On October 2, 2026, Álvaro González, the Delegate for Housing Policies and President of the Municipal Housing and Land Company of Madrid (EMVS), inaugurated the 23rd International Architecture Week Madrid 2026. During the event, he underscored the critical role of collaboration between government and architectural professionals in addressing Madrid's growth and enhancing citizens' quality of life.

“Building a city is a shared responsibility between politics and architecture,” González stated. He emphasized that the city council must “set the course, streamline bureaucracy, free up land, and budget investments,” but these efforts require the “talent, rigor, and vision” of architects to transform urban plans into projects that embody urban quality, sustainability, and the capacity to reshape the city.

González also advocated for continued investment in innovative construction methods and the simplification of administrative processes to ensure that architectural talent can thrive in Madrid. He identified affordable housing as a strategic priority for the municipal government, asserting, “No politician can envision the Madrid of the coming decades alone, and no architect can realize their ideas without the institutional and regulatory support that ensures their viability.”

The 23rd International Architecture Week is organized by the COAM Architecture Foundation, the Official College of Architects of Madrid, and the City of Madrid. This edition features Switzerland as the guest country and pays tribute to two prominent figures in 20th-century Spanish architecture, Antonio Lamela and Francisco Javier Carvajal, coinciding with the centenary of their births. The event aims to highlight the legacy of both architects in Madrid, showcasing works such as the Torres de Colón, Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, and the Galaxia complex by Lamela, as well as the Torre de Valencia, Casa Carvajal, and the Zoo of Casa de Campo by Carvajal.