Movistar Arena 2026

Movistar Arena: Madrid's arena in the heart of Salamanca

Few large arenas sit as centrally as Madrid's Movistar Arena, on Avenida de Felipe II in the Salamanca district. A sports palace first opened on this site in 1960; after fire destroyed the original building in 2001, it was rebuilt at a cost of about 124 million euros and reopened on 16 February 2005. Since then it has carried a series of sponsor names — Barclaycard Center from 2014, WiZink Center from 2016 — before becoming Movistar Arena at the start of 2025. It holds up to roughly 17,500 people for general-admission concerts, around 15,500 in end-stage format and about 15,000 for basketball, and stages top-level Spanish and European basketball alongside music, comedy and family shows.

Seating and floor

Concerts use a pista (floor) that can be standing or seated depending on the production, wrapped by two main rings of fixed seating — grada baja and grada alta. End-stage shows close the sections behind the stage, while central-stage sport and boxing open the full 360-degree bowl. Sector numbering and floor splits change per event, so match your sector to the show's own seat map.

Getting there

The arena is on Avenida de Felipe II, beside Plaza de Felipe II in the Salamanca district. Metro stations Goya (lines 2 and 4) and O'Donnell (line 6) are both a short walk away, several bus routes stop on the surrounding streets, and the city centre is close enough that many people simply walk from Puerta del Sol in about half an hour.

FAQ

Is this the same venue as the WiZink Center? Yes — the arena was called WiZink Center from 2016 to 2024 and Barclaycard Center before that; the name changed to Movistar Arena in early 2025.

How many people fit inside? Up to about 17,500 for general-admission concerts, around 15,500 end-stage and roughly 15,000 for basketball.

What is the nearest metro? Goya (lines 2 and 4) and O'Donnell (line 6) are both within a few minutes' walk.