As 2025 comes to a close, global attention is turning to the architectural projects set to define the next phase of the built environment. In this video, we highlight ten of the most anticipated architectural completions scheduled for 2026, designed by some of the world’s most influential architects.
In Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia is expected to reach completion in 2026, a century after the death of Antoni Gaudí. When finished, its 170-metre central tower will make it the tallest church in the world, marking a historic moment in architectural history.
Shanghai welcomes Snøhetta’s Grand Opera House, a civic landmark defined by a spiralling roof that invites public movement and blurs the line between building and landscape.
In Milan, Arena Milano by David Chipperfield Architects prepares the city for the Winter Olympic Games, reinterpreting the classical amphitheatre through sustainable design and flexible public space.
Zaha Hadid Architects’ Danjiang Bridge in Taiwan nears completion as the world’s longest single-pylon asymmetric cable-stayed bridge, reshaping connectivity across the Tamsui River with sculptural engineering.
On Saadiyat Island, the long-awaited Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, designed by late Frank Gehry, approaches opening, introducing a new model for contemporary art museums adapted to desert conditions.
Milan’s CityLife district adds CityWave by BIG, defined by a sweeping photovoltaic canopy that combines public space with energy generation.
In Bhutan, Gelephu International Airport, also by BIG, forms a gateway to the Gelephu Mindfulness City, blending modular timber construction with traditional craftsmanship.
Toronto’s skyline evolves with King Toronto Residences, another BIG-designed project inspired by Habitat 67, merging preserved heritage façades with contemporary stacked volumes.
In China, the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art unfolds along Lake Jinji as a series of interconnected pavilions that dissolve boundaries between landscape, water and exhibition space.
Finally, in Los Angeles, The David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, designed by Peter Zumthor, approach completion, redefining how permanent collections are experienced through continuous, light-filled spaces.
Together, these projects offer a glimpse into the architectural ideas shaping cities, culture and public life in the years ahead.
