Estadio Santiago Bernabeu 2026

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid's home on the Castellana

The Santiago Bernabéu opened in 1947 on Madrid's Paseo de la Castellana, originally designed by Spanish architects Manuel Muñoz Monasterio and Luis Alemany Soler. Between 2019 and 2024 it underwent a transformation of around one billion euros led by gmp Architects with L35 and Ribas&Ribas, wrapping the bowl in some 7,500 V-shaped stainless-steel slats, adding a retractable roof, a 360-degree scoreboard and a skywalk, and lifting capacity to roughly 83,000.

A defining feature of the rebuild is the retractable pitch: the grass moves in sections and is stored below ground, letting the stadium switch between football and concerts on an event floor without damaging the turf.

Stands: Fondo Norte, Fondo Sur and the Laterales

The bowl is divided into four stands over multiple tiers, with sectors numbered from 101 low down to the 700s at the top. The long sides are Lateral Este — where the presidential box sits — and Lateral Oeste, both offering the side-on, television-style view. Behind the goals are Fondo Norte and Fondo Sur; the lower tier of Fondo Sur houses the Grada Fans RMCF, the club's most vocal supporters' section, and carries the loudest atmosphere on match nights.

Getting there

The stadium's own stop is Santiago Bernabéu on Metro line 10, beneath Plaza de Lima. Note that this station is closed for a full rebuild from late March 2026 until around the end of the year, with a free substitute bus service in operation, ahead of a much larger station reopening planned for 2027. Multiple city bus lines also run along the Paseo de la Castellana corridor.

Frequently asked questions

How many spectators fit in the renovated Bernabéu? Around 83,000 after the 2019–2024 works added a new upper level with hospitality lounges.

Can the stadium host concerts? Yes — the pitch retracts below ground in sections, freeing the floor for concert and event configurations.

Which metro stop serves the stadium? Santiago Bernabéu on line 10, currently closed for renovation through late 2026 with a free replacement bus.