Coinciding with Barcelona’s designation as the 2026 World Capital of Architecture, the city will host the World Congress of the International Union of Architects (UIA), one of the most prominent global events in the field. In this context, the Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB), managed by Fira de Barcelona, will serve as one of the main venues, hosting a substantial part of the program from June 28 to July 2.
The official presentation of the UIA 2026 program has underscored the scale of this edition, which is expected to bring together over 10,000 professionals and 250 speakers from more than 130 countries. Over the course of five days, Barcelona will become a major international meeting hub, featuring more than 100 sessions dedicated to showcasing innovative projects and fostering knowledge exchange, reflecting the congress’s global and multidisciplinary character.
In a global context shaped by the climate emergency, urban transformation, and evolving social models, architecture is reaffirmed as a key discipline in addressing today’s most pressing challenges. Under the theme “Becoming. Architectures for a Planet in Transition,” the congress will promote international dialogue on the role of architecture in shaping a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.
The program is structured around six thematic areas—ecology, circular economy, materials, urban policies, data, and culture—and will combine plenary sessions, conferences, debates, and workshops to encourage active participation and the exchange of ideas. It will feature internationally renowned figures such as 2026 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Smiljan Radić, alongside leading practices and architects including Lacaton & Vassal, Shigeru Ban, Amateur Architecture Studio, and Architecten Jan de Vylder Inge Vinck, among others.
Hosting the UIA World Congress in Barcelona marks a significant milestone, placing the city once again at the center of the global architectural debate, thirty years after its first edition in the Catalan capital. With the support of major public institutions and a program extending to other iconic venues—such as the Three Chimneys of Sant Adrià de Besòs and the Disseny Hub Barcelona—the event represents a strategic opportunity to promote a more open and forward-looking architecture, closely aligned with the challenges of the present and the future.
More information: https://uia2026bcn.org/
