Barcelona has been designated as the 2026 World Architecture Capital, hosting over 200 projects and 1,500 activities across ten months. The celebration will begin on February 12 and conclude on December 13, with each month dedicated to one district of the city, starting with Eixample. Jaume Collboni, Mayor, Barcelona said, “Citizens will be able to put on the glasses of architects and urbanists to see how the city transforms.”
The program features 54 exhibitions, each with related activities lasting three to six months. Key exhibitions will explore Barcelona’s transformation by 2035, Nicolau Maria Rubiรณ i Tudurรญ’s contributions to modern Barcelona, and the relationship between Pablo Picasso’s work and architecture. The project aims to bring architecture and urbanism “closer to citizens,” demonstrating their positive impact.
The World Congress of Architecture 2026 will bring together renowned architects from June 28 to July 2. Collboni emphasized the importance of urbanism in addressing future challenges, stating, “The challenges of the future are the lack of housing and ecological transition. Urbanism is a key transformator for this.” Iรฑaqui Carnicero, Secretary General of Housing and Architecture of Spain’s Housing Ministry, added, “Housing crisis and climate emergency that we are currently suffering find architecture as its solution. If we have to build a lot of houses, we need to make sure it fulfils climate criteria.”
A key highlight of the program is a large-scale model of Barcelona, measuring 11 by 9 meters, which will be a flagship initiative. Additionally, the program includes the rehabilitation of 10 building faรงades, one in each neighborhood, through a competition for young architects that received over 400 proposals. Collboni highlighted the impact of such initiatives, saying, “Improving a neighborhood not only improves the city, but the world.”
The program also features routes and guided tours organized by 48h Open House Barcelona, showcasing the architectural value of often “overlooked” neighborhoods, including Nou Barris, Sants-Montjuรฏc, and Sarriร -Sant Gervasi. The extensive program has been created “from the bottom to the top” with contributions from over 170 entities, including design and architecture schools, museums, civic centers, libraries, and schools.
Image Courtesy: catalannews.com
