Barcelona's Bonus Consum vouchers: 3,000 downloaded in the first hour
The council's 10-euro vouchers for local shops went live on Tuesday, 13 October, with about 1,000 shops signed up. Purchases must total at least 30 euros, and each resident can claim up to three vouchers.
How the vouchers work
The Barcelona City Council's Bonus Consum campaign offers digital vouchers worth 10 euros for purchases of at least 30 euros at local shops. Only adults registered in Barcelona can take part, and they verify their residence on the campaign website before adding the voucher to a phone wallet. El País names Apple Wallet and Google Wallet as options. Each resident can obtain up to three vouchers. According to Europa Press, a voucher must be used within one month, and a further voucher of the same value is issued if the first is spent within 15 days or less. The council is spending 4 million euros on the 2026 campaign and expects it to generate 12 million euros for participating businesses, La Razón reports.
A strong first hour
The campaign went live on the morning of Tuesday, 13 October. Europa Press reports that about 3,000 vouchers were downloaded in the first hour, while El Periódico says that figure was reached within the first 53 minutes. Barcelona Comerç president Pròsper Puig and Federation of Municipal Markets secretary general Francesc Leyva gave the figures to reporters. Only 17 vouchers had been spent in the same period.
- Downloaded
- 3000 vouchers
- Spent
- 17 vouchers
The 17 spent vouchers carried a minimum purchase of 510 euros, while the real spend registered was about 700 euros, according to Europa Press. El Periódico cites the city's commerce manager Màxim López on the same figures, saying the shops are earning more than the voucher's minimum value.
- Minimum purchase required
- 510 euros
- Actual spend (about)
- 700 euros
Shops and markets
More than 1,000 shops had joined by Tuesday, El Periódico reports, and the list remains provisional because businesses can keep registering while the offer runs. The offer runs until 31 December at the latest, but the council expects the 1.82 million euros set aside for subsidies to run out before Christmas, El Periódico says. Puig expects the final count to be higher.
We are sure that there will be more than 2,000
The 2021 edition had 1,800 businesses, according to 20 minutos. To qualify, shops must be in Barcelona with a registered office in Catalonia, have annual turnover below 50 million euros, cover less than 800 square metres and employ at most 250 people, La Razón reports. Large chains, franchises and 24-hour supermarkets are excluded, according to Europa Press, and El País adds that tobacco shops are also excluded. Municipal markets are included, and Leyva expects about 500 market stalls to join.
- 2021 edition
- 1800 shops
- 2026 edition, first day (more than 1,000)
- 1000 shops
Reactions and next phase
Puig described the launch in positive terms, saying the vouchers have just started and are already a success. He called the scheme a win-win for customers and small shops, with customers receiving discounts and shops gaining sales. Europa Press reports that Puig said older people with limited internet access will receive help from shops to download the vouchers, since the vouchers are digital only.
Sources differ on when a second phase begins. El País says it will coincide with the Christmas campaign, El Periódico says it will follow the January 2027 sales, and Europa Press reports February 2027.
