Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of 16 September 2026, from the General Directorate of Urban Agenda and Architecture, publishing the Agreement with the Arquia Foundation for the development of TAC! Urban Architecture Festival |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | 28 September 2026 |
| Entry into force | 16 September 2026 |
| Grant amount | €400,000 |
| Beneficiary | Arquia Foundation |
| Calling body | Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda — General Directorate of Urban Agenda and Architecture |
| Legal basis of the grant | Article 22.2.c) of the General Grants Law (direct award for reasons of public interest and singular character) |
| Category | Grants and Subsidies |
| BOE Reference | BOE-A-2026-20140 |
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda allocates €400,000 to the TAC! Urban Architecture Festival through a formal agreement with the Arquia Foundation. The grant is awarded by exceptional means, under article 22.2.c) of the General Grants Law, which allows direct award when there are reasons of public interest and singular character, without the need for competitive public tender.
The Resolution from the General Directorate of Urban Agenda and Architecture, published in the BOE on 28 September 2026 with reference BOE-A-2026-20140, formalizes this agreement and establishes the obligations of both parties: the Arquia Foundation assumes economic management, coordination and production of the festival; the Ministry provides financing and institutional dissemination.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement articulates the co-organization of the TAC! Urban Architecture Festival between the Ministry of Housing and the Arquia Foundation. The central elements of the agreement are as follows:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grant amount | €400,000 |
| Award modality | Direct, without public tender, under art. 22.2.c) General Grants Law |
| Exceptional justification | Reasons of public interest and singular character of the festival |
| Role of Arquia Foundation | Economic management, coordination and production of the festival |
| Role of the Ministry | Financing and institutional dissemination |
| Planned open calls | Selection of host cities and temporary pavilion designs |
| Selection criterion | Priority to young talent |
| Additional program | Participation in the arquia/becas program to promote young architects' access to public administration |
| Control obligations | Grant justification and reimbursement in case of non-compliance |
Direct award under article 22.2.c) of the General Grants Law is an exceptional mechanism that the legislator reserves for situations where the nature of the beneficiary or the singularity of the project makes competitive participation unfeasible or inappropriate. In this case, the Ministry justifies its use by the unique character of the festival and its alignment with urban agenda policy.
Economic and operational impact
The €400,000 are channeled entirely through the Arquia Foundation, which assumes responsibility for economic management and production. This means that the Foundation must justify the use of funds to the Ministry and, in case of non-compliance with the agreement conditions, proceed to reimburse the amounts received.
From an operational perspective, the festival will generate two open calls with direct impact on the sector:
- Call for host cities: interested municipalities may submit their candidacy to host the festival.
- Call for temporary pavilion design: open to architects, with explicit priority to young talent.
Additionally, the agreement contemplates participation in the arquia/becas program, aimed at facilitating young architects' access to public administration, which extends the impact beyond the festival itself.
Who does it affect?
- Young architects and architecture students: main beneficiary group, both in the pavilion calls and in the arquia/becas program.
- Arquia Foundation: direct beneficiary of the €400,000 grant and responsible for management, coordination and production of the festival.
- Municipalities and local councils: can participate as host cities of the festival through the planned open call.
- Architecture firms and sector professionals: opportunity for visibility and participation in a festival with institutional backing from the Ministry of Housing.
- Public administration: indirectly, through the arquia/becas program that seeks to incorporate young architects into the public sector.
Practical example
A medium-sized municipality interested in revitalizing its urban space can submit a candidacy to the open call to be a host city for the TAC! Festival. If selected, it hosts a temporary architecture pavilion designed by young architects also selected through public call, with all production and coordination backed by the Arquia Foundation and the €400,000 in ministerial financing.
For their part, a newly qualified architect can compete in the temporary pavilion design call, with the advantage that the selection criterion explicitly prioritizes young talent. Additionally, through the arquia/becas program, they can explore pathways to public administration linked to this agreement.
What should interested parties do now?
- Young architects and students: follow the official channels of the Arquia Foundation to learn about the dates and requirements of the temporary pavilion design call, which will prioritize young talent.
- Municipalities and local councils: assess candidacy as a host city for the festival and prepare the necessary documentation when the city selection call opens.
- Architecture firms: stay alert to the open calls of the TAC! Festival to identify opportunities for participation and institutional visibility.
- Arquia Foundation: ensure the mechanisms for economic justification of the €400,000 received to avoid reimbursement due to non-compliance with the agreement conditions.
- All interested parties: consult the complete resolution in the BOE (reference BOE-A-2026-20140) to learn the exact conditions of the agreement and applicable deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does the Ministry of Housing allocate to the TAC! Urban Architecture Festival?
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda allocates €400,000 as a direct grant, channeled through the Arquia Foundation, which is the beneficiary of the agreement and responsible for economic management and production of the festival.
Why is this grant awarded without a public call?
The grant is awarded by exceptional means under article 22.2.c) of the General Grants Law, which allows direct award when there are reasons of public interest and singular character of the project, without the need for an open competitive call.
How can young architects participate in the TAC! Festival?
The agreement provides for open calls to select temporary pavilion designs, with explicit priority to young talent. Additionally, it contemplates participation in the arquia/becas program to facilitate young architects' access to public administration. Interested parties must follow the Arquia Foundation's channels to learn specific deadlines and requirements.
Can municipalities apply as host cities for the TAC! Festival?
Yes. The agreement establishes that open calls will be held to select the host cities for the festival. Interested municipalities must watch for the opening of such call and meet the requirements established in it.
What happens if the Arquia Foundation does not properly justify the use of the €400,000?
The agreement expressly establishes the obligation to justify the grant and provides for reimbursement of the amounts received in case of non-compliance with the agreed conditions. This is a standard requirement of the General Grants Law applicable to all public grants.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20140
