Barcelona will be the World Capital of Architecture in 2026

Barcelona becomes the third World Capital of Architecture, after Copenhagen (2023) and Rio de Janeiro (2020). 

Unesco and the UIA (International Union of Architects) have designated Barcelona as the World Capital of Architecture for 2026. Barcelona and Beijing were both contenders for the title. Still, the Catalan city has won thanks to its candidacy entitled "One Today, One Tomorrow", which explores the city's approach to sustainability and the future of the built environment.

Barcelona thus becomes the third city to hold this title, after Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 2020 and Copenhagen (Denmark) in 2023. 

An architectural event with an impact

As the World Capital of Architecture, Barcelona will host events throughout 2026, including the UIA World Congress. In 2026, Barcelona will become the first city to host this landmark event twice, having already done so in 1996, four years after the Olympic Games, a time of peak international interest in the so-called "Barcelona model".

In addition, the city is expected to experience other remarkable architectural events while it holds the title. Firstly, the completion of the Sagrada Familia is expected to be a reality in 2026, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí's death. The city has also been working to host the New European Bauhaus and the 25th edition of the Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism (BEAU).

Discover Barcelona and its Superblocks with ZIGURAT

Barcelona is a pioneer in developing Superblocks, groupings of nine blocks whose aim is to improve its inhabitants' physical and mental health.

This summer, 2023, the international ZIGURAT community will discover them in depth through a workshop in which they will understand the current and future needs of the city. For that, they will count on the presence of professionals from Barcelona City Council and then contribute to the project with innovative proposals.  

The activity is part of ZIGURAT's Student Week, an exclusive event for Alumni and teachers that brings together more than 100 professionals from all over the world in Barcelona's architecture and engineering sector. For a week, attendees can discover Barcelona from new perspectives and get up close to the most innovative companies and projects in construction and urban planning.