Architecture, Gaudí and a once-in-a-lifetime year

Why 2026 is not just another year

2026 will be a defining year for Barcelona.
Not because of a single event, but because two exceptional milestones will converge — a coincidence that will only happen once.

On the one hand, Barcelona has been officially designated World Capital of Architecture 2026 by UNESCO–UIA, placing the city at the centre of the global architectural conversation. On the other, Barcelona will commemorate the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí (1926–2026), the architect who shaped the city’s identity and transformed the language of architecture worldwide.

Rarely does history align so precisely.
This is what makes What’s on in Barcelona 2026 a question truly worth paying attention to.

In 2026, Barcelona will not only look back at its architectural past, but also reflect on its present and project its future — with Gaudí as both origin and reference point, and the world watching.

Barcelona 2026 — Official context and scale

Barcelona’s designation as World Capital of Architecture 2026 is an official recognition granted by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA). From February to December 2026, the city will host an unprecedented architectural programme involving:

• More than 1,500 activities
• Over 200 cultural and educational projects
• Events spread across all districts of the city
• An international focus culminating in the UIA World Congress of Architects (June–July 2026)
  

At the same time, the Año Gaudí 2026 has been officially recognised by public institutions in Catalonia and Spain as the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, with a coordinated programme that brings together his buildings, hometowns and research institutions.

Together, these two frameworks place architecture — historical, contemporary and future — at the very heart of Barcelona 2026.

Gaudí 2026 — Centenary events and legacy in Barcelona

In 2026, Barcelona will mark 100 years since the death of Antoni Gaudí, an anniversary that goes far beyond commemoration.

Gaudí is not only Barcelona’s most recognisable architect; he is its deepest architectural language. His work reshaped construction techniques, redefined the relationship between structure and nature, and introduced a symbolic and spiritual dimension that continues to challenge architectural thinking today.

Gaudí 2026, officially recognised by public institutions, brings together exhibitions, academic initiatives, cultural programmes and commemorative events across Barcelona and beyond. From the Sagrada Família to Park Güell, from Casa Batlló to lesser-known works and sites linked to his life, the centenary offers a rare opportunity to understand Gaudí’s universe as a whole.

At the centre of the year stands the Sagrada Família. In Sagrada Família 2026, the basilica becomes more than a monument: it is a living architectural work, a place of reflection and a symbol of Gaudí’s enduring vision — still under construction more than a century after it was conceived.Gaudí 2026 is not about nostalgia.
It is about revisiting his ideas with contemporary eyes — his experimental methods, his structural genius and his profound connection to nature — and understanding why his work remains essential to architectural debates in the 21st century.

Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026 — The global framework

Barcelona’s role as World Capital of Architecture 2026 situates the city within a global conversation about architecture, urbanism and the future of cities.

Throughout the year, exhibitions, debates, conferences and public initiatives will explore how architecture shapes daily life, public space and social relationships. This designation is not about celebrating a single style or period, but about recognising Barcelona architecture in 2026 as a living ecosystem — where historical layers coexist with contemporary innovation.

Within this framework, Gaudí’s work gains renewed relevance. His ideas resonate strongly with today’s challenges: sustainability, structural efficiency, integration with nature and the search for meaning beyond form.

When Gaudí meets the global stage

The significance of 2026 lies not only in the coexistence of two major milestones, but in the way they reinforce each other.

As Barcelona becomes the World Capital of Architecture 2026, Gaudí’s work naturally moves to the foreground of the international conversation. His buildings are no longer approached solely as historical icons, but as active reference points for contemporary architectural thinking.

This dialogue is most evident at the Sagrada Família, simultaneously a 19th-century vision and a 21st-century construction site. It encapsulates the spirit of the year: architecture as something unfinished, evolving and deeply human.

In this context, Gaudí is not celebrated in isolation. He is positioned where he belongs — at the intersection of history, innovation and global relevance.s high and 13.5 meters wide, making it the defining feature of the tower and a visible symbol from across Barcelona.

A living calendar for Gaudí 2026

The following dates and events are presented as a guiding framework, designed to help understand how Gaudí 2026 and Barcelona 2026 will unfold throughout the year.

At this stage, not all exhibitions, programmes and schedules have been officially published in full detail. For this reason, the calendar below should be read as an evolving overview, highlighting the key moments and periods that will shape the year, rather than as a final or closed agenda.

As institutions progressively confirm dates, venues and timetables, this calendar will be expanded and updated, including a detailed events table and downloadable resources.

2026 calendar — Key dates and events in Barcelona

Rather than a single celebration, 2026 unfolds as a sequence of key moments shaping the cultural calendar of the year.

• February–December 2026
  Barcelona World Capital of Architecture official programme (city-wide)
• Spring 2026
  Opening of major exhibitions and academic initiatives linked to Gaudí 2026 and architectural research
• 10 June 2026
  Centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí — symbolic and commemorative peak
• June 2026
  Central institutional and cultural events around Gaudí’s legacy, particularly at the Sagrada Família
• Late June–early July 2026
  UIA World Congress of Architects, bringing the global architectural community to Barcelona
• Autumn 2026
  Urban debates, public programmes and future-oriented architectural discussions
  

These moments define the Barcelona events 2026 calendar as a continuous narrative — not as a collection of isolated dates, but as a year-long cultural journey.

Coming next: a complete Gaudí 2026 events guide

This overview is only the starting point.

As official programmes are released, we are working towards creating a comprehensive Gaudí 2026 events table, including:

• confirmed dates
• opening hours
• venues and locations
• type of event (exhibition, lecture, ceremony, public programme)

The goal is to provide a clear, practical reference for anyone planning to experience Gaudí 2026 with depth and context.

In addition, a downloadable PDF guide will be made available, designed for travellers, architecture lovers and cultural visitors who want to plan their time in Barcelona around the most relevant Gaudí-related events of the year.

Key places to experience Gaudí 2026

Several sites will play a central role throughout the year:

• Sagrada Família
• Park Güell
• Casa Batlló
• Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
• Palau Güell
• Reus and Riudoms, linked to Gaudí’s origins

Together, they offer a city-wide and territorial perspective on Gaudí’s legacy.

Why this matters for visitors

For visitors, 2026 is not simply a year with more events — it is a year with more meaning.

For those searching for things to do in Barcelona 2026, the value lies in context: curated exhibitions, thematic routes and cultural programmes that connect Gaudí’s work to the city as a whole.

Visiting Barcelona in 2026 means experiencing architecture as a living conversation between past, present and future. It is a rare opportunity to move beyond iconic façades and engage with the ideas that shaped — and continue to shape — the city.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions — Barcelona 2026

Looking ahead — Barcelona 2026

2026 is not a year to discover Barcelona by chance.

It is a year that rewards preparation, curiosity and attention to detail. Over the coming months, we will explore key dates, architectural routes and cultural moments that define Barcelona 2026 — from Gaudí’s most iconic works to contemporary perspectives shaping the city today.

If there is one thing to remember, it is this: 2026 offers a rare opportunity to experience Barcelona with context.

This is where the story of Barcelona 2026 begins.