An autumn plan right next to the Continental Barcelona to broaden your perspective
Some images stay with us long after we have seen them. A glance, a gesture, a ray of light cutting through smoke. Every November, Barcelona has a date with images like these: World Press Photo returns to the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), inviting us to pause and look at the world calmly and attentively.
This year, the exhibition can be visited until 13 December, and it is one of the most special cultural highlights of autumn in Barcelona.
An annual meeting with the finest photojournalism
World Press Photo was founded in Amsterdam in 1955 and is today the world’s most prestigious photojournalism contest. For this edition, an international jury of 31 professionals reviewed more than 57,000 photographs submitted by 3,747 photographers from 141 countries.
The result is a selection of 144 images that travel the globe as a touring exhibition and can be seen in Barcelona over these weeks. The CCCB has hosted the exhibition for two decades now, and for many people in the city, visiting it has become an autumn tradition.
What you will find in this edition
The photographs speak of the climate crisis, conflicts, civic movements and health challenges. Above all, they speak of people: stories of resilience, of dignity and of communities that support one another in difficult circumstances.
This year, three Spanish photographers are also among the award winners:
- Brais Lorenzo, with Tierra quemada (Scorched Earth), a series on the wildfires in Galicia, awarded in the Stories category for the Europe region.
- Diego Ibarra Sánchez, with Una educación secuestrada (A Hijacked Education), awarded in the Long-Term Project category.
- Luis Tato, with his work on the youth protests in Madagascar.
We recommend that you take your time. Many of the photographs belong to series which, seen together, offer a deeper understanding of the stories they tell.
Practical information
- Dates: from 6 November to 13 December 2026
- Venue: CCCB, carrer de Montalegre, 5, 08001 Barcelona (El Raval)
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, 11 am to 8 pm. Closed on Mondays.
- Tickets: prices and online sales at www.cccb.org
- Free admission: Sundays from 3 pm to 8 pm, with prior booking on the CCCB website. Also free for children under 12.
- Recommended visit time: between one hour and one and a half hours
- Getting there: metro Catalunya (L1, L3) or Universitat (L1, L2). On foot, about ten minutes from La Rambla.
- Telephone: +34 933 064 100
- More information about the exhibition: World Press Photo Barcelona 2026
The CCCB: a former shelter turned into a house of ideas
The building itself is worth a visit. The CCCB occupies the former Casa de la Caritat, a charitable institution that for centuries took in people without resources in the Raval neighbourhood. In 1994 it was transformed into a cultural centre through an architectural intervention that has become a symbol of the city: the great glass wall of the Pati de les Dones, which reflects the rooftops of Barcelona and the Raval sky.
We like to think there is something beautiful in this continuity: a place that once cared for people now helps us understand them.
El Raval, a stroll away from our hotels
As you leave the CCCB, the Raval welcomes you with its vibrant character, full of contrasts. Within a few minutes’ walk you will reach Hotel Continental Barcelona, on La Rambla, and close by is Hotel Continental Palacete, on Rambla de Catalunya. Along the way, Plaça dels Àngels, with the white building of the MACBA, and the Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu, with its Gothic courtyards, are the perfect complement to an afternoon of photography. We recommend exploring it at a leisurely pace: the Raval is best discovered on foot.
We look forward to welcoming you
If you are thinking of a getaway to Barcelona in the coming weeks, World Press Photo is an excellent reason to come. We will take care of making you feel at home.
Book your stay at www.hotelcontinental.com
