On 7 and 8 May 2025, the International Union of Architects (UIA) will host a two-day programme in Venice titled “Architecture in Transition: From Heritage to Urban Futures.” Held at Palazzo Zorzi — the headquarters of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe — the event will celebrate emerging creativity in architecture and officially introduce the UIA World Congress and World Capital of Architecture 2026, to be held in Barcelona.
7 May: Awards Ceremony and Exhibition Opening
The first evening will feature the awards ceremony for the international ideas competition “The Future of the Profession – Empowering the Next Generation in Participatory Urban Design.” Organised by the UIA, the competition is open to architects born in or after 1989 and focuses on innovative and sustainable visitor centre proposals for World Heritage Sites.
The evening will conclude with the opening of an exhibition showcasing the winning projects, which will remain open to the public from 8 to 15 May at Palazzo Zorzi.
Opening remarks will be delivered by:
Magdalena Landry, Director, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe
Regina Gonthier, UIA President
Alessandra Ferrari, Vice-President, CNAPPC (Italy)
Roberto Beraldo, President, OAPPC Venice
Lilia Cannarella , CNAPPC and UIA Council Member and Professional Advisor to the Competition
8 May: Roundtable and Launch of UIA2026 Barcelona
The programme will continue the following morning with a roundtable discussion between the competition winners and members of the international jury, including Cristóbal Tirado and Giacomo Ardesio. Moderated by Magdalena Landry, the session will explore the future of the profession and the pressing issues affecting World Heritage Sites today — including over-tourism, political instability, social tensions, and the climate crisis. The conversation will highlight the importance of context-sensitive and inclusive approaches to heritage and urban design.
Later that day, the UIA will officially present the UIA World Congress of Architecture 2026, which will take place in Barcelona from 28 June to 2 July under the theme “Becoming. Architectures for a Planet in Transition.”
Speakers will include:
Iñaqui Carnicero, Secretary General for Urban Agenda, Housing and Architecture, Spain
Víctor Puga, Secretario de Territorio, Urbanismo y Agenda Urbana, Generalitat de Catalunya
María Buhigas, Chief Architect of the Barcelona City Council
Marta Vall-llossera, CSCAE President
Regina Gonthier, UIA President
Fuensanta Nieto, President of the Scientific Advisor Committee
Pau Bajet and Carmen Torres, Curators of the Congress
The Congress will be structured around six thematic axes — more-than-human, attuned, embodied, interdependent, hyper-conscious, and circular — and will be held primarily at Las Tres Chimeneas and the Disseny Hub in Barcelona. More than 10,000 professionals and students are expected to attend.
The programme will conclude with a presentation of Barcelona as World Capital of Architecture 2026. Speakers will include:
Magdalena Landry, UNESCO Director
Regina Gonthier, UIA President
María Buhigas, Chief Architect of the Barcelona City Council
While not part of the official Venice Architecture Biennale, the UIA’s events in Venice will represent a powerful contribution to the global discourse on architecture, heritage, and urban futures. Through this initiative, the UIA continues to champion architecture as a discipline of public interest, rooted in ethics, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainable development.