International Emerging Workshop
19 to 27 June 2026
Applications open until 10 January 2026
A Wicked Laboratory will unfold across Barcelona for one week, bringing together twelve emerging architectural practices, each leading a studio with students and young architects. In the face of planetary transition, the workshop will turn the city into a space for collective inquiry, design speculation, and transformative spatial thinking.
Held in the days leading up to the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026, the workshop, A Wicked Laboratory, will offer a platform for hands-on research, site-based experimentation, and collaborative learning. Through studio work, field visits, and open exchange, participants will engage with the city as a living laboratory by producing proposals, models, and interventions that contribute to the global discourse on architecture’s role in shaping more just, resilient, and inclusive futures.
Workshop Leaders
Nicolas Dorval-Bory Architectes
Chrisna Duplessis / UIA Member of the Scientific Committee. Region V
Meritxell Inaraja / COAC/CSCAE Member of the Scientific Committee
Pau Sarquella / UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona Curator
Carmen Torres / UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona Curator
Javier Rodríguez, Technical Secretariat of the UIA Barcelona 2026 Congress
Cristina Guadalupe, Technical Secretariat of the UIA Barcelona 2026 Congress
Workshop Venue:
Les Tres Xemeneies de Sant Adrià del Besòs
Once part of a controversial 1970s thermal power plant, Les Tres Xemeneies de Sant Adrià de Besòs has become one of the most iconic post-industrial landmarks of the Barcelona metropolitan area. Long a symbol of environmental debates and urban transformation, the site now resonates strongly with the theme of the 2026 UIA World Congress of Architects: Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition. Reopened to the public in 2024, the vast turbine hall preserves its raw monumentality while opening new possibilities for cultural and civic use.
In 2026, it will host the Congress exhibition, alongside activities, lectures, and celebrations. As a warm-up, the International Emerging Workshop will bring participants into this striking setting, connecting its layered history with the debates of the Congress ahead.
Who can participate?
The workshop is open to students in architecture and related disciplines such as urban design, landscape, engineering, and environmental design and to graduates who completed their studies in 2020 or later.
Workshop Fee
Participants will be required to pay a fee of €180. This includes:
– Entrance for the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026.
– Participation in the International Emerging Workshop.
– Shared workshop materials (paper, prints, and model-making supplies).
– An official diploma certifying participation.
Participants must bring their own laptops, tools, and personal equipment. All bank transfer charges are the responsibility of the participant.
No application fee is required.
Fellowships
The organization will award scholarships to 10 workshop participants, with 2 recipients from each UIA Region. The scholarship covers the workshop participation fee, accommodation from June 18 to July 2, 2026, entrance to the Congress, and assistance with travel expenses, allocating a specific travel budget based on the relative distance of each UIA Region to Barcelona.
To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled in an architecture programme and submit proof of enrolment, a letter from a university professor attesting to the candidate’s suitability based on socio-economic conditions, and, optionally, documentation showing that they received a state or institutional grant during the previous academic year.
The selection committee will make a preselection of up to 50 fellowship candidates (10 candidates per region), consulting the Vice Presidents of each UIA region for the selection of the 2 recipients per region, based on the submitted documentation.
Accommodation
The organiser is collaborating with students’ residences and residential colleges to be able to offer all workshop participants a selection of affordable options for booking their accommodation. This selection will only be available for the selected participants in the workshop.
Each student, upon acceptance into the workshop, will receive a confirmation email that must be presented to the residence in order to gain access to room booking.
Residences collaborating with the Congress are:
RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE PEÑAFORT
Av. Diagonal 639-641, Barcelona
30€/night.
Single room, twin bed, shared bathroom, no AC.(10 available)
APARTO PALLARS
Carrer Pallars 433-454, 08019 Barcelona
55€/night.
Ensuite Single room, large bed, private bathroom, shared living/dining, AC.
67€/night.
Studio Single room, large bed, private bathroom, private kitchen, AC.
(50 available)
BEYOO – YUGO
Building 1 (Marina): Carrer Sancho de Ávila, 22, 08018 Barcelona
Building 2 (Poble Sec): Avinguda del Paraŀlel, 101, 08004, Barcelona
Building 3 (Sants): Carrer de Viriat 37-39 08014 Barcelona
50€/night.
Ensuite (building Poble Sec). Single room, large bed, private bathroom, shared living/dining, AC.
55€/night.
Ensuite (buildings Marina and Sants). Single room, large bed, private bathroom, shared living/dining, AC.
Breakfast included.
Provision is contingent upon demand
BLAU STUDENT HOUSING
C/ del Perú, 110, 08018 Barcelona
50€/night.
Twin Shared studios (1 available): Shared room with 2 twin beds, shared bathroom, kitchen, AC.
68,77€/night.
Double Shared room (8 available), 2 double beds. Shared room with 2 double beds, shared bathroom, kitchen, AC.
75€/night.
Single Studios (50 available). Single bed (105cm), bathroom, kitchenette, AC.
NODIS HOMES
Building 1: Travessera de Collblanc,71, 08904 Barcelona
Building 2: Rafael de Campalans, 15, 08005 Barcelona
75€/night.
Single room in building 1 (10 available), shared kitchenette between 2 rooms, AC.
75€/night.
Single room in building 2 (10 available), shared kitchenette between 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms for 3 rooms, AC.
LIV STUDENT
Calle Puigcerdà 90, 08019 Barcelona
Apartment. Single room, large bed (135 cm), bathroom, kitchenette, AC.
Calendar
31/10/2025 Workshop announcement and call for participation
10/01/2026 Deadline for submission of portfolios
31/01/2026 Announcement of selected participants
18/06/2026 Exhibition soft-openning and Workshop Welcome
19/06/2026 Workshop Starts
27/06/2026 Workshop final presentation and exhibition
Registration
For registering, each candidate must fill a form and submit the following documents online:
1. Portfolio: A digital portfolio (in one singular PDF with a maximum of 10 x A4 pages), showcasing an array of three selected and relevant academic and/or non-academic work realized by the candidate (Max. 10 MB)
2. CV: A digital CV (in one singular PDF with only 1 x vertical A4), with the most significative academic and/or professional experience of the candidate.
In case you have any questions please contact workshop@uia2026bcn.org
Q&A
What is the registration deadline for the workshop?
The registration period is open until January 10, 2026
Do I need to speak English?
Yes. English is the official language of the workshop. All applications, presentations, and collaborative work will be conducted in English.
Do I need to pay to apply to the workshop?
No, applying to the workshop is free. The fee is only required if you are accepted.
How do I choose which studio to participate in?
Applicants are asked to rank their top six preferred studios in the application form.
How is the selection process done?
Final selections are made by a committee of Congress curators and scientific advisors from the UIA and CSCAE.
What happens if my preferred groups are already full?
While your studio preferences will be carefully considered, final placement may depend on overall demand and the need to maintain balanced and diverse groups. First preferences will be prioritized whenever possible, and participants can generally expect to be assigned to one of their chosen options.
Is accommodation included in the workshop fee?
No. Each participant will have to cover the cost of their accommodation.
How can I book the accommodation showcased on the website?
Once accepted, participants will need to book their accommodation directly with the residence or college, presenting their letter of acceptance to the workshop. The Organisation will provide the contact details.
Can I arrange my own accommodation instead?
Of course. While the Organisation will share affordable accommodation options, each participant is free to arrange their own accommodation.
Do I need a visa to attend?
Participants are responsible for verifying whether they require a visa to enter Spain and for managing their own visa application process. More info here.
How do I request an invitation letter for my visa?
Applicants requiring a visa should indicate this in the corresponding section of the application form. Upon acceptance, an official invitation letter will be issued by the organization.
What can I expect during the workshop week?
The week includes daily design sessions, cross-group discussions, lectures, and public conversations with workshop leaders.
Will workshop participants be part of the Congress?
The work developed during the workshop will be part of the central Congress exhibition, giving participants the opportunity to share their work with an international audience, and selected outcomes will be displayed during the UIA World Congress 2026. All participants will also have full access to the Congress.
Who can I contact for questions?
Email: workshop@uia2026bcn.org