Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia basilica is entering a historic phase. After more than 140 years under construction, the landmark is ready to crown its central Tower of Jesus, making it the tallest Christian church in Europe. The tower, which will reach 172.5 meters (564 feet), is expected to be completed by June 2026. This milestone will transform Barcelona’s skyline and bring architect Antoni Gaudí’s vision closer to completion.
Project Factsheet
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Project Name: Basílica de la Sagrada Família
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Lead Architect (historic): Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926)
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Current Height of Tower of Jesus: ~155 meters
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Final Height (with cross): 172.5 meters (564 feet)
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Current Tallest Church in Europe: Ulmer Münster, Germany (162 meters)
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Estimated Completion of Entire Basilica: Around 2035
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Construction Funding: Entrance fees (4.9 million visitors in 2024; €130 million revenue)
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Key 2026 Event: Possible Papal Mass on June 10, centenary of Gaudí’s death
The basilica’s General Director, Xavier Martínez, confirmed that the final sections of the Tower of Jesus will be installed over the coming months. Once topped by a glass-and-stone cross adorned with the Agnus Dei and golden rays, the tower will rise above all other European churches, surpassing Ulm’s Ulmer Münster in Germany.
The construction team is working in phases, with prefabricated components arriving from Germany and being assembled on-site at heights of over 150 meters. According to the basilica’s architect, Jordi Faulí, the cross is already completed and ready for installation.
Although the Tower of Jesus will be finished in 2026, the basilica itself will not be fully completed until around 2035. The last major hurdle remains the Glory Facade, Gaudí’s grand entrance design. Building it will require the controversial expropriation of thousands of apartments along Mallorca Street, where housing blocks were erected during the Franco era. City planners would need to approve changes to the urban master plan before any demolition and construction can proceed.
The Tower of Jesus rises through Gaudí’s legacy and tourism
The centenary of Gaudí’s death in 2026 will coincide with the tower’s completion. Officials have invited Pope Leo XIV to preside over a solemn mass on June 10, marking the day Gaudí was struck by a tram in 1926. His legacy lives on not only in the Sagrada Familia but also in other Catalan landmarks like Casa Batlló and Park Güell.
Tourism continues to fuel progress. In 2024, nearly five million people visited the site, with revenues reinvested directly into construction. The basilica remains Barcelona’s most visited attraction, shaping both the city’s economy and its cultural identity.
By 2026, the Sagrada Familia will stand at its maximum height, dominating the skyline but remaining just below Montjuïc mountain, a detail Gaudí insisted on as a gesture of humility toward nature and God. The basilica’s completion may still take another decade, but its most symbolic feature—the Tower of Jesus—will soon crown one of the world’s most remarkable architectural projects.
While Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia represents one of the world’s most ambitious religious construction projects, churches in other parts of the world are also reshaping their communities through building initiatives. In San Diego, Bethel One, the city’s first affordable housing project built on church-owned land, is nearing completion. Developed by Bethel AME Church under the Yes in God’s Backyard (YIGBY) movement, the project will provide housing for homeless veterans and seniors at remarkably low costs compared to government-funded developments.
