UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona

The theme Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition will shape the Congress programme as a platform to explore innovative perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches and transformative ideas that address contemporary challenges.

Description
Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition
Becoming explores spatial practices that foster processes of appropriation and transformation of the inhabited environment --both human and nonhuman, individual and collective-- investigating the potential of time as a design tool. Far from the idea of tabula rasa, it is rooted in a deep awareness of preexisting physical and cultural landscapes.
Becoming promotes the transformation of the existing reality, addressing the relationship between the urgency of contemporary challenges and a long-term perspective that unfolds through six lines of research: Becoming More-than-human, Becoming Attuned, Becoming Embodied, Becoming Interdependent, Becoming Hyper-Conscious and Becoming Circular.
The proposals can be submitted in the following categories:
Critical Design - Architectural projects, industrial design, prototypes and explorations in design methodologies.
Critical Essay - Essays, academic papers and research articles.
Critical Image - Photographs, films and multimedia pieces.

Jury
Not yet announced

Prize
Accepted proposals will be part of the central events of the UIA2026BCN Congress between 28 June and 2 July 2026.
The jury will determine the form of participation, which may include individual presentations, debates or other planned formats.
Additionally, it will decide whether the selected works will be exhibited physically or digitally at the Congress exhibition and whether they will be published in the official catalogue.

Entry Fee
None

Timetable
30 September 2025 - Announcement of selected proposals
28 June - 2 July 2026 - UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona

Organizer
The Higher Council of Spanish Colleges of Architects Guilds (CSCAE), in collaboration with the Architects ́ Association of Catalonia (COAC) and the participation and financing of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council

Official Website