Conference
The UIA Gold Medal at the Sagrada Famíliawith UIA World Congress of Architects
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família hosted the presentation of the UIA Gold Medal to Eduardo Souto de Moura, on one of the nights of the World Congress of Architects, with Speech so each guest could follow the ceremony in their own language.
The ceremony
On the night of 30 June 2026, the International Union of Architects (UIA) presented its Gold Medal and Triennial Prizes at the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. It was an official, invitation-only event and one of the key moments of the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona, held from 28 June to 2 July under the theme “Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition”.
The Gold Medal is the UIA’s highest distinction. Created in 1984, it is awarded every three years based on nominations from professional organisations in different countries: it is how architects honour one of their own. In 2026 it went to Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, winner of the Pritzker Prize in 2011, whose work the UIA singled out for its intelligence, restraint and deep sense of responsibility towards society. Before him, another Portuguese architect, Álvaro Siza, had also received it.
The Triennial Prizes recognise contributions to innovation, urban planning, technology, criticism, sustainability and social architecture. That night they went to Paola Viganò, Fetdeterra, Jacques Gubler, Song Yehao, caravatti_caravatti architetti and Cierto Estudio.
The officials in attendance included the President of Portugal, António José Seguro; Spain’s Minister for Culture, Ernest Urtasun; the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa; and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. Representing the congress were the President of the UIA, Regina Gonthier; the President of the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE) and of the congress, Marta Vall-llossera; and the Dean of the Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC), Sandra Bestraten.
What we set up
For the ceremony we set up Speech. Each guest could follow it in their own language from their phone: a QR code opened it in the browser, with nothing to install, and they then chose between listening to the AI interpretation and following the text live.
