Portuguese Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura Receives 2026 UIA Gold Medal

Renowned Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura has been honored with the 2026 UIA Gold Medal, the International Union of Architects' highest distinction. The prestigious award celebrates a career defined by "intelligence, restraint, and a profound responsibility toward society," according to the UIA.

The ceremony was held at the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, as part of the UIA World Architects Congress 2026. In his acceptance speech, Souto de Moura expressed gratitude for the award in the "magnificent temple" and acknowledged the crucial roles played by critics, photographers, builders, engineers, collaborators, clients, and his family in his work.

He also paid tribute to his mentors, noting that their wisdom lay not in dictating actions but in guiding what to avoid and why. "The rest I did on my own," he stated, thanking his wife and daughters for their unwavering support throughout his professional life.

The UIA highlighted Souto de Moura's ability to elevate the human experience through rigor, precision, clarity, and a commitment to necessity and proportion, rather than spectacle. The jury lauded his deep understanding of construction, his sensitivity to place, and his dedication to architecture as a serious cultural act. His work, they noted, creates spaces of beauty, clarity, and dignity, extending his contribution beyond built structures.

Souto de Moura concluded his remarks with a reflection on reality and creation, asserting that "reality always surpasses history, fable, divinity, and surreality." He emphasized the need for art and tools to interpret reality and bring it into existence. The UIA also presented its triennial awards, recognizing significant contributions in urbanism, criticism, sustainability, and the social dimension of architecture.