The UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 will take place in Barcelona (UIA2026BCN) from 28 June to 2 July 2026. This global event will bring together renowned architects, researchers and influential figures from multiple fields, inviting architecture and design professionals to engage in a dynamic dialogue and a collective exploration of future perspectives.
The UIA World Congress of Architects, organised by the UIA - International Union of Architects has been held every three years since 1948. Thirty years after hosting its first Congress in 1996, Barcelona will once again become the global epicentre of architecture in 2026. The city will transform into an international laboratory for contemporary architecture and all related disciplines, bringing together up to 10,000 professionals, academics and students from around the world. The event will foster important discussions about the future of our planet and the role of architecture in the urgent transitions ahead.
This edition is organised by the Higher Council of Spanish Colleges of Architects Guilds (Consejo Superior de Colegios de Arquitectos de España), in collaboration with the Architects' Association of Catalonia (Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya - COAC) and the participation and financing of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda (Ministerio de Vivienda y Agenda Urbana), the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ajuntament de Barcelona.
Representatives of the organisations also form part of the Scientific Committee of the UIA2026BCN, together with the curatorial team. Under the honorary presidency of Joan Busquets and the leadership of Fuensanta Nieto as president, the Scientific Committee also brings together representatives of the delegations from the UIA regions and leading professional experts. The committee plays a key role in defining the academic content and selecting participants, ensuring a rigorous yet innovative approach and making the UIA2026BCN a leading forum for reflection and the advancement of architecture and all related disciplines.
Marta Vall-llossera Ferran (President of the CSCAE) holds the Presidency of the Congress, with Teresa Táboas Veleiro (Vice President of the UIA and President of Region I) as Vice President and Guim Costa Calsamiglia (Dean of the COAC) as Congress Director.
For the first time, the congress is framed by a curatorial proposal. “Becoming: Architectures for a planet in transition” by Pau Bajet, Mariona Benedito, Maria Giramé, Tomeu Ramis, Pau Sarquella, and Carmen Torres, will define the UIA2026BCN.
The organising administrations offer institutional support and co-finance the UIA World Congress, which has been declared an event of exceptional public interest in Spain’s 2023 General Budget Law. By hosting the congress, Barcelona also becomes the World Capital of Architecture 2026.
Discover more 🔗 uia2026bcn.org
—
Save the date
28 June – 2 July 2026
#UIA2026BCN #Becoming #Barcelona2026