Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026 Scholarships
Architecture as Culture, Action, and Transformation:
Ten (10) Scholarships to Study a Master’s Programme at IAAC during the World Capital of Architecture Year.
In 2026, Barcelona will become the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture—a recognition of its built heritage and its capacity to imagine new urban futures.
The city will host a year-long programme of exhibitions, debates and public initiatives, inviting citizens and professionals to rethink how we live, build, and transform our environments.
At IAAC, we see this moment as a collective rehearsal of the futures we urgently need to design—futures that are equitable, ecological, and deeply connected to people and place.
To mark this occasion, we are launching the IAAC Barcelona 2026 Scholarships, a special call for students who want to pursue a master’s or postgraduate programme at IAAC and take an active role in this transformation.
Rethinking the City Starts Here:
IAAC’s Scholarships in the Capital of Architecture year aim to support individuals from around the world who see architecture, from bits to geographies, as an agent of change, and wish to be involved, with communities and spaces, through research and design in action.
Scholarship recipients will study at IAAC during this historic year, and will join a dedicated task force contributing to the Barcelona 2026 programme.
Through design prototypes, cultural initiatives, and public research actions, they will help shape the conversations and practices that define Barcelona’s role as a global reference in architecture and urban innovation.
Selected applicants will receive partial tuition fee waivers ranging between 30 – 50% on tuition fees. The ammount of the discount is based on the evaluation by the academic committee of their portfolio, motivation, and alignment with the spirit of the World Capital of Architecture.
We invite applications from architects, designers, urbanists, engineers, creatives, and change-makers from all disciplines and backgrounds. This call is for individuals motivated to contribute to Barcelona a city in transition: a stage, a school, and a construction site for new ideas.
- Open to applicants for eligible on-campus programmes (excludes Fab Academy and Fabricademy).
- Applicants must meet the minimum admission criteria established by IAAC
- Applicants must have submitted an IAAC programme application to be considered the scholarship.
- Applicants already enrolled in an IAAC programme are not eligible to apply.
Programmes Eligible for the Scholarships
- Master in Advanced Architecture – MAA
- Master in Advanced Urban Planning & Data Analytics – MUPD
- Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities – MAEBB
- Master in Robotics & Advanced Construction – MRAC
- Master in AI for Architecture & the Built Environment – MaAI
- Master in Design for Emergent Futures – MDEF
- Postgraduate in 3D Printing Architecture – 3DPA
- Call opens: 15th of April, 2025
- Application Deadline: 15th of May, 2025 at 23:59 (CEST)
- Scholarship results announced via email: 20th of May, 2025
Interested applicants must follow these steps:
1) First Step:
Complete an application to an eligible programme via the
IAAC Application Portal. The application must include the documentation outlined below and an application fee of 50€.
IAAC Application Documentation Required:
- Letter of intent in English
- Portfolio of work
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Two letters of recommendation in English
- Copy of bachelor’s diploma
- Valid passport or EU ID
2) Second Step:
- Submit and additional document answering the prompt below.
- Scholarship Project Prompt: As Barcelona prepares to take center stage as the World Capital of Architecture in 2026, how would you contribute to this global moment? – Share your vision for the future of architecture and urban environments. How do your ideas and values align with Barcelona’s spirit of innovation, sustainability, and culture? What tools, experiences, or approaches would you bring to help shape this vision?
- Format: One-page written statement. PDF format, A4 orientation
- Submit your scholarship application document using the form below.