In celebration of the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death (1852-1926), the Gaudí International Congress 2026 will take place in Barcelona from 22 to 25 October. This event marks the first academic congress focused exclusively on Gaudí, bringing together more than 39 scientific contributions from a new generation of researchers presenting previously unpublished work.
Over four days, specialists, researchers, and academics from around the globe will share new findings, discoveries, and critical reviews related to the thoughts and works of the architect Antoni Gaudí. Organised by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, with the support of the Consell Antoni Gaudí, the congress will be held at the Auditorio de La Pedrera – Casa Milà. It is set to occur every three years.
The congress aims to provide a rigorous academic platform for emerging researchers and to encompass multiple disciplines, offering a broad and updated perspective on Gaudí's legacy. The presented research has undergone a double-blind peer review process to ensure scientific excellence, with two independent reviewers evaluating the submissions without knowledge of the authors' identities.
Galdric Santana, the commissioner for the Year of Gaudí and a professor at the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona (ETSAB) of the UPC, stated, “Beyond the event, one of the significant achievements and legacies of this edition is the establishment of a scientific committee of unprecedented cohesion and breadth, formed by top-level experts who will serve as a genuine advisory council for creating a stable international research network around the architect.”
The congress will be structured around three main thematic blocks: Project, technique, and conservation; History, theory, and documentation; and Communication, values, and contemporary projection. The programme includes the presentation of 39 articles authored by researchers from Europe, Asia, and America, with 29% of the contributions coming from outside Spain.
Highlighted research contributions include Hubertus Pöppinghaus's study on water as a source of inspiration in Gaudí's universe, Núria Martí Audi's investigation into the constructive evolution of openings, Georgios Magkanas's reconstruction of a lost mural from La Pedrera, and Fàtima López Pérez's analysis of the ornamental repertoire of Palau Güell.
The congress will also feature keynote speeches from prominent figures in academia, including Rosa M. Alsina-Pagès (La Salle–URL), M. Mercè Compte i Barceló (UB), Miquel Domènech Roig (part of the research project 'Els jardins en l’obra de Gaudí'), and Albert Samper Sosa (URV), alongside Galdric Santana Roma.
With expectations of hundreds of international attendees, the congress aims to reinforce Catalonia's status as a global reference in architecture, art, and design. Additionally, there will be an editorial output, including a scientifically rigorous proceedings book published by the UPC and a volume in an indexed collection by the international publisher Springer featuring selected top communications.
Programme of the Gaudí International Congress 2026
- Thursday, 22 October – Project, technique, and conservation: institutional intervention by Sònia Hernández, the Culture Minister of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and Galdric Santana.
- Friday, 23 October – History, theory, and documentation: a day focused on documentary research and historical analysis.
- Saturday, 24 October – Communication, values, and contemporary projection: analysis of the relevance and impact of the architect.
- Sunday, 25 October – Conclusions and closure.
The Consell Antoni Gaudí is an advisory body of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya, established in 2014. It encompasses the 14 works of Gaudí located in Catalonia and includes works beyond Catalonia's borders, making this union of all Gaudí-related works and entities a unique case.
Year of Gaudí
Under the motto 'The invisible order', 2026 will commemorate the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death, one of Spain's most recognised figures. The commemoration aims to provide a fresh perspective that allows for the discovery of the aspects of this universal genius that remain unknown. The Year of Gaudí is one of the official commemorations of the Generalitat de Catalunya for 2026, with an investment of €6.5 million for its celebration.
