On October 3, 2026, the Plaza de la Provincia in Vitoria-Gasteiz will transform into a vibrant space for exploring the city and its buildings in a unique way, as part of the celebrations for Architecture Day 2026. This event, organized by the Foral Deputation of Álava, aims to engage the public with architecture through playful, educational, and participatory activities.
Starting at 10:15 AM and continuing throughout the morning, the plaza will host guided tours, workshops, games, storytelling sessions, and theatrical tours designed to reveal the stories behind the buildings that surround us and how architecture influences our daily lives in towns and cities.
Foral Deputy Laura Pérez Borinaga will participate in the event and emphasized the initiative's goal of making architecture accessible to the public in a simple way: “We want to help people understand that architecture is part of our daily lives, our neighborhoods, and the spaces where we live, work, and interact.” She added, “We hope that for a few hours, people can look at buildings and spaces they pass by every day from a new perspective, better understand our heritage, and, most importantly, allow children to engage with architecture through play, imagination, and construction.”
The response from the public has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 300 people registering for the various scheduled activities. Due to high demand, the organization has doubled the number of guided tours of the Deputation Palace and theatrical tours, increasing the originally planned capacity.
Activities for All Ages
The day will commence at 10:15 AM with a welcome for participants. The first guided tour of the Foral Deputation Palace will take place at 10:30 AM, followed by a second tour at 12:00 PM, each accommodating approximately 60 to 70 people. At 11:00 AM, the City Workshop will invite participants to explore, imagine, and discover the urban environment in a participatory manner. At 12:30 PM, a children's storytelling session with Martika will introduce young audiences to architecture through stories and imagination.
Additionally, throughout the morning, the Plaza de la Provincia will feature the Cube Game, an open space for information and games where children can experiment with shapes, constructions, and architectural concepts. At 1:00 PM, Deputy Laura Pérez Borinaga will speak, followed by the start of the theatrical circuit tours. Due to high demand, two sessions will be organized at 1:15 PM and 2:00 PM, each accommodating around 60 participants.
All activities for Architecture Day are free of charge. Open proposals that do not require prior reservation will allow anyone to join the festivities at Plaza de la Provincia. Through this initiative, the Foral Deputation of Álava aims to promote the value of architecture not only as a heritage or construction element but also as a discipline closely linked to quality of life, public space configuration, and the way we inhabit our towns and cities.
