Barcelona at the Heart of Gaudí 2026

Barcelona and wider Catalonia will act as the epicentre of the celebrations, hosting a wide-ranging programme across more than 75 venues, including museums, public spaces, and cultural institutions. At the centre is the Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s most ambitious project, where a milestone will take place on 10 June 2026, the anniversary of his death, with the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ. Rising to 172.5 metres, it will mark a symbolic moment in the basilica’s long construction.

Across the city, Gaudí’s most celebrated works, including Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, and Park Güell, will host exhibitions, performances, and installations. Highlights include immersive digital art experiences and façade projections at Casa Batlló, a symphonic premiere at the Palau de la Música Catalana, and community-led celebrations at Park Güell, which will also mark the centenary of its opening as a public park.

Beyond Barcelona, the "Gaudí Way”

The centenary will offer visitors the opportunity to explore the architect’s early influences in Reus and nearby Riudoms, where his connection to nature and craftsmanship helped shape his distinctive architectural style. His legacy extends beyond Catalonia through a unique cultural route linking the only three buildings he designed outside the region. Known as the “Gaudí Way”, it connects destinations across northern Spain and offers a broader perspective on his work.

In Comillas, El Capricho is one of his earliest creations which stands out for its vibrant ceramic decoration featuring sunflower motifs and nature-inspired details. In León, Casa Botines blends Gothic and modernist influences and today hosts exhibitions dedicated to Gaudí and Spanish art, whereas nearby Astorga is home to the Episcopal Palace, an imposing neo-Gothic building often likened to a medieval castle. Throughout 2026, these sites will host guided tours, exhibitions, and cultural events as part of the centenary programme.

On the island of Mallorca, Gaudí’s influence can be seen in the restoration of Palma Cathedral, La Seu. His early 20th-century intervention transformed the interior by enhancing natural light, reconfiguring the space, and introducing distinctive decorative elements. A dedicated exhibition will explore his contribution to the cathedral during the centenary year.

A Nationwide Celebration

Officially recognised as an event of exceptional public interest, Gaudí 2026 brings together institutions across Spain to celebrate the architect’s enduring legacy. From Barcelona’s iconic skyline to coastal towns and historic cities, the programme highlights both the scale and diversity of his legacy.

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk.

At the centre of the celebration is PRIMADA, a landmark exhibition taking place inside the Cathedral from May to October 2026, presenting more than 350 masterpieces spanning paintings, sculpture, codices and liturgical objects. The exhibition route will cover over 2,000 square metres through key spaces of the Cathedral and will include works by El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Bellini and others, drawn from more than fifty public and private collections.

A major component of the anniversary will be a comprehensive programme of restoration works designed to preserve and enhance the Cathedral’s artistic legacy for future generations. Key projects include the restoration of El Transparente, the Juan de Borgoña paintings, medieval stained glass, sculptures and liturgical ornaments in the Cathedral. Additionally, the conservation of the historic realejo organs and choir carillons will represent an investment of €60,000 across four months.

The Jubilee Year will also introduce a range of accessibility and cultural initiatives, including a partnership with ONCE to ensure accessible routes for the Cathedral’s Lúmina experience and a new Cathedral Youth Orchestra, reflecting the celebration’s commitment to community engagement. In addition, the International Musicology Symposium, scheduled from 8 to 10 October 2026, will bring together leading scholars to explore the Cathedral’s musical heritage.

The Jubilee will officially open on 25 October 2026 with the ceremonial opening of the Puerta de Reyes, followed by a rich calendar and underscoring the Cathedral’s enduring role as a centre of spirituality and culture within Spanish history.

For more information on Spain as a tourist destination, visit https://www.spain.info/en/

For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk

2024 marks the hundredth anniversary since the birth of Eduardo Chillida, the renowned Basque sculptor known for his monumental abstract works. Born in San Sebastián in 1924, Chillida is one of the most influential Spanish artists of the 20th century, known for poetic works such as Wind Comb. During his career he won countless prestigious awards, including the Venice Biennale, the Kandinsky and the Prince of Asturias awards.

Chillida’s works are spread throughout the Basque country and beyond, and can be found in public spaces and museums. To commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the artists’ death, venues and museums across Spain are holding special exhibitions featuring his work.

 The Maeght Universe

• Location: Chillida Leku, the Basque Country
• Date: ongoing – 14 April 2024
• About: The Maeght Universe presents a dialogue between the artists works and some of the artists he worked closest with, featuring 17 creations by 11 artists.

Jesús Uriarte. Chillida Lanean

• Location: Kutxa Kultur Artegunea, San SebastiáN
• Date: ongoing – 30 June 2024
• About: Jesús Uriarte. Chillida Lanean reveals the professional and personal relationship between photographer Jesús Uriarte and Eduardo Chillida over 20 years.

Chillida and Balenciaga. Playing form

• Location: Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum, the Basque Country
• Date: ongoing – 09 January 2025
• About: Chillida and Balenciaga. Playing form depicts the biographical and philosophical links between Eduardo Chillida and fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga.

Eduardo Chillida

• Location: Hauser & Wirth, Menorca
• Date: 11 May 2024 – 27 October 2024
• About: Eduardo Chillida highlights the artist’s pioneering practise on Menorca, where he worked and spent many summers with his family.

100 years of Eduardo Chillida in the Telefónica Collection

• Location: Chillida Leku Museum, the Basque Country
• Date: 15 May 2024 – 13 October 2024
• About: Eduardo Chillida in the Telefónica Collection displays a selection of pieces by the sculptor, all owned by the Spanish telecom company Telefónica.

A conversation. Eduardo Chillida and the arts of his time (1950-1970)

• Location: San Telmo Museum, San Sebastián
• Date: 08 June 2024 – 29 September 2024
• About: A conversation. Eduardo Chillida and the arts of his time (1950-1970) presents Chillida's creativity within the framework of the artistic culture of his time, focusing on his early years when he defined his ideals and plastic imagination.

Topalekua

• Location: Tabakalera, San Sebastían
• Date: 21 June 2024 – 06 October 2024
• About: Topalekua exhibition presents a reading of Eduardo Chillida's work from the perspective of contemporary art.

Chillida-Ortega Muñoz

• Location: Museum of Fine Arts Bilbao, Bilbao
• Date: 25 Jun 2024 - 13 Oct 2024
• About: Chillida-Ortega Muñoz studies the link between Chillida and Godofredo Ortega Muñoz, remembering that the painter's first individual exhibition took place when Chillida received the International Grand Prize for Sculpture at the Venice Biennale.

Chillida. Applied Uses

• Location: Museum of Contemporary Arts, the Basque Country
• Date: 15 November 2024 – 05 January 2025
• About: Chillida. Applied Uses presents Eduardo Chillida's facet as an illustrator and forger of two-dimensional shapes and icons in different collaborative projects

Learn more here

The Spanish Tourist Office has announced key news for 2024 and the end of 2023. 

• Click here for a word text document containing the same information. 
• High-res images are available here. 

2023 VISITOR NUMBERS TO SPAIN

From January up until the end of September 2023, Spain received 66.5 million international arrivals, up 18.8% year-on-year, and 0.6% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The main inbound tourism markets were the United Kingdom, representing around 13.8 million arrivals, France with almost 9.4 million arrivals and Germany, with almost 8.5 million arrivals.

By Autonomous Communities (or regions), from January to September (inclusive), Cataluña received the most international visitors with almost 14.2 million arrivals, followed by the Balearic Islands.

SPANISH HIGH-SPEED TRAINS HIT RECORD 8.32 MILLION PASSENGERS IN Q2 2023

The Spanish high-speed train network set a new passenger record in the second quarter of 2023, carrying 8.32 million passengers, a 33% increase from the previous year. This record encompasses all routes with multiple operators (Renfe, Avlo, Ouigo, and Iryo) offering competitive pricing and services. Notably, Avant (High-Speed Mid-Distance) services, exclusively operated by Renfe, carried an additional 3.3 million passengers, a 57% increase. Highlights of passenger growth in Q2 2023 include:

• Madrid-Seville: Over one million passengers, a 30.3% increase.
• Madrid-Malaga/Granada: Approximately one million passengers, a 25.8% year-on-year rise.
• Madrid-Alicante: Over 750,000 passengers, a 32.1% increase.
• Madrid-Valencia: An impressive 86% growth, with 1.3 million passengers.
• Madrid-Barcelona: 3.6 million passengers, a 36% increase from the same quarter in 2022.

The growth of high-speed rail travel in Spain continues to provide sustainable and cost-effective transportation options.

VALENCIA: EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2024 

Valencia has been named the European Green Capital for 2024 by the European Commission. This prestigious award underpins the city's commitment to environmental sustainability and its ongoing efforts to address the challenges of climate change. 

Valencia has long been committed to a more sustainable future with pioneering measurement of the city’s tourism impact. In October 2023, it was announced that the city was one of the first to receive the Mission Label from the European Union for its commitment to decarbonisation, acknowledging the pledge to reduce CO₂ emissions by 80% and achieving climate neutrality by 2030. This ambitious commitment is a culmination of the city's various green initiatives, which have been recognised at both local and international levels, also earning the titles of European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 and the Capital of Sustainable Food in 2017.  

To be recognised as European Green Capital, the city had to pass an extensive sustainability test measuring air, noise, waste, water, nature and biodiversity, land use, eco-innovation, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, mobility, energy efficiency and governance.

During the Green Capital Year, Valencia will unveil a dedicated activity programme to highlight the city’s green efforts, including major international events and other smaller city activities to involve both residents and visitors.  Learn more here

2024: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE ANNIVERSARIES

The oldest five World Heritage Sites in Spain are approaching their 40^th anniversary, having been designated in 1984. These include:

• Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada
• Burgos Cathedral
• Monastery and Site of the Escorial, Madrid
• The Historic Centre of Córdoba
• Works of Antoni Gaudí  

2024 will also mark 40 years of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve located on the Bay of Biscay coast in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1984 and is one of the most richly diverse natural landscapes in the Basque Country.

2024 will also mark the 25^th UNESCO World Heritage anniversary of the old quarter of Ibiza Town. This accolade recognises Ibiza’s cultural and architectural value. Some of the island’s treasures include one of the best-preserved Renaissance coastal fortresses in the Mediterranean, the old town acropolis of Dalt Vila (meaning 'high wall') with its sprawling network of ancient streets and squares, and the Phoenician remains of Sa Caleta and its Carthaginian tombs, where Punic settlers traded over 2,500 years ago.

THE PREHISTORIC SITES OF TALAYOTIC MENORCA BRING SPAIN’S UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COUNT TO 50

In September 2023, the prehistoric sites of Talayotic Menorca were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, bringing the total number of sites in Spain to 50.

The addition of the prehistoric sites of Talayotic Menorca is a testament to the island’s prehistoric culture and heritage. Situated in agro-pastoral landscapes, the sites display an incredible diversity of ancient settlements and burials. The constructions are unique to Menorca and include funerary naves, circular houses, and monuments such as taulas and talayots which UNESCO consider to be exceptional examples of Cyclopean architecture’s evolution over fifteen hundred years.

FINALISTS OF SPAIN’S 2024 CITY OF GASTRONOMY REVEALED

The four finalist cities for Spain’s Capital of Gastronomy (CEG) have been announced and include Alicante, Antequera, Castellón and Oviedo. The prestigious award, decided jointly by travel journalists and the Hospitality Association of Spain, was awarded to Cuenca, Castilla–La Mancha in 2023.

For 2024, the competition is more competitive than ever:

• Alicante, Valencia, has over 1,700 registered gastronomic establishments and two local brands promoting the city’s gastronomy: Alicante, city of rice, and Alicante gourmet.
• Antequera, Andalucia, has a long history of culinary excellence, with the region famous for its delicious pastries. Local olive oil is the secret ingredient for much of the city’s gastronomy, used in dishes such as deep-fried partridge, rabbit stew and seasonal salads.
• Castellón, Valencia, is a seafood paradise with an abundance of simple fresh dishes such as giant prawns and steamed mussels. The coastal city is famous for delicious seafood paella.
• Ovideo, Asturias, is a finalist for Spain’s Capital of Gastronomy for the third time, with its main offering consisting of a range of mouth-watering fabada (bean stew), cider, cachopo (veal), cheeses and seafood.

The city awarded Spain’s Capital of Gastronomy will hold gastronomic festivities throughout the year.

SEVEN NEW VÍAS VERDES BUILT IN 2023

In Spain, there are more than 3,300 kilometres of disused railway infrastructure that have been converted into cycle and hiking routes within the framework of the Greenways Programme, coordinated by the Spanish Railways Foundation. They are known as Vías Verdes – Green Ways. 

In 2023 seven new greenways were added to the network. These include:

• Benidorm Greenway, Valencia
• Chicharra Greenway (Cieza section), Murcia
• Cieza Flowering Greenway, Murcia
• Iron Road, Castile and León
• Tharsis Odiel Greenway, Andalucía
• Vigo-Redondela Greenway (Chapela section), Galicia
• Vigo-Redondela Greenway (Urzáiz-Teis section), Galicia

2024: 100 YEARS OF THE MODERN BARCELONA METRO

In 2024, the Spanish city of Barcelona will mark the anniversary of the full opening of its Metro train system (Metro de Barcelona).

This innovative system, first opened in 1863 and inspired by the London Underground, was expanded to its current state in 1924 to include additional lines. In total, there are now 12 lines, connecting both residential and commercial parts of the city (Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia has its own stop).

The Barcelona Metro has 189 Metro stations across the city and a tram line also operating above ground (which began operations in the 1870s, pulled by horse). Learn more here

2024: A JUBILEE YEAR FOR CARAVACA DE LA CRUZ, MURCIA

Every seven years since 2003, the holy city of Caravaca de la Cruz, located in the region of Murcia, celebrates a Jubilee Year which attracts thousands of pilgrims to the city seeking plenary indulgence. The last Jubilee year in 2017 saw roughly 500,000 pilgrims and travellers gathering in Caravaca with many more expected in 2024. The city is the fifth holy city given this distinction by the Pope, alongside Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela, and Santo Toribio de Liébana. Learn more here

ANDALUCIA FLAMENCO MUSEUM TO OPEN IN JEREZ

In 2024, Jerez de la Frontera is set to unveil the highly anticipated Andalucia Flamenco Museum.  Recognised as one of the primary strongholds of Flamenco, Jerez's cultural identity is intricately intertwined with the art of Flamenco, wine, and horses.

Hailed as a "first-class" cultural institution by the regional government, the museum will spotlight the city’s rich Flamenco heritage, focusing on its preservation, documentation, and promotion of its extraordinary historical and heritage value that symbolises Andalucia's identity worldwide.

Flamenco, as an art form, has been acknowledged by UNESCO since November 2010. Learn more here.

BARCELONA TO HOST 37TH AMERICA’S CUP IN 2024

America’s Cup, the most important regatta in the world, will take place in Barcelona between August and October 2024. It is the 3rd sport competition with the highest economic impact on the host country, after the Olympic Games and the World Cup. Barcelona will become the first and only venue in the world to host the three main sport events: the World Cup in 1982, the Olympic Games in 1992, and the America's Cup in 2024.

For the first time, there will be a Women's America's Cup and Youth America's Cup. It will be sailed during the final stages of the Challenger Selection Series and the opening of America’s Cup Match itself. Spectators will be able to follow the competition for free from the Port of Barcelona.

SPAIN ANNOUNCES NEW CAMPAIGN PROMOTING THE COUNTRY AS A TAX-FREE SHOPPING DESTINATION FOR BRITISH TRAVELLERS

On Monday 06 November 2023, Turespaña launched a new advertising campaign aimed at British young people, families, couples, and seniors to promote Spain as the perfect shopping destination. The campaign reminds UK residents that, since the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, they can recover VAT on their purchases in Spain.

In 2022, UK visitors to Spain accounted for 17,000 billion euros of total expenditure, representing 19.7% of the total international tourism expenditure made in the country last year. Tax-free purchases form an important part of this figure: British travellers in Spain spent over 715 million euros on tax-free purchases in 2022, and up until September 2023 tax-free spending already reached 646 million euros. 

There will be eight exhibitions held in Madrid, three in Malaga, three in Barcelona, one in A Coruña and one in Bilbao. These exhibitions will highlight the artistic trajectory of Picasso throughout Spain and how his works were inspired by each region.  

MALAGA

Picasso was born in Malaga and spent the first ten years of his life living in the city. Although he never returned after the Civil War, the city made a lasting impression on the artist, and frequently featured in the pieces he made throughout his lifetime.

Exhibitions:

• Picasso: Matter and Body (8 August 23 – 10 September 23) – Picasso Museum Malaga
• The echo of Picasso (2 October 23 – 24 March 24) – Picasso Museum Malaga
• The ages of Pablo (21 June 23 – 1 January 24) – Picasso Birthplace Museum

A CORUÑA

Picasso went on to spend four of his formative years in the Galician city of A Coruña moving there when he was nine years old. It was here that he attended the Fine Arts school and gave his first exhibition. There were a number of pivotal moments that the artist experienced in A Coruña, such as the death of his sister, that are said to have influenced his style and artwork.

Exhibition:

• Picasso white in blue memory (23 April 23 – 23 June 23) – A Coruña Museum of Fine Arts

BARCELONA

At the age of 13, Picasso went on to attend the School of Fine Arts in Barcelona where his father taught. The architecture of the city, such as Gaudi’s naturalism and modernism, is said to have greatly inspired him. It provided him with the opportunity to live alongside brilliant artists that left their mark on his art: Ramón Casas, Santiago Rusiñol and Carles Casagemas.

Exhibitions:

• But is it possible that they could have done this before me? Picasso and Spanish ceramics in the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona collections (1 June 22 – 30 September 23) – Picasso Museum in Barcelona
• Daniel – Henry Kahnweiler (18 November 22 – 19 March 23) – Picasso Museum in Barcelona
• Miró – Picasso (19 October 23 – 24 February 24) – Picasso Museum in Barcelona

MADRID

In 1897, Picasso started at the Fine Arts Academy in Madrid and during his time in the city he found inspiration in the great classics in the Prado Museum, such as El Greco.

Exhibitions:

• Julio González, Pablo Picasso and the Dematerialisation of sculpture (23 September 22 – 8 January 23) – Fundación Mapfre
• Picasso, Masterpieces from the Nahmad Collection (4 April 23 – 2 July 23) – Royal Academy Fine Arts
• Picasso / Chanel (11 October 22 – 15 January 23) – Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
• The last Picasso. 1963 – 1972 (19 May 23 – 17 September 23) – La Casa Encendida
• Picasso – El Greco (13 June 23 – 17 September) – Prado Museum
• Picasso. The sacred and the profane (4 September 23 – 14 January 24) – Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
• Picasso vs. Velázquez (September – November 23) – Casa de Veláquez
• Picasso 1906: the great transformation (14 November 23 – 4 March 24) – Reina Sofía National Art Centre

BILBAO

Bilbao, one of the main Spanish cities with close ties to the art world, will be celebrating the Picasso Year with an exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum.

Exhibition:

• Picasso: Matter and Body (29 September 23 – 14 January 24) – Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Picasso's legacy can be experienced throughout Spain. For more information visit Spain’s Official Tourism site here.

The Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia has permanent exhibitions of his work such as "Grupa valenciana" and "Figuras de casacas jugando en un jardín". In addition to these, an immersive display entitled "Sorolla a través de la luz" that will showcase some of his rarely exhibited pieces.

There will also be guided tours of Valencia City to visit the sites associated with the painter, including his birthplace, next to the church of Santa Catalina where he was baptized; the Centro del Carmen, the School of Fine Arts where he studied; the Bancaja Cultural Centre, where there will be temporary exhibitions dedicated to the artist; and Malvarrosa beach, which inspired some of his most famous scenes. 

The Vertical restaurant will also be offering a menu inspired by Soralla’s work.

comunitatvalenciana.com

Goya is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries and is celebrated as both one of the last of the Old Masters and a forefather of modern art. His masterpieces include a portrait of Charles IV of Spain and his family (1800-1801), The Third of May (1808-1814), and the infamous Saturn Devouring His Son (1819-1823) which is part of the Black Paintings collection and displayed in the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Now in 2021, Aragón will celebrate his life with a programme of events that will take place in cities such as the capital, Zaragoza, and his hometown of Fuendetodos where visitors can pay a visit to his home which was declared a Historic National Monument in 1982.

Zaragoza, the capital of Aragón, will host the following exhibitions in honour of Goya:

Exhibition: Immersive project of Goya’s Black Paintings

Dates: June 2021 – August 2021

Location: Pablo Serrano Museum

Exhibition: Surrealist poetics

Dates: June 2021- September 2021

Location: Pablo Serrano Museum

Exhibition: Goya’s destroyed paintings in Fuendetodos

Dates: 7 October 2021 – 9 January 2022

Location: Sástago Palace

Exhibition: Goya, artist on the Grand Tour

Dates: December 2021 – March 2022

Location: Zaragoza Museum

The Zaragoza City Council will also be running a programme to celebrate the anniversary that will contain a series of cultural activities such as urban art exhibitions in the city centre with reinterpretations of Goya’s works created by young Aragonese artists and Goya figures put in place to be decorated by visitors as well as street theatre productions and other activities.

For foodies, the celebratory programme will also include the Goya Tapas Routes which has seen several establishments, selected based on criteria such as their proximity to prominent places linked to the artist and his legacy, offering set menus inspired by Goya and the era he thrived in.

Goya and his legacy as one of the greatest artists of all time have made the small village of Fuendetodos world famous. The village, which is around 50km from Zaragoza, contains the Engraving Museum, Zuluaga Hall and Goya’s birth home. This inconspicuous farm house where the great artist was born in 1746 now features three floors decorated with furniture and objects that transport visitors back to the 18th century and give them a glimpse into the early life of one of history’s most renowned artists.

More information on celebrating Goya in Aragón is available at www.turismodearagon.com/en/aragon/goya-en-aragon