Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026 Open Call

Barcelona is a city of architecture thanks to the uniqueness and beauty of many of its buildings, the way in which everyone works together to preserve its centuries-old architectural heritage, and its ongoing ambition to provide us with welcoming, accessible and inclusive public spaces. As a socially diverse city with a dense urban fabric, limited natural resources and a Mediterranean climate, Barcelona is turning to architecture, urban planning and landscape design to address social, environmental and economic sustainability challenges. The city has a chance to rethink itself, move forward and set an example.

The Capitality is a great event focused on the dissemination of values and the transformative capacity of architecture, urbanism and landscaping. It is an opportunity to promote historical and contemporary heritage and project Catalan architecture around the world. The World Capital of Architecture for 2026 will feature a vast array of activities across Barcelona’s 10 districts in order to decentralize the programme and connect with all the city’s residents.

In order to complete the program, there has been a call for proposals, promoted by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe - Barcelona City Council, which invites all the entities and institutes dedicated to architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture and interior design, but also those of other technical, scientific, social, humanities and artistic disciplines, to participate in the creation of the program aimed at showcasing the values and transformative capacity of architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture.

The call for proposals is intended for entities or natural or legal persons of any national or international background who, from their discipline, whether or not it is directly related to architecture, want to carry out a proposal within the programme of Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture UNESCO-UIA. Applicants may submit any type of event that enriches the debate on the impact of architecture on society and the recognition of architectural and cultural heritage.

Read more about the event and the requirements for the proposals here.

An international design competition for young architects has also been organised in the framework of the Capital of Architecture 2026. The aim of the competition is to renew the wall structures visible in Barcelona's streetscapes. "Blind Walls" have so far served no purpose other than to divide up properties, but as the urban environment changes, they have a significant impact on the visual appearance of areas and the habitability of buildings.

Read more about the on-going competition here.