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.

The announcement was made at FITUR 2026 in Madrid by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, and the President of Paradores, Raquel Sánchez, during an event at the Paradores stand where the hotel’s interior was unveiled for the first time. The Mayor of Ibiza, Rafael Trigueros, also attended the event.

“With this Parador, we reach number 99 in the network and manage to reach all the autonomous communities. The Parador will allow us to recover, revitalize, and rehabilitate a part of Ibiza’s historic centre, and specifically Dalt Vila, but what is more important: it will allow people to discover Ibiza beyond the summer months. An extraordinary Ibiza that connects us with heritage, culture, and history, and that allows us to reduce seasonality and generate employment 365 days a year.” – Raquel Sánchez, President of Paradores.

About Parador de Ibiza

The opening of Parador de Ibiza culminates a long and complex rehabilitation process that began in 2008 and was later interrupted in 2012 by the discovery of important archaeological remains, prompting a rethink of the initial project. The work resumed in 2019 and has been carried out by Turespaña, with the aim of balancing the conservation of historical heritage with sustainable and high-quality tourism.

The establishment is set within one of the island’s most emblematic enclaves: the Castle and Almudaina of Dalt Vila, a 16^th-century fortress situated in the city’s historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and witness to numerous historical events that have shaped Ibiza’s identity for more than two thousand years. Standing at the highest point of the walled city, the Parador’s privileged location offers unique panoramic views over the port and the historic surroundings, making it an exceptional space where heritage and history converge with a premium tourist experience.

Parador de Ibiza is the first Parador de Turismo in the history of the Balearic Islands. With its opening, together with the recent inauguration of Parador de Molina de Aragón (Guadalajara), the Paradores network now comprises 99 establishments, achieving representation in all autonomous communities. The project has received a total investment of €47 million, including investments from Turespaña and Paradores, as well as actions financed with funds from the Recovery Plan.

A Boost for the City’s Historic Centre

The opening of this Parador represents an opportunity for the revitalisation of Ibiza’s historic centre, specifically in Dalt Vila, an area of outstanding heritage value that has experienced a decline in activity in recent years. The hotel’s year-round operation will help restore commercial life and economic activity in the historic neighbourhoods beyond the peak season.

In addition, the establishment will generate quality employment with an estimated workforce of 60 people and will contribute to economic growth and the reduction of seasonal tourism on the island by remaining open throughout the year. In this sense the project returns the castle to the city, after years of being closed to the public, during which Ibiza locals were unable to see its interior. The opening of the Parador will allow both residents and visitors to access this historic site, highlighting its value as a space of immense cultural significance.

Facilities and Services

Spanning five buildings, the Parador has 66 rooms (41 available to guests), a wellness area, an outdoor pool, a solarium, a café, a restaurant, several lounges and terraces. The courtyard, covered with a light, textile-like structure and featuring a small auditorium with views of the port and the Cathedral’s bell tower, expands the hotel’s spaces and will allow for the hosting of evening events in a spectacular setting. The Parador also has underground parking with 40 spaces, which represents an unparalleled feat of civil engineering. It consists of a 37-metre-long tunnel that safeguards the historical wall of Dalt Vila and a communications shaft approximately 30 metres high. This unique solution improves accessibility between the lower and upper parts of the city by using the Parador’s elevators, which until now was accessed via the Soto Fosc pedestrian tunnel.

Enhancing the Value of Archaeological Heritage

Another major milestone of the project has been the ambitious incorporation and musealisation of nine archaeological digs within an interpretation centre integrated into the Parador. Through infographics, signage, and audiovisual projections, the most important remains found during the excavations are revealed. Some of these digs have been restored for the guests’ and wider public’s enjoyment, reinforcing the Paradores’ founding objective to conserve and disseminate historical and artistic heritage. This space makes the Parador a strategic asset for the cultural development and diversification of tourism on the island.

Furthermore, there is a carefully curated artistic programme that includes painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and ceramics, with works by established and contemporary artists. The programme, inspired by the light, sea, and cultural traditions of Ibiza, transforms the historic building into an authentic living gallery in dialogue with its surroundings. The opening of the new Parador de Ibiza, destined to become one the leading hotels and cultural destinations on the island and one of the jewels of the state-owned hotel chain, has generated great excitement among customers and friends of Paradores.

For more information, please visit https://paradores.es/es/parador-de-ibiza

Introductory video to the property can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/parador-de-ibiza

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

World-renowned for its impressive architecture and unique ties to creative genius Antoni Gaudí, the Barcelona City Council will coordinate a programme which brings architecture and urbanism closer to its locals and visitors, with a pedagogical approach that demonstrates their positive influence. Offering exhibitions, itineraries, workshops, open houses, visits, installations, and conferences, collectively the city council’s efforts seek to leave a legacy for the city.

Some of the key events due to take place include:

-   At the Museum of Ethnography and World Cultures there will be an exhibition dedicated to Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí, the architect and landscape designer who played a key role in shaping modern Barcelona.

-   The MNAC will host an exhibition dedicated to modernist architect Josep Maria Jujol, a frequent collaborator of Antoni Gaudí.

-     The Picasso Museum will host an exhibition which explores Pablo Picasso’s deep relationship between art and architecture.

In anticipation of the Sagrada Familia’s official completion and the centenary of Gaudí's passing, 2026 is certainly set to be a significant year for Barcelona, its architectural heritage and citizens.

For more information, please visit: https://www.barcelona.cat/capitalmundialarquitectura/en/presentation 

141 years since construction began in 1882, the four main towers of La Basílica de la Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s spectacular basilica church and Barcelona’s most famous landmark, are complete. Each tower represents one of the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – with each evangelist represented by an animal.

A beloved sight on the Barcelona skyline for years, most locals and visitors are used to their view of the majestic church being impeded by scaffolding, but this is set to change with an end to construction work finally in sight. The scaffolding on the four towers will be taken down shortly, bringing a new era to Sagrada Família, which is also the final resting place of its famous architect.

The team behind the UNESCO-listed site are now looking ahead to completing the central tower, representing Christ; this tower is to be topped with a statue of Jesus, making Sagrada Família one of the tallest churches in the world.

La Basílica de la Sagrada Família is famous for being incomplete, and construction has been hampered by the fact that Gaudí himself did not leave full plans for the cathedral. However, it is hoped that the church will be finished in its entirety within the next three years, with an anticipated completion date of 2026 (to coincide with the 100^th anniversary of Gaudí’s death).

This recognition was granted by UNESCO to the Talayotic as it considered to be a testiment to prehistoric culture and heritage on the island, with an exceptional number of monuments that demonstrate the different stages of prehistoric Menorca. The site is of particular importance given the impressive standard of the preservation of the monuments, thanks to conservation efforts, as well as the number that have been preserved. The constructions are unique to Menorca and include funerary naves, circular houses as well as structures such as taulas and talayots – they are considered by UNESCO to be an exceptional example of Cyclopean architecture and of its evolution over fifteen hundred years. They are an important source of knowledge about the life of the Talayotic people and the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.

The distinction will mean that the prehistoric heritage of Menorca is more widely recognised internationally and is expected to help secure new resources for the conservation and scientific research of the monuments and Talayotic culture. This declaration also highlights the great conservational work that is being done in the Balearics to preserve prehistoric sites.

The Balearic Islands have four more UNESCO distinctions: Serra de Tramuntana and the Song of Sybil in Mallorca, Menorca protected by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, and Ibiza for its fortified acropolis (around Dalt Vila) and its marine ecosystem, comprising prairies of oceanic Posidonia (seagrass).

The Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez in Barcelona, which opened last year, was recently awarded the title of Public Library of the Year 2023 at the IFLA World Library and Information Conference in Rotterdam, surpassing 15 other libraries to claim the prestigious award. 

With its extraordinary timber-framed architecture (the building was designed to resemble a stack of open books), the library is a fine example of social responsibility, and is truly a place where the community comes first: serving around 240,000 residents, the Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez offers not only a space to discover the world through reading but also provides community activities such as language, cooking and digital literacy workshops. The library was created with sustainability and inclusivity at its core – embodying how a building can enhance and interact with its local environment and culture – and includes distinct areas that cater to specific requirements, such as a sensory space for children with additional needs opening later this year. 

Since 2015, Barcelona has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature and the Catalan city is suffused with culture and literature at every turn. Countless artists, writers, photographers and musicians have been inspired by Barcelona’s inviting streets and vibrant buzz, and as visitors wander past Gaudiesque architecture and gaze at Barcelona’s stunning sandy beaches, it is not hard to imagine why. Dozens of writers and creatives have made the city their temporary or permanent home, including George Orwell, Maria Vargas Llosa and Gabriel García Márquez (the library’s namesake), and the city itself has been featured in a number of great novels and books, including Colm Toíbín’s majestic Homage to Barcelona and Juan Goytisolo’s Marks of Identity. 

Learn more here.