Applications are now open for the CREAConnect Barcelona Hackathon
Barcelona, Spain | 2–4 December 2026
Theme: Bringing back nature to Third Places
Applications are now open for the next edition of the CREAConnect Hackathon, taking place in Barcelona from 2 to 4 December 2026.
Following previous editions in Florence, Marseille and Brussels, CREAConnect now heads to Barcelona to explore the role that nature can play in shaping healthier, more resilient and more connected Third Places.
Hosted by PAU, the Barcelona edition will bring together students, young professionals and practitioners from across Europe to work in interdisciplinary teams on real challenges proposed by local Third Places.
Bringing nature back into shared spaces
Third Places — spaces outside the home and workplace where people meet, exchange and build community — can play an important role in our physical and social wellbeing.
In increasingly dense urban environments, however, access to nature is often limited, fragmented or treated as an addition rather than an integral part of how shared spaces are designed and experienced.
The Barcelona Hackathon asks participants to explore a central question:
How can nature be meaningfully integrated into Third Places to support physical health, social connection, wellbeing and longevity?
Participants will investigate how natural elements, biodiversity, outdoor spaces and nature-based approaches can contribute not only to more pleasant environments, but also to stronger communities and healthier everyday experiences.
A collaborative process built around real challenges
CREAConnect is more than a three-day competition.
Ahead of the on-site hackathon, selected participants will take part in an online preparation and capacity-building phase, where they will meet the wider cohort, explore the theme, become familiar with the challenges and receive guidance from mentors and experts.
The process will culminate in Barcelona, where interdisciplinary teams will work intensively with Challenge Owners, mentors and local stakeholders to understand real contexts, develop ideas and turn them into grounded and feasible proposals.
The aim is not simply to generate concepts, but to explore solutions that Third Places can realistically learn from, adapt and potentially implement.
Who can apply?
The Barcelona Hackathon is designed for people interested in the future of shared spaces, communities and cities.
We welcome applications from students, young professionals and practitioners from across Europe, particularly those working or studying in areas such as architecture, urbanism, design, social innovation, environmental sciences, health, community development, entrepreneurship and other related disciplines.
Interdisciplinary perspectives are central to the CREAConnect approach, and applicants do not need to be experts in Third Places or nature-based solutions to participate.
What matters most is curiosity, openness to collaboration and a willingness to work on real challenges with people from different backgrounds.
Join us in Barcelona
If you are interested in exploring how Third Places can reconnect people with nature — and how this connection can contribute to healthier individuals, stronger communities and more liveable cities — we invite you to apply.
Applications for the CREAConnect Barcelona Hackathon are now open.
