Construweek 2026: from the Bernabéu to Qiddiya, BIM in international megaprojects

ZIGURAT Institute of Technology will hold Construweek 2026 on 23 September, the latest edition of its annual event on digital transformation in the AECO sector. This year, the event will explore how BIM is helping to turn some of the most complex megaprojects in international architecture and engineering into reality. Lasting approximately an hour and a half, the event will feature case studies including the transformation of the Santiago Bernabéu, the future Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in Qiddiya City and São Paulo Metro Line 6.

Participation is free, subject to prior registration. The event will feature presentations in Spanish, English and Portuguese, with simultaneous translation between all three languages.

Under the theme “From model to reality: BIM in international megaprojects”, Construweek 2026 will focus on a fundamental question in projects of this scale: what happens between the conception of an especially ambitious design and the point at which it can be built, coordinated and brought into operation?

When major infrastructure and urban developments involve thousands of decisions, multidisciplinary teams and vast amounts of information, BIM makes it possible to organise and connect information, coordinate disciplines and anticipate issues before they reach the construction site. This is why the methodology goes far beyond the creation of a digital model.

This evolution was already at the heart of Construweek 2025, dedicated to Better Information Management, where different specialists analysed how more rigorous data management can improve decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. 

From the Bernabéu to Qiddiya: a new generation of stadiums

Stadiums featuring movable structures will be the focus of one of the Construweek 2026 sessions.

The transformation of the Santiago Bernabéu has made elements such as its retractable pitch and movable roof some of the most recognisable features of the new stadium. Its system allows the grass pitch to be removed and stored in an underground chamber beneath the stadium, considerably expanding the range of uses for the venue.

The next step can currently be seen in Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia, where the future Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium is under development. The project envisages a 45,000-seat multi-purpose venue located on the Tuwaiq cliffs and equipped with features including a retractable roof, pitch and LED wall.

Oscar Liébana, currently Design & Construction Manager at Qiddiya Stadium (and previously at the Santiago Bernabéu) and Director of the Máster en BIM Management at ZIGURAT (the Spanish version of the Master’s in Global BIM Management), will examine the technological, structural and coordination challenges posed by this type of venue. His experience will provide an opportunity to compare the solutions implemented in an operational stadium such as the Bernabéu with those being explored in a megaproject still under development, while examining how engineering and digital management make increasingly complex designs feasible.

Qiddiya City: from digital design to delivery

Qiddiya's urban dimension will also take centre stage. Mohamed Dorra, BIM Manager at Qiddiya and a ZIGURAT alumnus and ambassador, will explore the process of taking a project from its initial design intent through to actual delivery.

Qiddiya City is one of the major urban, sports and entertainment developments currently being advanced in Saudi Arabia. The enormous scale of the project requires the coordination of numerous teams, companies, disciplines and information packages throughout the entire process.

Construweek's English-language session will examine how BIM can maintain consistency between design and construction, structure information and support decision-making as project complexity grows exponentially.

BIM underground: São Paulo Metro Line 6

Construweek 2026 will also turn its attention to major railway infrastructure.

Pedro Rey, BIM Manager at ACCIONA, will present the case of Line 6–Orange of the São Paulo Metro, one of the largest railway projects currently under construction in Latin America.

The future line will comprise fifteen stations over more than fifteen kilometres and is designed to carry more than 600,000 passengers per day. In an infrastructure project of this scale, digital coordination is critical to managing stations, tunnels, structures, building services and numerous teams simultaneously.

Construweek's Portuguese-language session will show how BIM is being applied to organise this complexity and coordinate information across the different disciplines involved.

Three projects and three languages in a single international event

Construweek 2026 will bring all three sessions together in one international event. The presentations will be delivered in Spanish, English and Portuguese respectively, with simultaneous translation between all three languages, enabling attendees to follow the full programme regardless of the original language of each session.

The event is aimed at architects, engineers, construction professionals, BIM Managers, project managers and other technical professionals interested in how some of the main challenges involved in international megaprojects are currently being addressed.

Participation is free and requires prior registration. Register for Construweek 2026.