RIAI President Fionnuala May leads the Irish delegation at UIA Congress
The 2026 UIA World Congress of Architects is hosted by the Higher Council of the Orders of Architects of Spain (CSCAE) in Barcelona from 28 June until 2 July. The RIAI is a member organisation of the International Union of Architects (UIA), who are convening the congress. It is a unique international event for architectural dialogue, bringing together renowned architects, researchers, and leading figures from various disciplines. The theme of the 2026 Congress is Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition. For the full Programme, see here.
A delegation led by RIAI President Fionnuala May will represent the RIAI. Our programme includes an RIAI exhibition stand and film programme, Ireland - an architecture of place, in the UIA member section exhibition, which takes place in the Disseny Hub, Barcelona’s Design Museum, and is open to conference delegates and the public.
We have published an RIAI resource webpage for congress attendees, including policy and guidance and information on how to register as an Architect in Ireland. View resource webpage here.
Members of the RIAI delegation are also contributing to the UIA work programmes Architecture for All (Universal Design), Sustainability and Education through talks and workshops, as well as the presentation and exhibition of the Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards.
On 1 July, the RIAI are hosting a reception at the RIAI exhibition stand at Disseny Hub, with RIAI President Fionnuala May and the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Barcelona, Pura Strong. If you are interested in attending, please contact Dr Sandra O’Connell.
Irish Participation – Event Locations
Exhibitions
RIAI Exhibition, Ireland – an architecture of place, DHUB, Stand 7
- Exhibition hours: 10.00 – 19.00 (Monday 29, Tuesday 30, Wednesday 1 July) and 10.00-14.00 (Thursday 2 July)
Meet the RIAI President Fionnuala May FRIAI
- Wednesday: 15.30-16.30 - RIAI Exhibition, DHUB, Stand No 7 - Ireland: an architecture of place
Reception with RIAI President, Fionnuala May, and Honorary Consul of Ireland in Barcelona, Pura Strong. If you are interested in attending, please contact Dr Sandra O’Connell.
Architecture for All, Exhibition Stand, CCIB
Inclusive by Design, Exhibition, Centre Cívic Baró de Viver, Carrer de Quito 8–10, Sant Andreu, Barcelona
UIA Congress Central Exhibition, Three Chimneys, Les Tres Xemeneies, 08930 Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona LINK
Schedule
Sunday, 28 June
- 19.30 | Three Chimneys | Opening Ceremony LINK
UIA World Congress Central Exhibition (Open to Conference Delegate)
Monday, 29 June
- 12.00-13.00 | CCIB | Shaping Built-Environment Future Mindsets | Led by Architectural Education Commission with Dr Selma Harrington
- 14.00-15.00 | CCIB, Stage 12, Room 127/128, (163 Seats) | Jan Gehl HonFRIAI, Cities for People – Cities for All. Led by AfA WP and Accessible EU
- 15.00-16.00 | CCIB, Stage 12 Room 127/128 | From Disability to Universal Design and Inclusive Architecture: Achievements and Challenges in Contemporary Architecture and Urban Planning. Led by AfA WP and Accessible EU
- 14.00-15.30 | DHUB Auditorium, 4th floor | ACE Policy Seminar | UIA Congress Barcelona: Form Follows Transformation: Moments that redefine Europe’s Existing Buildings. Registration LINK.
- 16.00-20.30 | DHUB | The Future of Architecture and Architectural Criticism, CICA, International Committee of Architectural Critics
- 17.30-18.30 | Centre Cívic Baró de Viver | Opening of the Exhibition: “Inclusive by Design” Carrer de Quito, 8 - 10, Sant Andreu, 08030 Barcelona. Led by AfA WP and Ajuntamento de Barcelona.
Tuesday, 30 June
- 10.45 -12.15 | CCIB Room 124/125 | Screening of film “Outside-In” & Round Table Exploring biophilic design & sustainable architecture. Led by the Sustainability Commission
- 11.00 – 12.00 | CCIB, Stage 13 | Inclusive Design for Disaster Preparedness and Response: A Global Perspective. Led by AfA WP
- 12.00-13.00 | CCIB – Stage 13 (85 seats) | Building Back Better. Led by AfA WP and H&ND WP
- 14.00-15.00 | CCIB – Stage 13 (85 seats) | Teaching Inclusive Design: Insights from the Inclusive by Design Workshop. Led by AfA WP
- 15.00-16.00 | CCIB – Stage 13 (85 seats) | Future of Inclusive Education. Led by AfA WP
Wednesday, 1 July
- 11.00-13.00 | CCIB – Stage 12 Room 127-128 (163 seats)| Friendly & Inclusive Spaces Awards – Winners Presentations. Led by AfA WP
- 14.00-16.00 | CCIB |Room 123 | The Wisdom of Tradition: Culture as the fourth pillar of Sustainable Architecture. Book launch and round table with Rahul Mehrotra. Led by the Sustainability Commission
- 15.30-16.30 | RIAI Exhibition | DHUB, Stand No 7 | Ireland: an architecture of place. Reception with RIAI President, Fionnuala May, and Honorary Consul of Ireland in Barcelona, Pura Strong. If you are interested in attending, please contact Dr Sandra O’Connell.
Thursday, 2 July
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09.30-12.00 | CCIB | Official Closing Ceremony | UIA Awards, including UIA 2026 Award for Innovation in Architectural Education for TU Dublin, Friendly & Inclusive Spaces Awards.
*Details as of 25 June 2026. Please check the programme on the day for any possible changes to times and rooms.
