Barça's Presidential Race: Four Contenders Step Forward for 2026 Election
Joan Laporta seeks re-election while Víctor Font, Marc Ciria and Xavier Vilajoana prepare their challenges for Barcelona's top job in the upcoming presidential battle.
Barcelona’s boardroom battle is officially underway as four pre-candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the 2026 presidential elections. The race to collect signatures has begun with current president Joan Laporta facing challenges from Víctor Font, Marc Ciria and Xavier Vilajoana.
The Incumbent: Joan Laporta
Laporta, 61, is the most recognizable face in the contest and clearly fancies another five years at the helm. The Catalan lawyer first made waves in the Barça world back in the late 90s with the ‘Elefant Blau’ movement that challenged then-president José Luis Núñez.
His first presidential stint (2003-2008) transformed the club before he departed amid an internal spying scandal. After a brief political career, he returned triumphantly in 2021, seeing off his rivals with a convincing victory. Now he’s looking to extend his second reign and continue his current project.
The Persistent Challenger: Víctor Font
This ain’t Font’s first rodeo. The 51-year-old businessman from Granollers is back for another crack after finishing second to Laporta in 2021. With his “Sí al Futur” platform (now rebranded as “Nosaltres”), Font has maintained a consistent opposition to Laporta’s administration.
A proper businessman with serious credentials, Font co-founded Delta Partners Group and helped establish the Catalan newspaper Ara. He’s been plotting this run since 2018 and hasn’t stopped campaigning since his previous defeat.
The Young Economist: Marc Ciria
At 46, Ciria is the youngest of the bunch, leading the “Moviment 42” group. The Barcelona native specializes in banking and finance, founding Diagonal Asset Management in 2015.
Interestingly, Ciria previously worked with Laporta as his economic advisor during the 2015 campaign. Since then, he’s become one of the most vocal critics of the current board’s financial management, even leading a signature campaign against the partial sale of Barça Licensing & Merchandising.
The Club Veteran: Xavier Vilajoana
Vilajoana has Barça in his blood. The 51-year-old isn’t just a successful businessman (CEO of Euroconstruc) – he’s got deep connections to the club. His father served on the board for 18 years, while Vilajoana himself played in Barça’s youth system and later spent decades with the futsal team.
His administrative experience spans multiple presidencies. He’s worked under Laporta and Sandro Rosell in futsal management, and served on Josep Maria Bartomeu’s board overseeing La Masia, women’s football, and youth development between 2015-2020.
The coming weeks will determine which of these four pre-candidates can gather enough signatures to officially stand in the election that will shape Barcelona’s future for the next five years.