Bilbao, Spain
Open House BILBAO

28 September- 4 October 2026

Bilbao joined the Open House Worldwide family in 2017. Since then, thousands of citizens have taken part in the festival and had the opportunity to experience Bilbao from the inside.

Historically, Bilbao has been an important industrial city. Over the past 25 years, it has undergone a remarkable urban transformation that has brought significant improvements to the quality of life of its inhabitants. The way we move around the city, use public spaces, interact with one another and, ultimately, live has changed. The Bilbao River has been at the heart of this transformation, with former industrial areas giving way to new cultural, public and urban spaces. As a result, Bilbao has become an attractive and dynamic city for both its citizens and visitors.

Nevertheless, many of the buildings and spaces that have shaped this transformation remain unknown to many of the people who live in Bilbao. This is where Open House Bilbao comes in: a festival for everyone who is curious about their own city. It is an opportunity to discover Bilbao from a different perspective and to learn more about its architecture, urbanism and history.

Today, Open House Bilbao is a week-long festival that opens the city and the debate around it to everyone. During the weekend, citizens can visit a wide range of buildings and spaces that are not usually open to the public. Throughout the rest of the week, a programme of activities, talks, walks and other events invites people to explore, discuss and better understand the city they live in.

Open House Bilbao is a festival by and for the people of Bilbao. Its spirit is to bring architecture and urbanism closer to everyone, reaching neighbourhoods across the city and involving people of all ages and backgrounds — from students and families to seniors and professionals. Open House Bilbao also seeks to uncover the stories behind them: the details, memories and anecdotes that often go unnoticed. By discovering these stories, we can better understand Bilbao and the way its architecture and urban landscape have evolved over time.

From historic architecture to contemporary spaces, from the city centre to its neighbourhoods, Open House Bilbao offers something for everyone. Come and discover the city from the inside!