Bridge in Spain, by the numbers
Bridge in Spain is run by the Asociación Española de Bridge (AEB), founded in 1950 and registered with the Spanish Sports Council (CSD) as a Sports Promotion Body. The AEB coordinates 10 regional associations along with the country's clubs, players, referees and teachers, and holds the exclusive representation of Spain before the World Bridge Federation (WBF) and the European Bridge League (EBL).
According to the membership figures published by the European Bridge League itself, Spain has 4,626 licensed players, which places it 14th of the EBL's 42 member countries. The AEB's official directory lists 105 clubs and bridge sections, concentrated above all in Madrid, Catalonia, Galicia and the Canary Islands.
If you are looking for a club, a tournament or a partner near you, this guide gathers verified information, official figures and links to the original sources so you can check them yourself.
4,626
Licensed players
EBL membership figures
105
Clubs in the AEB directory
Across 15 regions
10
Regional associations
Plus 3 zone delegations
14th
In Europe by membership
Of the EBL's 42 members
Spanish Bridge Association (AEB)
The body that governs Spanish bridge is not a conventional sports federation: the Asociación Española de Bridge is a Sports Promotion Body registered with the Spanish Sports Council. Its statutes make it responsible for the governance, administration and regulation of bridge throughout Spain.
The AEB is affiliated to the European Bridge League (EBL), the European Union Bridge League (UEBL) and the World Bridge Federation (WBF). The EBL and the WBF are recognised by the International Olympic Committee and the European Olympic Committees, where bridge is listed as a mind sport.
- Founded
- 1950
- Legal status
- Sports Promotion Body registered with the CSD
- President
- Elena Orbegozo Laborde
- Headquarters
- C/ Diego de León 47, 28006 Madrid
What the AEB does
- Governance, regulation and organisation of bridge in Spain
- Running the Spanish Championships and the national league
- Issuing player licences through the regional associations
- Selecting the teams that represent Spain at the EBL and the WBF
- Certification and training of referees, monitors and teachers
- Publishing the duplicate bridge laws and the AEB regulations
Bridge clubs in Spain
The AEB's official directory lists 105 clubs and bridge sections. Many of them are not dedicated bridge venues but sections inside sports clubs, casinos and historic cultural societies — a very characteristic trait of Spanish bridge.
Madrid · 14 clubs
The province with the most clubs in the directory. Dedicated bridge clubs — Eurobridge, Vergara, Torrelodones, Mini-Club de Bridge and Amigos del Bridge de Moratalaz — sit alongside sections at institutions such as Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Real Club La Moraleja and the RACE.
Catalonia · 15 clubs
Barcelona is home to the country's oldest bridge community. Barcelona Club de Bridge, founded in 1932, is the dean of Spanish clubs; Bridge House, Slam Club de Bridge, Club de Bridge 2 Pics and Club Esportiu Laietà remain active, along with clubs in Sant Cugat, Sitges, Tarragona and Reus.
Galicia · 14 clubs
One of the most active regions per capita. There is bridge in A Coruña (Real Club Náutico, Real Club de Golf, Sporting Club Casino), Lugo (Círculo das Artes, Club de Bridge Ciudad de Lugo, Monforte de Lemos), Vigo, Pontevedra and Ferrol, all coordinated by the Galician Bridge Association.
Canary Islands · 14 clubs
Tenerife and Gran Canaria host a very active community, with Real Casino de Tenerife, Real Club de Golf de Tenerife, Casino de La Laguna, Grande Slam Tenerife Sur, Club de Bridge Alzada and Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria, plus two clubs on Lanzarote.
Asturias, Basque Country and Cantabria · 17 clubs
Asturias has 8 clubs (Real Club de Tenis de Oviedo, Centro Asturiano, Club de Tenis de Gijón, Real Grupo de Cultura Covadonga) and the Basque Country 7 (Bilbao Bridge Club, Sociedad Bilbaína, Real Club Jolaseta, Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián). In Cantabria, bridge is played at Real Club de Regatas and Real Sociedad de Tenis de Santander.
Levante, Andalusia, the Balearics and beyond
The Valencian Community has 7 clubs (Ateneo Mercantil and Club de Tenis de Valencia, Real Liceo Casino de Alicante, Jávea, Denia, Casino Antiguo de Castellón) and Andalusia 6 (Real Club Pineda in Seville, Real Círculo de la Amistad in Córdoba, Cádiz and Huelva). The Balearics have their own regional association and a playing venue in Palma. There are also clubs in Zaragoza, Valladolid, Burgos, León, Segovia, Logroño, Navarre, Murcia, Cartagena and Cáceres.
Bridge tournaments and championships in Spain
The AEB runs the national championships and sanctions ranking tournaments. Its official calendar distinguishes between official competitions and national, regional, international and charity events.
Spanish Teams Championship
The main official teams event in the Open category. The final stage is played in Madrid in late November over seven rounds, with vugraph coverage.
Spanish Pairs Championship
The AEB's national pairs event, the other major official competition on the calendar alongside the teams championship.
Spanish Women's Teams Championship
The national women's teams competition, played in Madrid from 25 to 27 September in 2026.
Spanish Senior Teams Championship
The national teams event for senior players, split into skill-based divisions (Corazón and Diamante) alongside the general Open category.
League and online qualifiers
The AEB runs a teams league and online qualifiers on platforms such as BBO and RealBridge, so you can compete from anywhere in Spain without travelling.
Long-running national tournaments
Dozens of sanctioned tournaments fill the calendar, many with decades of history: the Ciudad de Oviedo National Tournament (47th edition), the ACB Pairs Open in Barcelona (69th edition), the Galicia Open, the Villa de Madrid Open Grand Prix, the Real Club La Moraleja Gold Cup, and the La Toja and Lanzarote tournaments.
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PlayRegional associations
Regional associations bring together the clubs and process licences in each autonomous community. The AEB currently coordinates ten of them:
- Asturias
- Balearic Islands
- Canary Islands
- Cantabria
- Catalonia
- Extremadura
- Galicia
- Madrid
- Basque Country
- Valencian Community
Andalusia, Aragon and Castile and León have no regional association of their own: the AEB appoints zone delegates who perform that role and sit on the General Assembly.
Bridge Comunidad de Madrid (BCM), the Madrid regional association, was set up on 27 June 2000 and brings together ten clubs alongside players, referees and teachers.
Spain in international competition
The AEB selects the teams that represent Spain at the European Bridge League and the World Bridge Federation. These are the documented milestones of Spanish bridge:
European runners-up · 2002
At the 46th European Team Championships in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy, Spain took silver in the Open category with Juan Carlos Ventín, Luis Lantarón, Antonio Francés, José Ignacio Torres, Andrea Buratti and Massimo Lanzarotti. Only Italy finished ahead.
Women's podium · 2008
The Spanish Women's team reached the podium at the 49th European Championships in Pau, France, with Marta Almirall, Nuria Almirall, Mari Carmen Babot, María Panadero, Cristina Bordallo and Marisa Matut, behind France and Italy.
Tenerife hosts Europe · 2001
The island staged the 45th European Bridge Team Championships, with the Open, Women's and Senior categories.
The Open team in Riga
At the European Championships held in Riga, Latvia, from 27 June to 7 July 2026, Spain competed in the Open category with Oslo Gardenghi, Federico Goded, Gonzalo Goded, Ramon Gómez, Pedro Gonçalves and Jordi Sabaté.
History of bridge in Spain
Early 20th century
Bridge arrives in Spain
The game reaches Spain in the early 1900s through the casinos and social clubs of Madrid and Barcelona, following in the wake of British whist and auction bridge.
1932
The oldest club is founded
Barcelona Club de Bridge is founded — the oldest Spanish bridge club still in operation.
December 1950
The AEB is created
The Asociación Española de Bridge is set up, chaired for its first quarter of a century by Eduardo González Gallarza, who held the post until 1975.
1999
Bridge recognised as a sport
The World Bridge Federation, to which the AEB is affiliated, is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as an international sports federation. The AEB is registered with the Spanish Sports Council as a Sports Promotion Body.
2001
Spain hosts Europe
Tenerife hosts the 45th European Bridge Team Championships — the only time Spain has staged the continental event.
2002 and 2008
Two European podiums
The Open team takes silver at the European Championships in Salsomaggiore Terme and, six years later, the Women's team wins bronze in Pau.
Today
From the table to the screen
Face-to-face bridge is contracting — several historic Barcelona clubs have closed and those still going report drops of around 60% in players compared with their 1990s peak — while online play and apps widen and rejuvenate the player base.
How to start playing bridge in Spain
1. Learn the rules and practise without pressure
Start with the auction, the play of the cards and scoring. On Bridgedom you can practise for free against robots at different levels, at your own pace and without needing a partner.
2. Find a club near you
The AEB's official directory lists all 105 clubs with address and phone number. Bear in mind that many are bridge sections inside casinos, tennis clubs or cultural societies, so it is worth calling before you turn up.
3. Sign up for a beginners' course
Most clubs and regional associations run introductory courses taught by AEB-certified teachers, plus social games designed for newcomers.
4. Get your player licence
Licences are issued through your region's association. At Bridge Comunidad de Madrid, for instance, the standard licence costs €55 a year and is free for players under 26 and for those who have turned 90.
5. Start competing
With a licence you can play sanctioned tournaments, earn ranking points and aim for the Spanish Championships, as well as joining the league and the online qualifiers.
Keep learning
Other Bridgedom guides that can help you take the next step:
How to play bridge
The auction, the play and scoring, explained step by step.
What is bridge
Origins, basic rules and why it hooks millions of people.
Play bridge online
Where and how to play from your phone or computer, for free.
European Championship 2026
Spain's Open team in Riga and how to play their real deals.
Frequently asked questions about bridge in Spain
Sources and last review
Every figure on this page comes from official sources and can be checked at the links below. Last reviewed: July 2026.
- Asociación Española de Bridge — statutes, governing bodies, club directory and tournament calendar.
- European Bridge League — membership figures for member federations.
- Bridge Comunidad de Madrid — player licence fees and conditions.
- European Bridge League — historical roll of honour of the European Team Championships.