From Pacha to KU: the historic Port Olímpic venue is reinvented in Barcelona

Barcelona is saying goodbye to an era and welcoming a new chapter in its nightlife history. After more than a decade as Pacha Barcelona , ​​the iconic club located in Port Olímpic is abandoning the red cherry franchise to become KU Barcelona , ​​a completely renovated project that seeks to recover the pioneering spirit of the legendary Ibizan club and adapt it to new trends in international nightlife.

Barcelona, ​​September 15, 2025 

The end of an era

Since its opening in 2012, Pacha Barcelona has established itself as one of the city's undisputed nightlife hotspots. Electronic music parties, a regular presence of international DJs, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made the club a favorite meeting point for locals and tourists alike.

However, the venue's management has confirmed that, after more than ten years under the Pacha banner, the franchise and the venue have decided to part ways . Inside sources explain that the move is a response to "a desire for creative independence" and the opportunity to offer "a more flexible offering tailored to today's Barcelona audience."

The Pacha brand will continue to operate in other international destinations, while the Port Olímpic space begins a new phase with a renewed identity.

KU Barcelona: tribute and reinvention

The new name is no coincidence. KU pays homage to the historic Ibiza nightclub, considered in the 1980s and 1990s to be "the cathedral of world clubbing." In that spirit, KU Barcelona was born with the ambition of becoming a European benchmark, blending cutting-edge music, immersive technology, and a completely renovated architectural design.

The venue underwent a complete renovation over the summer months. The redesign combines futuristic lines with Mediterranean touches, a state-of-the-art immersive lighting system, and an expanded terrace that aims to enhance the waterfront leisure experience.

"We want every night to be a spectacle in itself. KU Barcelona will not just be a club, but a unique cultural, musical, and visual experience in the city," the management team stated at the official presentation.

Name change on September 15

The name change is scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2025 , although the inauguration and official celebration will take place later. 

The event, according to leaks, will include immersive 360-degree projections and digital art performances in collaboration with local and international creative collectives. Management has declined to reveal the full program yet, but assures that "it will be a surprise worthy of what Barcelona deserves."

Impact on the city's nightlife

The arrival of KU Barcelona also represents a boost for the Port Olímpic , which in recent years has undergone urban transformation and debates over its leisure model. The new project seeks to put the area back on the international map of electronic music, attracting quality tourism and generating a positive impact on the city's nightlife.

Industry experts point out that this transition could be key at a time of growing competition among European destinations such as Berlin, Lisbon, and Amsterdam. "Barcelona needs iconic spaces that combine innovation, culture, and music. KU can become that symbol if it connects with new generations without losing its Mediterranean essence," say entertainment industry analysts.

Between nostalgia and expectation

Although many regulars are nostalgic for the end of the Pacha era in Barcelona, ​​the announcement has sparked great excitement on social media. The word "KU Barcelona" has been trending in the city since the morning of the official announcement, with thousands of comments from those celebrating the change and those waiting to see if the new concept will live up to the history it leaves behind.

Some veterans of the nightclub recall that the name KU is steeped in history and symbolism. “It was the club that changed everything in Ibiza, where music, freedom, and boundless creativity fused. The fact that Barcelona now has its own KU is exciting,” notes a resident DJ on the local scene.

A new page for Barcelona's nightlife

September 15th marks the beginning of a new era. With KU Barcelona, ​​the space that once beat at the heart of Pacha is reinventing itself, embracing an ambitious concept that aims to once again place the city at the forefront of the global scene.

Barcelona, ​​the cultural and tourist capital, thus adds a new milestone to its nightlife. What was once Cherries, is now KU: a name that resonates in the collective memory of electronic music and promises to write new pages of history in the Mediterranean.