The Universal Forum of Cultures was organised for the first time in Barcelona in 2004. The event focused on three main themes: sustainable development, cultural diversity and the conditions for peace.
This first edition was organised by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Spanish Government, Barcelona City Council and UNESCO. Its origin was intended to be an itinerant project that was replicated after three years in the city of Monterrey (Mexico). The reality is that after this edition the project ceased to exist.
The Barcelona event attracted more than three million visitors and more than six million people took part in the Forum’s activities from 9 May to 26 September 2004.