[26 March 2026] Entries are now open for the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards 2026, as the internationally acclaimed event returns to the USA for a second consecutive year. The festival will take place at the Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from 18–20 November 2026, bringing together the global architecture and design community for three days of live judging, talks, exhibitions and networking.
Left to right: 2025 Winners – The Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas by Fernando Menis; FRACTAL CHAPEL at State Hospital Graz by INNOCAD architecture
Widely regarded as the “Oscars of architecture”, the World Architecture Festival is the only global awards programme where architects present their projects live to an international panel of judges and an audience of peers.
The 2026 edition marks an exciting continuation of WAF’s presence in North America, following a highly successful debut in the region. Set in the waterfront city of Fort Lauderdale—often referred to as the “Venice of America”—this year’s festival will centre around the theme ‘Water’, reflecting both the location and the critical role water plays in shaping architecture and the built environment.
Paul Finch, Programme Director of WAF, said: “This year, in Fort Lauderdale, our theme is simply ‘Water’, given the nature of our new location – the Venice of North America. The theme will allow our speakers to explore the multiple ways in which water, and aspect of it (ice, steam) evoke architectural responses ranging from energy generation to environmental improvement. We look forward to another bumper year for entries, and the dynamism of live presentations in our 17 inflatable ‘crit’ rooms – showing how architects from across the world are addressing similar issues in their particular way. We look forward to seeing many of you in Fort Lauderdale.”
A global platform for architectural excellence
At the heart of the festival is the WAF Awards programme, which celebrates outstanding work across completed buildings, future projects, landscape and interiors. Finalists present their projects live at the festival, offering a unique opportunity for critique, discussion and global exposure.
Category winners will go on to compete for the festival’s top honours, including:
- World Building of the Year
- Future Project of the Year
- Landscape of the Year
- World Interior of the Year
Shortlisted projects are also eligible for a series of Special Prizes and the WAFX awards, recognising innovative responses to major global challenges. The festival will also continue its ‘40 Under 40’ initiative, which in 2026 will turn its focus to South America, recognising the next generation of leading architects from the region.
WAF Interiors, the festival’s dedicated interiors awards programme, runs alongside the main awards and offers a more accessible entry point, with lower entry fees and strong opportunities for recognition across a wide range of interior categories.
Key dates for WAF 2026 Awards
- Early bird entry deadline: 13 March 2026
- Standard entry deadline: 24 April 2026
- Late entry deadline: 15 May 2026
- Shortlist announced: 13 July 2026
- Festival dates: 18–20 November 2026
A truly global gathering
Since its inception, WAF has grown into the world’s largest live-judged architecture awards programme, attracting leading practices alongside emerging talent from across the globe. The festival offers:
- Live presentations across multiple crit rooms
- A curated talks programme aligned to the annual theme
- Exhibitions and installations from global brands
- Networking events, fringe activities and city tours
- A gala dinner announcing the overall winners
WAF continues to provide an unparalleled platform for architects and designers to gain international recognition, share ideas and connect with industry leaders.
How to enter
Architects and designers are invited to submit their projects via the official website: www.worldarchitecturefestival.com @worldarchfest #WAF26