In 2026, Barcelona will become the World Capital of Architecture, a title awarded by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA). From 12 February to 13 December 2026, the city will host more than 200 projects and 1.500 activities across all ten districts.
The programme transforms Barcelona into a city-wide cultural platform where architecture is not only observed, but experienced in daily life. The city itself becomes the main setting, with activities taking place in streets, buildings, and public spaces across neighbourhoods.
The initiative is led by Barcelona City Council, together with UNESCO, the UIA, the Government of Catalonia, and the Spanish Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda. It is developed with more than 170 local organisations, including cultural centres, museums, schools, libraries, and neighbourhood groups. This ensures the programme is closely connected to the city and its communities.
World Capital of Architecture
Programme Overview
The programme of Barcelona World Capital of Architecture is designed to make architecture accessible, practical, and part of everyday urban life. Instead of focusing only on iconic buildings, it explores housing, sustainability, public space, neighbourhood identity, and the future of cities.
Architecture is presented across the city through exhibitions, public activities, and open spaces, integrating cultural content directly into neighbourhoods.
Why this is worth experiencing
Visitors and residents can experience Barcelona from a different perspective by engaging directly with its urban environment.
- Walk through neighbourhoods with architects and urban planners
- Enter buildings that are normally closed to the public
- See how unused spaces are transformed
- Explore responses to climate and housing challenges
- Understand how public space shapes daily life
- Discover districts beyond traditional tourist routes
Barcelona’s architectural identity is not limited to landmarks such as Gaudí’s works. The programme highlights the entire city as a living urban system shaped by design and social use.
What makes it special
During the World Capital of Architecture Barcelona becomes an open-air exhibition where architecture is experienced directly in everyday spaces.
Barcelona Plan 2026 – 2035 model
A large-scale physical model of Barcelona presents the city’s planned transformation towards 2035. It is located at the House of Architecture Barcelona (former Gustavo Gili building) and includes a ‘making-of’ exhibition explaining how the model was developed. The installation serves as a key reference point for understanding Barcelona’s long-term urban strategy.
54 major exhibitions
Large exhibitions across the city explore architecture, design, housing, climate adaptation, and Barcelona’s urban future.
Open buildings
Historic and contemporary buildings open their doors through guided visits normally not accessible to the public.
World Congress of Architects
From 28 June to 2 July 2026, Barcelona hosts the World Congress of Architects, bringing together international professionals to discuss housing, climate, and urban transformation.
Architecture for everyone
Workshops and public activities ensure the programme is accessible to families, students, and people without an architectural background.
The Districts
Each month, one of Barcelona’s ten districts takes the focus, with a main venue and programme hub. One public space in each district is also redesigned by emerging architects.
February: Eixample
The famous grid designed by Ildefons Cerdà becomes the focus. Visitors can explore how wide streets, inner courtyards, and modernist façades created a new model for urban living.
You begin to see the district as a living design experiment, not just a beautiful neighbourhood.
March: Les Corts
A quieter district where architecture reflects residential life, education, and community planning.
It reveals a more intimate side of Barcelona often missed by visitors.
April: Sants-Montjuïc
This month explores industrial buildings, cultural venues, and the transformation of Montjuïc into a public space for culture and leisure.
It shows how industrial spaces can become vibrant public places.
May: Nou Barris
Events focus on social architecture, inclusion, and neighbourhood transformation.
It highlights architecture as a tool for social change.
June: Horta-Guinardó
This district explores architecture connected to landscape and topography.
You can see how the city adapts to hills instead of flattening them.
July & August: Sant Martí
Innovation and future city design take the spotlight in one of Barcelona’s fastest-changing areas.
It offers a glimpse of what Barcelona may look like in the future.
September: Sarrià–Sant Gervasi
The programme highlights hillside neighbourhoods, villas, gardens, and hidden architectural details.
It feels like discovering a completely different Barcelona.
October: Sant Andreu
Former industrial areas are reinterpreted through design and public memory.
It connects old working-class history with modern regeneration.
November: Gràcia
Public squares and local neighbourhood identity take centre stage.
Gràcia shows how urban design can support community life.
December: Ciutat Vella
Barcelona ends in its historic centre, where the city’s oldest streets reveal centuries of urban change. Activities focus on heritage preservation, the port, and how old neighbourhoods adapt to modern life.
You can compare Roman, medieval, and contemporary architecture in the same walk.
The Gaudí Year 2026
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death. Alongside the World Capital of Architecture programme, Barcelona will dedicate a special Gaudí Year to his legacy.
The programme includes exhibitions, guided visits, and cultural activities exploring his influence on architecture and design thinking, connecting historical work with contemporary practice.
More than architecture
The World Capital of Architecture 2026 is not only about buildings, but about understanding how cities function and evolve.
It invites reflection on key urban questions:
- How should cities respond to climate change?
- How can public space become more inclusive?
- What defines a liveable neighbourhood?
- How does architecture shape daily life?
By linking global architectural debate with local urban experience, Barcelona becomes a platform for exploring the future of cities in real time.
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