The capital status, granted by the International Union of Architects (UIA) and Unesco, will officially be inaugurated on February 12, 2026, at the Gustavo Gili building, which will become a permanent architectural reference center. The program will run until December 12, 2026, offering 1,500 activities in five formats: exhibitions, routes, debates, workshops, and contemporary culture.

One priority is decentralization, with ten inaugurations across the city's ten districts. Highlights include an event at the archaeological remains of the Born and a mapping projection on the façade of the Nou Barris headquarters. Furthermore, over 600 workshops will be organized for children and young people to encourage reflection on the city's urban future.

The program also features several prominent exhibitions, such as one dedicated to the architect and landscapist Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí at the MUEC, and the show Seny i rauxa. 150 years of Catalan architecture at the Disseny Hub. There will also be exhibitions on Josep Maria Jujol and an exploration of the relationship between Picasso and architecture. As a physical legacy, ten party walls will be rehabilitated.

The capital status will integrate architecture into major city events such as Llum BCN, the Goya awards, the Sant Jordi festival, the Grec festival, and the start of the Tour de France in Barcelona. The program will also pay tribute to key figures like Ignasi de Solà Morales, Ildefons Cerdà, and commemorate the Gaudí Year and the Bohigas Year.