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Two admissions systems
The first thing to settle in Barcelona is which system you are applying through, because the deadlines are completely different. Catalan state schools and the publicly funded concertada schools admit through the Generalitat de Catalunya's single annual preinscripcio, a points-based pre-registration done online in a fixed March window. Private international schools sit outside that process and run their own rolling admissions, assessing applications as they arrive. For the wider picture of schools and stages across the city, start with our international schools in Barcelona directory, and for younger children see our Barcelona primary schools guide.
The 2026 preinscripcio calendar
For the 2026 to 2027 school year, the Generalitat set the preinscripcio window in early to mid March 2026. The headline dates below are the confirmed schedule for second-cycle pre-primary, primary and compulsory secondary; exact stage-by-stage dates are published on the official preinscripcio site and updated each year, so confirm yours before applying.
| Stage in the process | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication of places by school | 3 March |
| Applications: 2nd cycle pre-primary and primary | 4 to 18 March |
| Applications: compulsory secondary (ESO) | mid-March (similar window) |
| Provisional scores published | 15 April |
| Appeals against provisional scores | 15 to 20 April |
| Tiebreaker draw | 28 April |
| Lists of admitted students | 10 June |
| Enrolment of admitted students | 22 to 30 June |
The whole process is done online, and places are allocated by a points system that weighs criteria such as proximity to the school and siblings already enrolled, so the order in which you list your preferred schools matters. Because the dates shift slightly each year, always verify the current schedule on the official Generalitat preinscripcio site before you rely on them.
International school intakes
Private international schools do not take part in the preinscripcio. They admit on a rolling basis throughout the year, assess each application individually, often with an interview or assessment, and keep waiting lists once a year group is full. There is usually a main intake in September aligned with the start of the year, but the real deadline is when the relevant year group fills, which at popular schools can be many months ahead of September. The practical rule is to apply as early as you can and to confirm each school's process, documents and any assessment directly. Fees and deposits also fall due on the school's own timetable, so read our guide to international school fees in Barcelona alongside the application.
Build your Barcelona shortlist first
Before any deadline, the school finder filters Barcelona schools by curriculum, area and stage so you apply to the right ones.
Use the school finderPlanning your application
Three practical points for families applying in Barcelona. First, decide your system early: if you want a state or concertada place you must be ready for the March preinscripcio, while for international schools you should be applying as soon as you know your move. Second, prepare documents in advance, identity and residence papers for the state process and academic records for international assessments, because gathering them late is the most common cause of a missed window. Third, visit before you commit, as fit matters more than any single deadline. Use the school finder to shortlist before either window opens, and confirm every date directly with the school or the Generalitat.
Barcelona admissions deadlines 2026: FAQ
For Catalan state and concertada schools, the official preinscripcio window for the 2026 to 2027 year runs in early to mid March 2026, with second-cycle pre-primary and primary applications from 4 to 18 March 2026 and compulsory secondary over a similar mid-March window. Private international schools instead admit on a rolling basis throughout the year, with a main intake in September, so their deadlines are set by each school rather than the government.
Preinscripcio is the single annual pre-registration process the Generalitat de Catalunya runs for state and concertada schools, done online during a set March window. Families list their preferred schools, places are allocated by a points system, and successful applicants then enrol in late June. It does not apply to private international schools, which run their own admissions.
Most private international schools in Barcelona admit on a rolling basis rather than to a single deadline, assessing applications as they arrive and keeping waiting lists for full year groups. The practical deadline is when a year group fills, so popular schools can close months ahead of September. Apply as early as you can and confirm each school's process directly.
For the 2026 to 2027 year the Generalitat published places on 3 March 2026, took second-cycle pre-primary and primary applications from 4 to 18 March 2026, published provisional scores on 15 April with appeals to 20 April, held the tiebreaker draw on 28 April, published admitted lists on 10 June, and set enrolment from 22 to 30 June 2026. Confirm the exact dates for your stage on the official Generalitat preinscripcio site, as they are updated each year.
For state and concertada schools, points come from criteria such as proximity and siblings, so the school choices you list matter. For international schools, applying early is the single biggest factor because places go as they fill. Either way, prepare documents in advance, visit schools before deciding, and use our school finder to build a shortlist before the window opens.