Open Call for UIA World Congress of Architects – UIA2026BCN
The 2026 UIA World Congress in Barcelona (UIA2026BCN) has launched its Call for Participants, an international call open to professionals in architecture and related disciplines. With the theme “Becoming, Architectures for a Planet in Transition,” the Congress seeks to bring together innovative perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches that respond to contemporary challenges in the built environment.
The invitation is addressed to architects, landscape architects, designers, engineers, researchers, photographers, filmmakers, and artists, who will be able to submit their proposals in three categories: Critical Design, which covers architectural projects, prototypes, and design methodologies; Critical Essay, intended for essays and research articles; and Critical Image, which includes photographic, cinematographic, and multimedia pieces. A committee of experts will evaluate the proposals in a first phase, and then an international jury, together with the Congress curatorial team, will make the final selection. The selected works will be integrated into the Congress program through presentations, debates, and physical or digital exhibitions. Participation in the call is free of charge, through the UIA2026BCN webpage.
The selection process will take place in several stages. The call officially opens on March 31, with a deadline of May 23, 2025. Selected projects will be announced in September 2025, while the Congress will be held in Barcelona from June 28 to July 2, 2026.
As part of the launch of UIA2026BCN, a presentation event will take place on April 14, 2025 at 10:00 am (CEST) at which details about the call will be provided, the Congress venues will be revealed, and the first speakers will be announced. Attendance will be free with prior registration and the event will be streamed through the official UIA2026BCN YouTube channel.
Since its first edition in 1948, the UIA World Architects Congress has established itself as the most relevant global meeting in the sector. In 2026, Barcelona will not only host the Congress, but will also hold the title of World Architecture Capital, reaffirming its role as the epicenter of architectural and urban planning debate at the international level. Organized by the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE) in collaboration with the Colegio de Arquitectos de Cataluña (COAC), the event is supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Council.