Barcelona will become the global epicentre of architectural debate in 2026, as it hosts the International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress. The major event will bring more than 10,000 professionals, students, and institutional representatives from over 130 countries to the Catalan capital from 28 June to 2 July 2026.

Under the theme Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition, the congress will feature over 250 internationally renowned speakers across more than 100 sessions, including keynote lectures, open forums, workshops, and research presentations. The gathering solidifies the city’s status as a leading voice in urbanism, coinciding with its designation as the 2026 UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture, a title that will see the city showcase its unique urban formula throughout the year.

A Programme for a Planet in Transition

This week, organisers announced a preview of the congress programme. It is structured around six critical thematic axes that address contemporary global challenges, guiding discussions on how architecture can adapt and respond to a rapidly changing world:

  • Becoming More-than-human: Focusing on ecology, climate change, and biodiversity.
  • Becoming Circular: Exploring the reuse of materials and cultural heritage.
  • Becoming Embodied: Delving into the relationship between materials and community.
  • Becoming Interdependent: Addressing challenges in housing and public space.
  • Becoming Hyper-Conscious: Examining geopolitics and the role of Artificial Intelligence in design.
  • Becoming Attuned: Investigating aesthetics, culture, and the sensory experience of architecture.

Organisers will hold the events at landmark venues along Barcelona’s Mediterranean seafront, including the iconic turbine hall of the Tres Xemeneies (Three Chimneys) power station in Sant Adrià de Besòs. They state this location choice aims to connect the congress directly with the city’s transforming industrial coastline.

Pritzker Winners and Global Visionaries

The list of confirmed speakers includes some of the most influential figures in contemporary architecture, including several winners of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. On Monday, 29 June, sessions on ecology and circularity will feature Japanese architect Junya Ishigami, American landscape architect Kate Orff, and the French studio Lacaton & Vassal, who will present alongside Catalonia’s own H Arquitectes.

The following day, Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum, a winner of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and Sri Lankan architect Palinda Kannangara will discuss the connection between materials and community. On Wednesday, 1 July, historian Mario Carpo will analyse the impact of AI on the profession, while the research agency Forensic Architecture will explore the geopolitics of space.

The UIA is organising this major international event in partnership with the Higher Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE) and the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC). It also has strong institutional backing from Spain’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Barcelona City Council. The three administrations have jointly recognised the congress as an “event of exceptional public interest,” underlining its significance.

A Landmark Year for Barcelona’s Urbanism

The congress arrives at a pivotal moment for Barcelona’s architectural identity. The city is also preparing to launch the ‘Year of Cerdà’ to commemorate the visionary urban planner Ildefons Cerdà, whose 19th-century Eixample grid plan profoundly shaped modern Barcelona. The celebration of this legacy, combined with the forward-looking debates of the UIA congress and ongoing urban renewal projects like the Montjuïc Fairgrounds revamp, positions the city as a living laboratory for urban solutions.

Tickets for the congress are now on sale, as confirmed in a press release and reported by Metrópoli Abierta. The definitive full programme is expected to be announced at the end of April. This will be the second time Barcelona has hosted the UIA World Congress, making it the first city to hold the prestigious event twice.