Barcelona's Sagrada Família has entered a new phase of construction following the completion of the exterior of the Tower of Jesus Christ, shifting the focus of major works toward the long-awaited Glory Façade.

The milestone represents one of the biggest changes to the construction site in recent years. With the Basilica's tallest tower now complete externally, the huge central crane that helped build it is being lowered and prepared for its next role.

The crane will now primarily support work on the towers of the Glory Façade, the monumental façade that will eventually form the Sagrada Família's main entrance.

Exterior of the Tower of Jesus Christ Is Complete

The Sagrada Família confirmed that the exterior construction of the Tower of Jesus Christ has been completed.

Standing at 172.5 metres, the central tower is the highest point of the Basilica and the dominant feature of its completed central tower group.

The tower is crowned by a large four-armed cross measuring approximately 17 metres high and 13.5 metres wide.

Its completion has dramatically changed the Barcelona skyline and brought Antoni Gaudí's vision for the vertical profile of the Basilica much closer to reality.

The Tower of Jesus Christ was blessed by Pope Leo XIV on June 10, 2026, during events marking the centenary of Gaudí's death.

The ceremony represented one of the most significant moments in the Sagrada Família's modern history.

Sagrada Família's Huge Central Crane Is Being Lowered

One of the clearest signs that construction has moved into a different stage is the changing position of the central crane.

Installed in May 2024, the crane was essential for assembling the upper sections of the Tower of Jesus Christ.

At its maximum working configuration, the highest point of its jib reached approximately 203 metres above ground level.

With the exterior of the central tower finished, that height is no longer necessary.

The Sagrada Família has confirmed that the crane is being lowered to approximately 174 metres.

A brace that previously connected the crane to the Tower of Jesus Christ is also no longer required.

For visitors and Barcelona residents who have watched the enormous crane dominate the construction site, the change is a visible indication that one major chapter of the project has ended.

What Is Being Built Next at the Sagrada Família?

Attention is increasingly turning toward the Glory Façade.

This is one of the most important remaining parts of Gaudí's Basilica.

Located on the Carrer de Mallorca side of the church, the Glory Façade is intended to become the principal entrance to the completed Sagrada Família.

Construction will include towers reaching approximately 120 metres.

The central crane that previously worked on the Tower of Jesus Christ will now mainly support construction of these towers.

This means that although the Sagrada Família has reached its final overall height, the Basilica itself is not finished.

Is the Sagrada Família Finished in 2026?

No.

This is an important distinction following the worldwide attention surrounding the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ.

The Basilica has reached an extraordinary construction milestone, and the group of central towers has been completed externally.

But significant work remains.

The Glory Façade is now one of the most important unfinished areas of the project.

Other architectural, decorative and surrounding works will also continue.

Visitors travelling to Barcelona in 2026 should therefore still expect to see active construction around parts of the Basilica.

Why Is the Glory Façade Important?

The Sagrada Família has three monumental façades:

  • Nativity Façade

  • Passion Façade

  • Glory Façade

The Nativity Façade represents the birth of Christ, while the Passion Façade depicts his suffering and death.

The Glory Façade is dedicated to the path toward God and is designed to become the Basilica's grandest entrance.

Its scale makes it one of the most ambitious remaining elements of the Sagrada Família project.

Unlike the Nativity Façade, which Gaudí saw develop during his lifetime, much of the Glory Façade has had to be interpreted and constructed by later generations using surviving plans, models, photographs and documentation.

Its continued construction will therefore become one of the major Sagrada Família stories to follow after the completion of the central towers.

2026 Has Been a Historic Year for the Sagrada Família

The construction milestone comes during an exceptional year for the Basilica.

2026 marks 100 years since Antoni Gaudí's death.

Gaudí died in Barcelona on June 10, 1926, after being struck by a tram.

A century later, June 10, 2026 became one of the most symbolic dates in the Basilica's history.

Pope Leo XIV visited the Sagrada Família and presided over a solemn Mass commemorating the centenary of Gaudí's death.

During the visit, the Pope blessed the Tower of Jesus Christ.

The 172.5-metre tower now forms the highest point of the Basilica.

The event attracted thousands of people inside and outside the church and formed a central part of the commemorations taking place throughout Gaudí Year.

What Does This Mean for Visitors?

The Sagrada Família remains open to visitors while construction continues.

Visitors should not interpret the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ as the end of all building work.

Construction activity will remain part of the experience around the Basilica as work progresses on the Glory Façade and other unfinished elements.

However, the appearance of the church has changed significantly.

Visitors in 2026 can now see the completed central tower composition rising above Barcelona, including the Tower of the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelist towers and the Tower of Jesus Christ.

For travellers who have previously visited the Sagrada Família, the skyline is now noticeably different.

When Will the Sagrada Família Be Completely Finished?

There is still no simple date that can be treated as the definitive completion of every part of the Sagrada Família.

The completion of the central towers was one of the project's most important objectives, but work on the Glory Façade and other elements continues.

This means the question surrounding the Basilica has changed.

For years, attention focused heavily on when its tallest towers would finally be completed.

Now that the Tower of Jesus Christ has reached its full height and its exterior has been completed, attention is shifting toward the remaining façades and architectural work.

What Happens Next?

The next construction phase will be particularly important for the Carrer de Mallorca side of the Basilica.

As the central crane is lowered and redirected toward the Glory Façade towers, visitors will gradually see more of the project developing around what is intended to become the Sagrada Família's principal entrance.

The transformation won't happen overnight.

But the change in crane configuration provides a very visible signal of where the project is heading next.

After more than a century of construction, the Sagrada Família has reached its highest point.

Now the focus turns to completing the monumental architecture below it.

For Barcelona, that means one of the world's most closely watched construction projects is entering another historic chapter.