Honestly, we are very satisfied with this year's light show. The work presented by artist Quayola and his team was impeccable, and the entire production team gave their all to achieve a perfect artistic level. The only regret might be the duration of the show—currently, it only lasts two days. Although we would like to extend it, deploying such a large-scale light installation in the city center of Barcelona is not easy.

However, we are exploring new ways to make the light show's impact broader and last longer. We are also willing to collaborate with partners worldwide to plan more innovative formats, such as custom corporate sessions or brand co-projections, to offer audiences a richer artistic experience.

What exciting highlights do you think the 2026 light show will have?

Gary Gautier Bernat: Next year's light show will bring a completely new artistic style. We have confirmed a collaboration with an artist whose visual language is unique and highly distinctive. We are very excited about this and have already started planning. I believe the 2026 light show will deliver an unprecedented visual impact, giving the audience a stronger immersive experience.

Chinese tourists usually plan their trips in advance. When will the next Casa Batlló light show take place? How soon will we know the specific dates?

Gary Gautier Bernat: The 2026 light show is expected to be held between late January and mid-February. We are still coordinating with various parties, and the final dates have not been determined yet. However, it is certain that we will announce the specific time in advance so that global tourists can plan their trips accordingly.

We also hope that Chinese tourists will include the Casa Batlló light show on their travel list! This is not only a visual feast but also an excellent opportunity to deeply understand the fusion of Gaudí's architecture and digital art. In the future, we will strive to provide more language services, cultural explanations, and experiences tailored for Chinese audiences. Everyone is welcome to experience this world-class art event.

The digital art light show at Casa Batlló has evolved from a building display into a globally followed cultural feast. It not only attracts art lovers but also becomes an important platform for brand promotion, cultural exchange, and technological innovation.

Gary Gautier Bernat concluded: "We warmly welcome Chinese tourists, Chinese artists, and even Chinese brands to join us, making this light show a cultural bridge connecting the world and China. If there is an opportunity, we also hope to hold similar light art events in China in the future, allowing Gaudí's artistic spirit to cross borders and enter more people's hearts."

2026, Barcelona—see you there!