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M86 begins €12 million renovation after 40 years
Centro de Natación Mundial 86 turns 40 in the midst of transformation. The complex, located in the Retiro district, has completed the first phase of a renovation that will continue until 2029 and aims to modernise one of Madrid’s most important sports venues.
The total planned investment amounts to €12 million. The aim is to renovate facilities used daily by elite athletes, clubs, families, and local residents, and to adapt the M86 to a demand that has changed greatly since its opening in the 1980s.
The first phase, now completed, involved an investment of €8 million. The work has improved the façade, the exterior appearance, and part of the building’s functionality, marking the start of a broader renovation.
The next stage will focus on the outdoor pool, the changing rooms, the offices, and the Centro de Medicina Deportiva. This phase will have €5.5 million and is part of the Plan Renueva, designed to update major sports facilities in the Comunidad de Madrid.
The impact will be felt both in daily use and in the maintenance of the complex. The renovation is expected to save around €400,000 annually and improve the experience for the nearly 900,000 users who visited the centre in 2025.
The M86 remains a key hub for high-performance swimming. Eighty-three athletes train there, many of them linked to the Spanish national team, in an environment that combines competition pools, technical spaces, and specialised services.
The facility is also part of the routine for many Madrid residents who do not compete. Pools for babies, gyms, classrooms, and communal areas mean the centre serves as more than just a sports venue: it is a neighbourhood space for training and daily life.
For Madrid, the renovation of the M86 comes at a crucial time. The city needs facilities capable of supporting grassroots sport, family activities, and high-performance training without remaining stuck in outdated structures. If the works stay on schedule, the centre will reach 2029 with a new look and a strengthened role in Madrid’s sporting life.