🏛️🏗️ Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 is much more than an honorary title.
It is a massive, decentralised programme that invites citizens and visitors to rediscover the city through its architecture, urban planning and capacity for transformation. The capital city programme is structured over ten months, each dedicated to a different district, with a physical venue hosting exhibitions and activities.
The former headquarters of the Gustavo Gili publishing house (in Eixample) has become the central space and will be the future Casa de la Arquitectura de Barcelona, a permanent legacy for the city.
The motto of the capital city programme is "Becoming", which invites us to reflect on how architecture can help address the planet's ecological, social, energy and cultural transitions.
The coincidence with two key anniversaries (the 150th anniversary of the death of Ildefons Cerdà, father of the Eixample Plan, and the centenary of Antoni Gaudí) adds an extra layer of meaning. Furthermore, the capital city programme is integrated into the city's major festivals: Llum BCN, Sant Jordi, the Grec Festival, La Mercè, the Biennal de Pensament, and even sporting events such as the Grand Départ of the Tour de France and cultural events such as the Goya Awards Gala.
At The Sun Places we tell you everything you need to know to experience Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 with maximum comfort and exclusivity.
When is Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026?
📅 Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 takes place from 12 February to 13 December 2026, a total of ten months.
The official opening will take place on 12 February at the central space of the former Gustavo Gili publishing house (c/ Rosselló 87, Eixample).
The UIA 2026 World Congress of Architects, the flagship event, will be held from 28 June to 2 July at the Sant Pau Modernist Site (another architectural gem).
Each month, a different district will take centre stage, with its venue open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday.
Activity times vary, but most are in the morning and afternoon, with some evening sessions during festivals (such as Llum BCN in February).
The best time to visit Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 is during spring (March-June) or autumn (September-November), when temperatures are mild and there are fewer crowds than in July and August.
If you are interested in the congress, book well in advance (places for professionals and attendees will sell out quickly). The Sun Places recommends planning your visit at least one month in advance and we will help you get tickets for the most in-demand activities.
The perfect plan with The Sun Places for Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026
Experiencing Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 with The Sun Places is synonymous with comfort and exclusivity.
We propose a weekend plan focused on the Gràcia district (November) or Eixample (February).
Friday:
- In the afternoon, visit the central Gustavo Gili space to see the inaugural exhibition. At 20:00
- Dinner at the Tickets restaurant (by chef Albert Adrià, near Passeig de Gràcia), with a tasting of signature tapas and Catalan cava pairing.
Saturday:
- Morning dedicated to Gaudí's modernist route (Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Sagrada Família) with a private guide.
- Lunch at the Caelis restaurant (one Michelin star) in the Hotel Palace, specialising in avant-garde Catalan cuisine.
- In the afternoon, attend a workshop or conference at the Gràcia district venue. At 20:00
Sunday:
- Visit to Park Güell at sunrise (without crowds) and to the El Born venue (Ciutat Vella).
- Lunch at Can Majó, in Barceloneta, with paella and fried fish.
This is how The Sun Places turns Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 into an unforgettable experience.
📜 History of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026
The history of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 begins in 2018, when Barcelona submitted its candidacy to host the UIA World Congress of Architects.
In 2019, the UIA officially designated Barcelona as the congress venue, which automatically entailed the title of World Capital of Architecture
This will be the only city in the world to repeat as host of this congress (the first was in 1996). The design of the capital city programme was led by Barcelona City Council, the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE) and the Architects' Association of Catalonia (COAC). The former headquarters of the Gustavo Gili publishing house (founded in 1902) was chosen as the central space because of its symbolism: it was a benchmark in the publishing of architecture books.
Architecture, culture and luxury at Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026
The three pillars of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 are architecture, culture and luxury.
- Architecture is, obviously, the protagonist. Barcelona is an open-air museum: Gaudí's modernism (Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera), the Gothic Gothic Quarter (Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar), the rationalism of Mies van der Rohe (German Pavilion), the industrial architecture of Sant Pau, the urban planning of the Cerdà Plan.
- Culture is deployed in more than 1,500 activities, with museums (MACBA, CCCB, MNAC, Disseny Hub, Miró Foundation, Tàpies) offering temporary exhibitions on architecture.
- Luxury is provided by The Sun Places: from our Luxury Apartments in Barcelona (with private terraces, city views and butler services), to gastronomic experiences in restaurants with Michelin Stars (Disfrutar, Caelis, ABaC, Lasarte, Angle), including private tours in a high-end car, architect-led visits and tastings of Catalan wines (cava, priorat, pendès) and extra virgin olive oil.
In Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026, luxury is not at odds with culture; on the contrary, they enhance each other.
🏛️The ten venues of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026
One of the driving ideas behind Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 is decentralisation. Each district has its own venue, an emblematic building that opens to the public to host exhibitions, workshops and debates.
- In February, the venue is Fort Pienc (Eixample), a former transformed market.
- In March, Les Corts with the Joan Oliver Civic Centre.
- In April, Sants-Montjuïc with Lleialtat Santsenca, a highly valuable modernist building.
- In May, Nou Barris with the Antic Institut Mental de la Santa Creu, a former psychiatric hospital with fascinating architecture.
- In June, Horta-Guinardó with Casa de les Altures.
- July and August, Sant Martí with Oliva Artés, a former machinery factory that is now part of the MUHBA (Barcelona History Museum).
- September, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi with the Depòsit d'aigües del Rei Martí, a 19th-century water reservoir.
- October, Sant Andreu with Canòdrom, a former greyhound racing track converted into an innovation centre.
- November, Gràcia with the District Headquarters, right in the heart of Gràcia's main square.
- December, Ciutat Vella with El Born – MUHBA, a 19th-century market covering ruins from 1700.
Each venue is, in itself, a lesson in architecture. The Sun Places offers you private guided tours of all of them, including transport and priority tickets.
🌍 The UIA 2026 World Congress of Architects
The heart of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 is the UIA 2026 World Congress of Architects, to be held from 28 June to 2 July at the Sant Pau Modernist Site.
This event will bring together more than 10,000 architecture, urban planning, design and engineering professionals from around the world.
The motto is "Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition", and it will be structured around six lines of research: ecological transition, social transition, energy transition, material transition, cultural transition and digital transition.
Confirmed speakers include renowned architects such as Anne Lacaton (Pritzker Prize 2021), David Chipperfield (Pritzker Prize 2023), Francis Kéré (Pritzker Prize 2022) and Spain's Benedetta Tagliabue. There will also be a trade exhibition area, a scholarship programme for young architects and several special sessions on affordable housing, climate change and heritage.
The congress is ticketed, but the capital city activities are mostly free.
The Sun Places offers you a special pack that includes accommodation in our Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, accreditation for the congress, private transport to the Sant Pau Site and networking dinners with architects and speakers. A unique opportunity for professionals and architecture lovers.
🏆 Legacy of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026
Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 will leave three permanent legacies for the city.
- The first is the Casa de la Arquitectura de Barcelona, which will be installed in the former headquarters of the Gustavo Gili publishing house (c/ Rosselló 87). It will be a centre for interpretation, dissemination and debate on architecture, urban planning and the city, open all year round.
- The second legacy is a large-scale model of Barcelona (20 square metres) that will be installed in the central space and will be open to the public. The model will be interactive and will be updated periodically to reflect urban transformations.
- The third legacy is the transformation of 10 blind party walls into 10 vibrant façades, one per district, resulting from an international competition for young architects under 35 years old.
These architectural murals (not graffiti, but interventions using construction materials and techniques) will remain as a permanent reminder of the capital city programme.
Furthermore, the programme of more than 1,500 activities will leave a documentary and digital collection accessible online. For The Sun Places, visiting Barcelona after 2026 and being able to see these legacies will be an added incentive to recommend the city to our guests. And during the capital city programme, we offer special routes to discover these legacies under construction.
🍽️ The best restaurants near the landmarks of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026
During Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026, your palate will also experience something unique.
Near the Sagrada Família, the Caelis restaurant (one Michelin star, inside the Hotel Palace) offers signature Catalan cuisine with local produce.
Near Casa Batlló and La Pedrera (Passeig de Gràcia), you have Disfrutar (3 Michelin Stars), considered one of the best restaurants in the world, with a 30-course tasting menu.
In the Gothic Quarter, the Hotel Neri's restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine in a 12th-century palace.
In Barceloneta, Can Majó and Can Solé are classics for paella and Fried Fish (anchovies, squid, prawns).
In Eixample, Tapeo and Xavier Pellicer serve signature tapas with market produce.
For the most traditional Catalan cuisine, Cal Boter (in Gràcia) or 7 Portes (near El Born) are excellent options.
You cannot leave without trying crema catalana, calçots with romesco sauce (in season, from January to April), pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato), fuet, Iberian ham, Catalan cheeses and, of course, extra virgin olive oil from the Siurana or Les Garrigues designations of origin.
To drink, cava (Recaredo, Gramona), wines from Priorat (Álvaro Palacios) or Penedès (Jean Leon).
The Sun Places arranges reservations at all of them for you and organises private tastings in your apartment.
Architecture, culture and luxury at Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026
Gastronomy is another pillar of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026.
During the ten months of the capital city programme, many restaurants will offer special menus inspired by architecture.
For example, Disfrutar Restaurant will present a dish called "La Sagrada Família" (a reinterpretation of Gaudí's tower in the form of a potato and truffle crisp).
Caelis will offer "El Pla Cerdà", a wine and tapas pairing that covers the five kilometres of the Eixample.
Furthermore, the participating museums (MACBA, CCCB, Disseny Hub) have quality cafés and restaurants. The restaurant at the MNAC, with views over the city, is ideal for a romantic dinner after visiting the architecture exhibition.
And for wine lovers, the Bar del Passeig de Gràcia (from the Tragaluz group) offers over 100 references of Catalan cavas and wines.
The Sun Places can arrange a private dinner at an emblematic location, such as the auditorium of the former Gustavo Gili publishing house, with a private chef and cava pairing.
This way, your Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 experience will be complete and gourmet.
🏅 What Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 represents for the city, Catalonia and The Sun Places
Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 represents, for the city, the opportunity to reaffirm its world-class urban and architectural tradition. From the Cerdà Plan to the 1992 Olympic Games, via the modernism of Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona has been a laboratory of urban ideas. The capital city programme is a recognition of this trajectory and a boost to continue innovating in sustainability, affordable housing and public space.
For Catalonia, it is a national project involving municipalities throughout the territory through the "Territory" programme.
For The Sun Places, Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 is the perfect excuse to showcase our Luxury Apartments in Barcelona and our ability to organise high-level cultural experiences.
We want our guests to take away not just photos of the Sagrada Família, but also the memory of having discussed the future of cities with an architect, of having tasted a Priorat wine while looking at the model of Barcelona, of having set foot on the grass of the Sant Pau Site during the congress.
That is Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 for us: a total immersion in the world's best urban planning.
🎭Integration with other events: Tour de France, Goya Awards and popular festivals
One of the unique features of Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026 is its integration into the city's cultural, sporting and festive calendar.
In February, the capital city programme coincides with Llum BCN (light festival) and the Goya Awards Gala, which will be held in Barcelona.
In April, Sant Jordi will fill the streets with books and roses, with special stalls dedicated to architecture.
In May, the Grec Festival will offer performances in unique architectural spaces.
In July, the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2026 will take place in Barcelona, with an urban route passing by the Sagrada Família, the Arc de Triomf and Passeig de Gràcia.
In September, La Mercè (Barcelona's main festival) will include castells (human towers) and correfocs (fire runs) in front of emblematic buildings.
In October, the Biennal de Pensament will debate the future of cities.
In November, the Jazz Festival and the Barcelona Marathon. The Sun Places offers you combined packages so that, in addition to enjoying Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026, you can experience these unique events.
Imagine watching the start of the Tour de France from a private balcony, or dining with Goya nominees at a Michelin-starred restaurant. We make it possible.
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your experience at Barcelona Capital of Architecture 2026. Architecture, culture, gastronomy and luxury in the Catalan capital. 🏛️🏗️🥂
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We await you at The Sun Places, where Luxury is Culture!