Why Barcelona are wearing a different shirt for El Clasico versus Real Madrid

Raphinha of FC Barcelona reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Spotify Camp Nou on December 09, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. — Barcelona usually have Spotify's iconic logo as their front of shirt sponsor, but they have an artist for El Clasico (Image credit: Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

When Barcelona take on Real Madrid in this month's El Clasico they will have Olivia Rodrigo’s initials emblazoned on the front of their shirt.

In fact, in all the last four seasons, Barcelona’s shirt has featured a different artist for each El Clasico played in LaLiga.

From Ed Sheeran to Rosalia, some of the biggest artists in the world have been on the front of La Blaugrana’s jersey, but why?

Why do Barcelona change their Spotify sponsorship for El Clasico?

Robert Lewandowski celebrates victory for Barcelona against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in October 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Since 2022 Barcelona have been sponsored by Spotify, which also gained the first ever naming rights to the Camp Nou.

The front of shirt sponsorship is set to last until 2030, whilst naming rights of the stadium have been secured until 2034.

Raphinha celebrates with his team-mates after scoring his second for Barcelona against Real Madrid in La Liga in May 2025. (Image credit: Getty Images)

As part of the sponsorship, Spotify give up the space on the front of the shirt for the league game against Real Madrid and hand it over to an artist and usually allow them to promote something they have coming up.

Olivia Rodrigo will be promoting her third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.

Their first activation came in the 2022/23 season, where Drake’s OVO insignia replaced Spotify’s iconic acid green circle and waves pattern. The game was played not long after Drake hit 50 million streams on Spotify and was a celebration of his achievement.

They lost that game, but when local Catalan artist Rosalia appeared on the shirt in the second activation of the season, they came out victorious.

The following season saw the iconic logo of the Rolling Stones, as well as Colombian artist Karol G take the space.

Barcelona host Real Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final — Barcelona had local Catalan artist Rosalia on their shirt for the last El Clasico played at the Spotify Camp Nou (Image credit: Getty Images)

Coldplay, who were promoting a 10th studio album, and Travis Scott were front and centre as Barcelona swept Real Madrid aside twice last season, and Ed Sheeran was in focus for the first of the 2025/26 campaign.

Curiously, it was the second time Ed Sheeran has sponsored a shirt, as he sponsored his home town club Ipswich for several seasons, including their campaign in the Premier League.

Its a unique situation but one that clearly benefits both sides as it brings two audiences together for a common goal.

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Ewan is a freelance writer and social media manager who has worked for The Athletic, GOAL, 90min and OneFootball. From Gelsenkirchen to Riyadh, he has covered some of the biggest games in football in his three years in the industry.