Awards

World Architecture Festival 2025 will make its debut in the USA, taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center from November 12–14. At the heart of the festival sits a unique awards programme. All finalists will present their project live at the event in front of a panel of expert judges and their peers.

Other WAF Competitions

The main WAF awards are now closed for submissions. However, we have a host of other competitions still open for entries! 

40 Under 40 North America

World Architecture Festival and The Architect’s Newspaper have partnered to launch 40 Under 40 North America, highlighting 40 outstanding young architects from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Submissions are open until July. Find out more and enter today.

Student Charrette

Supported by Broadway Malyan

WAF's global student design charrette is an integral part of the Festival. Student teams are invited to submit proposals. Free entries are now open until the end of June!

The GROHE Water Prize

Supported by GROHE

The Water Prize, supported by GROHE, awards visionary projects that are pushing the boundaries of design within the built environment and water. Entries are now open for 2025.

The Architecture Drawing Prize

Curated by WAF, Make Architects and Sir John Soane’s Museum, TADP celebrates the importance of drawing as a tool in capturing architectural ideas. 2024 was a fallow year for the prize and the prize will be returning very soon!

Architecture Book of the Year Award

Publishers are invited to submit entries to the Architecture Book of the Year Award programme. Entries for the 2025 edition will open soon.

Hear from the 2024 winners!

"There's awards shows and then there's WAF!" Hear from the 2024 winners

Why enter the WAF awards

  • WAF is the only awards programme where all finalists present their projects live to a panel of judges live at the festival in Miami. Discuss your project and use their feedback to strengthen your future work.
  • The WAF awards generate more than 350 pieces of international press coverage each year. CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC, The New York Times, Telegraph, Designboom and ArchDaily are just a few of the media outlets you could be seen in and show clients you are at the forefront of design.
  • Our finalists, judges and attendees span the globe. Develop an invaluable international network that you can seek advice from, partner with and win work from.
  • The judging panel consists of 140+ leading architects, designers, journalists and industry experts. WAF’s unique, rigorous judging process strengthens your credibility and sets you apart from the competition.
  • Have your project permanently listed on the World Buildings Directory. All entries will receive a listing complete with a full description and images.
  • All winners will receive a complimentary press kit distribution, courtesy of our partner v2com newswire. v2com—the international newswire specializing in design and architecture—will share your press kit with 7000+ print and digital publications in 100+ countries!

Entries for the 2025 awards are now closed.

The entry and judging process

Entries for the 2025 awards are now closed. 

December 2024: online entries open to architects and designers across the world.
21 March 2025: early bird entry rate ends.
May 2025 : Entries close. All boards, images and descriptions have to be uploaded to your entry form. 
June 2025: shortlist decided. Leading architects and industry professionals gather to look at the entry boards and decide the 2025 shortlist. You will be informed soon after if you are a finalist.
July 2025: shortlist announced. All finalists will be published on WAF’s website, international press and by WAF’s renowned media partners.
9 July 2025: finalist delegate rate ends. Don’t forget, all finalists must purchase two passes to attend the festival and present their project live!
12 - 13 November 2025: live judging at WAF in Miami.  All finalists present for 10 minutes to a panel of three category judges followed by 8 minutes of Q&A. Judging takes place in a ‘crit’ room open to the WAF audience. Category winners are announced at the end of each day.
14 November 2025: live judging for overall winners in Miami. Each category winner presents again for the Completed Building, Future Project, Landscape or WAF Interiors Super-Jury. The overall winners and special prize winners are announced at the Gala Dinner.

What to include in your entry:

Our simple online entry form will guide you through the process. You can save and return to your entry at any point (even after you have paid!) Here is an overview of what to include.

  • 2 x A2 entry boards (we print them for you, the judges use these to make their shortlisting decisions)
  • A project summary of 200 – 500 words to be included on the World buildings Directory
  • A hero image of your project
  • Up to 6 further images of the project including photographs and plans

WAF Completed Building, WAF Landscape and WAF Interiors categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Categories

WAF Completed Buildings 

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Civic and community Completed Buildings category include, but are not limited to:

Ambulance/fire stations
Cemeteries
Community centres
Consulates and embassies
Law courts
Parliamentary buildings
Prisons/police stations
Town halls
Cathedrals
Churches
Monasteries/retreats
Mosques
Synagogues
Temples

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Creative Re-use Completed Buildings category are buildings or complexes that have been adapted for an entirely new purpose, for example an old town hall converted into a hotel.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Completed Buildings Culture category include, but are not limited to:

Cinemas
Concert halls
Galleries
Libraries
Museums
Performance spaces
Theatres

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Completed Buildings Display category include, but are not limited to:

Aquariums
Exhibition centres
Showrooms
Visitor centres
Zoos and aviaries

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings Health category include, but are not limited to:

Doctors' and dentists' surgeries
Hospitals
Nursing homes

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings Higher Education and Research category include, but are not limited to:

Research Facilities
University/college buildings
University/college campuses/masterplans

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings Hotel and Leisure category include, but are not limited to:

Bars
Hotels
Restaurants
Spas
Theme parks

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings House and Villa (Urban) are single dwellings in an Urban setting.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings House and Villa (Rural & Coastal) category are single dwellings in a rural or coastal setting.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings Housing category include, but are not limited to:

Mixed complexes
Private housing

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings Mixed-use category include buildings that have multiple uses.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings  Office category include, but are not limited to:

Offices
Call centres

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Completed Buildings Production, Energy and Logistics category include, but are not limited to:

Factories
Power stations
Pumping stations
Recycling centres
Refuse/sewage treatment centres
Warehouse/distribution/agricultural
Wineries

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Completed Buildings Retrofit category are buildings or complexes that have been substantially upgraded/modified, but with the same use, for an example an office building which continues to function as offices.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Completed Buildings School category include, but are not limited to:

Nursery/infant schools
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special needs facilities

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Completed Building Shopping category include, but are not limited to:

Department stores
Food markets
Shopping centres
Shops

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Completed Buildings Sport category include, but are not limited to:

Fitness centres/gymnasiums
Golf courses/clubs
Ski facilities
Sports halls
Stadiums
Swimming pools

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects in completed building categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered into the Completed Buildings Transport category include, but are not limited to:

Airports
Bridges
Bus and coach stations
Car parks
Cycle facilities Railway stations/underground stations

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

WAF Future Projects 

Projects that can be entered in to the Civic Future Project category include, but are not limited to:

Ambulance/fire stations
Cemeteries
Community centres
Consulates and embassies
Law courts
Parliamentary buildings
Prisons/police stations
Town halls

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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The Future Projects Commercial mixed-use category is open to any submissions for buildings that have multiple uses.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.

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The Future Projects Competition category is open to any submissions for architectural competitions.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.

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Projects that can be entered in to the Culture Future Project category include, but are not limited to:

Cinemas
Concert halls
Galleries
Libraries
Museums
Performance spaces
Theatres

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

Projects that can be entered in to the Education Future Project category include, but are not limited to:

Nursery/infant schools
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special needs facilities
Research Facilities
University/college buildings
University/college campuses

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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Projects that can be entered in to the Experimental Future Projects are conceptual projects or proposals that challenge conventional thinking.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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Projects that can be entered in to the Health Future Project category include, but are not limited to:

Doctors' and dentists' surgeries
Hospitals
Nursing homes

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.

£ 950.00
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Projects that can be entered in to the House Future Project category include, but are not limited to:

Conversions
Private houses

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

Projects that can be entered in to the Infrastructure Future Project category include, but are not limited to:

Bridges
Airports
Stations
Transport

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

Projects that can be entered in to the Leisure-led Development Future Projects category include, but are not limited to:

Bars
Department stores
Food markets
Hotels
Restaurants
Shopping centres
Shops
Spas
Theme parks

Please note there is a separate category for sports future projects.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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Projects that can be entered into the Future Projects Masterplanning category are significant proposals which envisage medium- to long-term delivery, and which will have a combination of architectural, construction, economic, environmental and social outcomes.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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Projects that can be entered in to the Office Future Projects category include, but are not limited to:

Call centres
Offices

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

Projects that can be entered in to the Residential Future Projects category include, but are not limited to:

Mixed complexes
Private housing
Public housing

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

Projects that can be entered in to the Sport Future Projects category include, but are not limited to:

  • Fitness centres/gymnasiums
  • Golf courses/clubs
  • Ski facilities
  • Spas
  • Sports halls
  • Stadiums
  • Swimming pools

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

Projects that can be entered into the Future Projects Urban Design category are short- to medium-term proposals which generate (or re-generate) an urban area through a combination of architecture, street planning, infrastructure, environmental design and public space.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.

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WAF Landscape 

All projects in the Landscape categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

This category is for any Landscape project.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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WAF Interiors 

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Bars and Restaurant category include, but are not limited to:

Bars
Cafes and diners
Restaurants (of any size)

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Education category include, but are not limited to:

Community learning
Nursery/infant schools
Primary schools
Secondary schools
Special-needs facilities
University/college buildings

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Hotels category include, but are not limited to:

Aparthotels
Casino hotels
Hotels (of any size)
Motels

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Public Buildings category include, but are not limited to:

Airports
Ambulance/fire stations
Bus and coach stations
Car parks
Cinemas/Theatres
Community centres
Concert halls
Consulates and embassies
Embassies and consulates
Galleries
Law courts
Libraries
Municipal facilities/town halls
Museums
Performance spaces
Parliamentary buildings
Prisons/police stations
Railway stations/underground stations
Religious buildings
Spiritual/Contemplation spaces

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Residential (housing, more than one dwelling) category include, but are not limited to:

Hybrid housing-led development
Commercial housing development
Public/semi-public housing

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Residential (single dwelling) category include, but are not limited to:

House
Apartment

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Retail category include, but are not limited to:

Department stores
Food halls
Shopping centres (any size)
Shops (any size)

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Temporary/Meanwhile uses category include, but are not limited to:

Display spaces
Exhibitions
Installations
Pavilions
Pop-ups
Showrooms

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
This item is not available

All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Workplace (Large) category include offices more than 1,000 sq metres.

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Workplace (Small) category include, but are not limited to:

Offices (below 1,000 sq metres)
Shared space
Drop-in/bookable space

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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All projects must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025.

Projects that can be entered in to the Yachts and Ships category include, but are not limited to: 

Cruise ships
Yachts
House boats

A brand new category for 2025 in honour of our host location, Miami!

World Architecture Festival reserves the right to move your project to a more suitable category if deemed necessary.
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Increase your chances of winning at WAF

Special Prizes

Alongside the WAF award categories are a host of special prizes awarded to projects from the main shortlist. Entrants do not have to pay any additional fees to be considered for the prizes. Shortlisted projects will go on to compete in the live-judging at WAF.

WAFX

WAFX celebrates international proposals which embrace cutting-edge design addressing major world issues. The WAFX shortlisted projects will be chosen from the WAF Future Projects shortlist with no additional cost or material needed from the entrant. Winners will go on to present on the Festival Hall Stage at WAF.

WAF Interiors

WAF Interiors is the sister awards programme of WAF and celebrates the finest examples of global interior design. It takes place at the same time and location as WAF. Submit your interior projects across 11 categories.

FAQ's


  • Register your account online
  • Choose the category that you want to enter. You can enter more than one
  • Give us details of your project and upload images
  • Upload artwork for your anonymous entry boards. We print the boards for you.
  • You can still edit your entry (including images and boards) after you submit and pay. You just need to complete the entire entry for by the entry deadline on the 16 May
  • All finalists MUST ATTEND the festival in Miami from the 12 - 14 November 2025 to present their project

December 2024: online entries open to architects and designers across the world.

14 March 2025: early bird entry rate ends.

16 May 2025: Entries close. All details, boards and images must now be complete. (no extensions will be made after this date)

June 2025: shortlist decided. Leading architects and industry professionals gather to look at the entry boards and decide the 2025 shortlist. You will be informed soon after if you are a finalist.

July 2025: shortlist announced. All finalists will be published on WAF’s website, international press and by WAF’s renowned media partners.

9 July 2025: finalist delegate rate ends. Don’t forget, all finalists must purchase two passes to attend the festival and present their project live!

12 - 13 November 2025: live judging at WAF in Miami. All finalists present for 10 minutes to a panel of three category judges followed by 8 minutes of Q&A. Judging takes place in a ‘crit’ room open to the WAF audience. Category winners are announced at the end of each day.

14 November 2025: live judging for overall winners in Miami. Each category winner presents again for the Completed Building, Future Project, Landscape or Inside Super-Jury. The overall winners and special prize winners are announced at the Gala Dinner.

Architects, interior designers, developers, funders, contractors and other associated organisations (for example clients), may also enter on behalf of the architect, with their consent

  • WAF Completed Building, WAF Landscape and WAF Interiors categories must be completed between 1 January 2024 and 1 June 2025
  • Future Projects do not have to have a completion date and do not need to be built in order to qualify
  • There is no limit on the number of projects that can be submitted
  • Projects can be submitted in more than one category where relevant
  • All designs must be by professionals whose qualifications are recognised by their local accreditation organisation
  • There is no limit on the number of projects that can be submitted
  • All Completed Buildings/Landscape & Interior projects must be completed between 1st January 2024 and 1st June 2025
  • If you are shortlisted for any of your submissions, two representatives will have to purchase a ticket to attend the Festival in Miami from the 12 - 14 November to present their project.
Each entry must contain the below:

  • 2 x A2 entry boards (we print them for you, the judges use these to make their shortlisting decisions)
  • A project summary of 200 – 500 words to be included on the World buildings Directory
  • A hero image of your project
  • Up to 6 further images of the project
  • Up to 3 further images of plans/sections

All of the material is uploaded electronically during the online entry process. You can save and come back to your entry at any time even after you have paid and submitted.

Further information about your entry boards: 

  • All entrants must submit two electronic A2 boards with their entry
    - Your boards should include a combination of images, plans and text
    - The boards will be the only information that the judges will see during shortlisting so are the crucial part of your entry
    - All entries will remain anonymous, so please do not include any practice information on the designs
    - Uploaded files must be less than 40 MB each
    - Preferred file types are jpeg, png or pdf
    - Your entry boards will be printed by the World Architecture Festival ahead of judging on foamex

    ENTRIES

    WAF Completed Buildings, Future Projects and Landscape Categories:

    • Early bird rate (entries made by 14 March): £795
    • Standard rate (entries made by 25 April): £875
    • Late rate (any late entries made after deadline of 25 April): £950

    WAF Interiors Categories:

    • Early bird rate (entries made by 14 March): £645
    • Standard rate (entries made by 25 April): £725
    • Late rate (any late entries made after deadline of 25 April): £800

    REMEMBER, ALL FINALISTS MUST PURCHASE TWO TICKETS TO ATTEND AND PRESENT THEIR PROJECT LIVE AT WAF IN MIAMI

    Final entry deadline: 16 May 2025

    • UK - 20% VAT
    • EU Countries - If you have a valid EU VAT number you do not pay VAT
    • EU Countries - If you DO NOT have a valid EU VAT number you pay 20% VAT
    • Rest of the World - do not pay VAT

    Delegate tickets will be charged 7% US Tax Rate.

    Shortlist judging will take place live in London by a judging panel of international architects and experts.

    The judging panel will review the entry boards by category and in turn will create a shortlist for each one.

    Entrants will be informed by the middle of July whether they have been successful or not.

    All finalists go on to present their work live in Miami!

    Yes, if you have been successful and shortlisted you will be expected to purchase a minimum of two passes to the festival to present their project live to a judging panel in Miami from the 12 - 14 November 2025.

    The festival will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, USA

    The event is attended by 1800 global architects, interior designers, developers, funders, contractors and media from across the industry. The festival will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, USA.

    Yes please keep your boards anonymous.

    The Judges

    In 2024, 140 judges representing 68 countries joined our expert panels. Only at WAF are you judged by your peers, your heroes and the industry’s power players, all live at the festival at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

    VIEW JUDGES

    Need more help?

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    WAF 2025

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