Live Broadcast in Catalan on Saturday
On Saturday 14th November 2026, the Escola de Mitjans Audiovisuals de Barcelona (EMAV), located in the Can Batlló complex, will host the first official live broadcast in Catalan of the League of Legends (LOL) World Championships final, Worlds 2026, streamed from New York. The event marks a milestone for the visibility of the Catalan language in international esports, with live commentary provided by casters from Gamesports Electrònics. It will be the closing highlight of La Festa del Videojoc, a free public event running from 10:00 at EMAV, open to young people, families, and gaming enthusiasts.
Part of Joves i Català Language Initiative
The broadcast is an initiative of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (IEC) under its Joves i Català project, supported by Barcelona City Council. The project aims to strengthen the use of Catalan among young people in informal, leisure, and cultural spaces, where language use has been declining despite high levels of understanding. According to Vicent Climent, coordinator of the Joves i Català project, "making a language our own has a lot to do with the bonds we build within it and the emotions we experience." He stressed the importance of normalising Catalan in youth socialisation spaces, including gaming and esports.
Activities for All Ages
Throughout the day, attendees can join tournaments in Teamfight Tactics, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, Fortnite, EA Sports FC 27, and League of Legends, with prizes awarded. Other activities include a Minecraft escape room featuring Catalan monuments, a game library, and a casting workshop on how to narrate games. A talk titled "A casa juguem bé a videojocs" (At home we play video games well) will offer families tools and advice on digital well-being. The event is co-organised with Plataforma per la Llengua through its SAGA initiative, which promotes Catalan in gaming culture.
Casting in Catalan is a window to advance in socialisation around video games in our language. Esports broadcasts engage many young people, and it is necessary to normalise the use of Catalan in these spaces.
, Marta Salicrú, Commissioner for the Social Use of Catalan, Barcelona City Council
Support from City and Language Institutions
The collaboration between the IEC and Barcelona City Council is formalised under a direct exceptional grant agreement to promote Catalan in educational leisure and complementary activities, as documented in the municipal Gaset a Municipal. The project aligns with the city’s broader “68 Actions to Promote Catalan in Barcelona” plan, aimed at increasing everyday use of the language, particularly among youth. The event also reflects findings from IEC research showing that while young people in Barcelona understand Catalan well, its use drops significantly in informal settings. The Joves i Català project uses the IEC 360° Method to assess, intervene, and evaluate language use in leisure environments, aiming to create replicable models for wider application.
Sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona, iec.cat, jovesicatala.iec.cat, w123.bcn.cat.
