South-West Open Day 2026: Innovation, Creativity and the Future of Horizon Europe

On 18 June, as part of Barcelona’s Sónar Week, EIT Culture & Creativity and IAAC (the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia) joined forces to host the South-West Open Day 2026.

Held at the BCN XRLab | Palo Alto, the event was a resounding success in terms of turnout, bringing together 118 participants: creatives, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers from Spain, Portugal and the south of France. Attendees included Manuel Szapiro, Head of the European Commission Representation in Barcelona; Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation of the Spanish Government (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities); and representatives of Barcelona City Council through Barcelona Activa.

The day was not only an opportunity to showcase cutting-edge projects and foster networking through one-to-one sessions; it also became a strategic space for shaping the roadmap of Europe’s cultural and creative industries (CCIs).

Framed within Barcelona’s status as UNESCO World Capital of Architecture, the programme was built around three core pillars: sustainable architecture, European cultural sovereignty, and the challenges posed by AI in the audiovisual and music sectors.

One of the event’s key moments was the session dedicated to European funding opportunities, “Upcoming Horizon Europe Opportunities for Partners & Ecosystem”.

Thanks to the drive of REDES and the strategic coordination of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, through IAAC’s Horizon Europe implementation strategy project (GPE2024-001526), the session welcomed Adeline Marcos, National Contact Point (NCP) for Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, at FECYT.

Adeline Marcos gave a detailed presentation of the upcoming calls for 2026 and 2027, highlighting themes crucial to the sector, including:

• Cultural Heritage and CCIs: calls focused on the social impact of heritage, the design of cultural experiences, and sustainable urban regeneration.
• Democracy and Governance: projects aimed at strengthening democratic values, media literacy and resilience against disinformation.
• Socio-economic Transformations: research into the circular creative economy and the integration of the arts to address complex challenges.

The session gave attendees a clear grasp not only of the technical aspects of the calls, but also of how to align their ideas with the European Union’s policy priorities, with direct guidance from Spain’s NCPs acting as strategic facilitators for the success of future proposals.

Adeline Marcos’s contribution on behalf of Horizon Europe proved essential in unpacking Cluster 2’s new 2026-2027 work programme, serving as an indispensable strategic guide for attendees looking to align their projects with the upcoming calls, closing in September, with milestones set for December 2026.

The collaboration between IAAC and EIT has once again proven to be an essential engine for connecting local talent with major European funding networks, ensuring that creative innovation from south-western Europe continues to lead the way towards a more sustainable and inclusive society.