World Architecture Festival 2026 takes place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from 18–20 November 2026, with “Water” as this year’s theme.
World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2026 will return to the United States for its second year, taking place from 18–20 November 2026 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This international architecture festival brings together the global architectural community through a series of seminars, exhibitions, networking events, and a live-judged architecture awards programme.
With “Water” as its theme, WAF 2026 will explore the role of water in shaping and managing the built environment. Sessions will examine the relationship between water and energy, food, health, climate change, and challenges such as flooding and drought. The theme is particularly relevant to Fort Lauderdale, known as the “Venice of America” for its network of canals and 165 miles of inland waterways.
A total of 416 projects across various categories have been shortlisted for WAF 2026, spanning buildings, interiors, landscapes, and visionary future projects. Several designs from Indonesia have also made this year’s shortlist, highlighting the presence of Indonesian architects and designers on the international architecture stage. The finalists will present their projects live before an international jury across hundreds of judging sessions, with the winners to be announced during the Gala Dinner on the final day of the festival.
