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Open Call 2026 Barcelona World Capital of Architecture
Spain Architecture News - Sep 14, 2024 - 12:02 369 views
Barcelona has been named by UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture 2026. 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 our 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. Most of the events will take place over the course of 10 months, between mid-February and mid-December, on an itinerary that will span from Santa Eulàlia to Santa Llúcia festivities.
Description and aim
In order to complete the program, we have launched this 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. This call also seeks to promote the heritage and architecture of Barcelona and Catalonia around the world for the event entitled Barcelona 2026 - World Capital of Architecture UNESCO-UIA.
The proposals can be linked to the programme of Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture UNESCO-UIA if they promote activities of general interest and aim to:
- Facilitate quantitative and/or qualitative cultural growth in the city in terms of architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture.
- Enrich the reflection and debate about the impact that architecture has on the local residents’ quality of life.
- Reinforce the essential bond between the built city and its inhabitants.
- Promote the social and cultural values of architecture.
- Showcase the tangible and intangible architectural cultural heritage in the city.
- Recognize the values of architecture, public spaces and urban landscaping from diverse disciplines.
- Encourage the cooperation of agents dedicated to raising awareness about architecture with organizations and educational, cultural and/or entrepreneurial entities in the city.
- Promote, defend and guarantee the rights of residents under equitable conditions in order to guarantee equality of opportunity and non-discrimination and to promote an intercultural perspective.
Proposals that can be organized
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 or any of the goals listed in these terms and conditions. The activities have an open format and can include:
- Individual or group artistic installations/events (dance, photography, theater, music, performances, and more) connected to architecture.
- Exhibitions
- Debates/conferences
- Presentations of books/publications, or other literary, sociological or humanistic activities linked to architecture.
- Screenings of films/documentaries
- Guided routes and visits.
- Open houses at architectural studios or entities that promote architecture.
- Open classrooms / workshops / public activities organized by architecture or design schools.
- Training and outreach workshops/activities promoted with organizations, civic centers, institutes, school, adult training centers, and more.
- Other types of activities that fit within the content listed in the call for proposals.
The proposals must meet the following requirements:
- The proposals must have goals that are in line with those set forth in the call for proposals.
- The proposals must take place between 12 February and 13 December 2026.
- The proposals must take place within the city limits of Barcelona, with a district-wide or city-wide scope, or outside the city if the proposal is linked with other proposals that are carried out within Barcelona, or if the proposal promotes the city’s visibility abroad.
- The proposals must be in line with the city’s values, policies and practices.
- The proposals must abstain from sexist and/or discriminatory language.
Who can participate?
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.
How to participate?
You must register your proposal through the form that you can find available on the website until 11:59 p.m. on 15 October 2024.
The proposals submitted to form part of the programme of Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture will be assessed by a selection committee, formed by
- the chief architect of the Barcelona City Council, Maria Buhigas
- the director of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, Anna Ramos
- the coordinator of the World Capital of Architecture, Ninoska Juan
- three independent experts in the field of architectural research and popular education.
Decision on the call for proposals: 9 December 2024.
Download the rules. Participate via this link.
For more information, visit the website.
Top image courtesy of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe.