World Architecture Festival (WAF) will take place in Miami from 12 - 14 November 2025. For the first time we will be bringing the world's largest live awards event for architects and designers to the USA! Gain global recognition and celebrate your work by entering the 2025 awards.
The Awards
What are the WAF Awards?
WAF is the only architectural awards programme where all finalists present their projects LIVE to a panel of judges and an audience of peers at the festival in Miami. This distinctive peer-to-peer judging experience enables participants and attendees to explore and exchange the most groundbreaking architectural innovations from around the world!
Entry guides
WAF’s unique, rigorous judging process strengthens your credibility and sets you apart from the competition. Online entries are now open until 16 May 2025. Download the entry guides and resources for 2025.
Categories
With 45 categories to enter across completed buildings, future projects, landscape and interiors there is a category for any project. Plus, with extra special prizes you can nominate your project for at no extra cost and multiple entry discounts you can increase your chances of taking home a trophy!
2025 Judges
Each year at WAF your submissions are scrutinised LIVE at the festival by an expert panel and the world's most groundbreaking architectural and design achievements are recognised.
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 now open! Find out more and enter today.
Mastering the WAF Awards
Watch the webinar which brings together WAF insiders who know exactly what makes a winning entry — and what to avoid!
This year WAF will be taking place in the USA for the first time ever!
We're thrilled to announce WAF's inaugural US event! The decision to host WAF in the US reflects our commitment to making our awards programme truly global, as well as recognising the huge influence North American architecture has on the world.
WAF will be hosted at the Miami Beach Convention Center from 12 - 14 November 2025. Situated in the heart of South Beach and close to the Art Deco Historic District, it is the perfect place for architects and designers to come together to compete, network and celebrate.
WAF Interiors
What is WAF Interiors?
Formerly known as Inside, WAF Interiors is the sister awards programme of WAF and celebrates the finest examples of global interior design with 11 dedicated categories open for entry. Finalists will present LIVE at the festival in Miami to panels of expert judges and the category winners will go on to compete for the prestigious title of World Interior of the Year.
Categories
From Hotels to Workplace, and Residential to Retail, there are 11 dedicated interior categories open for entry. Plus, we have a brand new Yachts and Ships category, in honour of our host location, Miami!
2024 Winners
The 2024 World Interior of the Year winner was Pang Mei Noodle Bar LFS by Office AIO, the Judges described the project as 'an essay in clever design applied to a successful noodle bar business. A veritable machine for dining that ticks all the boxes – for its customers, its staff and its owners' View all of the winners here .
Watch the 2024 live judging films
WAF's live judging provides a chance to tell the story behind your project to the audience and receive invaluable, real-time feedback from our esteemed judges. Curious to experience this firsthand? Take a look at the videos of the 2024 Completed Buildings and WAF Interiors winners as they presented live at the Singapore festival – a glimpse into the dynamic and engaging atmosphere that defines WAF!
2024 Winners
The 2024 World Building of the Year winner was Darlington Public School by fjcstudio.
Judges commented: ‘The architect of the winning project explored and extended the formal programme of the client, to include the views and experience of the local community and a variety of users. This generated a reading of the history of place, culture and time. This result is poetic, a building in which topography and landscape, inside and outside, form and materials, flow seamlessly in an unexpectedly delightful way. It is also an inspirational proposition about the acknowledgement and reconciliation of historic difference – a pointer to brighter, better futures for all.’
Click here to see all of the 2024 winners in the online brochure.
What is WAFX?
Launched in WAF’s 10th year, WAFX celebrates international proposals which embrace cutting-edge design addressing major world issues. Ranging from tackling the climate emergency to building community resilience.
How to enter
All WAFX winners are chosen from the WAF Future Projects shortlist with no additional cost or material needed from the entrant. Winners will go on to present their project live at WAF in Miami with an overall WAFX winner announced at the Gala Dinner.
2024 winners
The winning projects for each of the 2024 categories have been revealed, they all presented their projects live on the Festival Hall Stage at the festival, and the overall WAFX winner was revealed at the Gala Dinner.
Special Prizes
Recognising excellence
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.
The 2025 special prizes
Best Use of Natural Light, supported by VELUX, The Sustainability Prize supported by ROCKWOOL, Best Use of Colour Prize and Small Project of the Year. Plus, more to come...
Additional Prizes
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!
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. Entries are now open until the end of June!
View the 2024 shortlist and see who presented their projects live at WAF!
See the best new architecture and interior projects worldwide on the 2024 shortlist for Completed Buildings, Future Projects Landscape and Interiors.
Films
Hear from previous winners and keynote speakers by watching WAF’s latest films. Sign up and subscribe for the latest media.
WAF 2024 Photos
Take a look at the photos from last year's event in Singapore!
2024 Shortlist Photo Gallery
If you had your photo taken by our famous shortlist wall at WAF 2024 in Singapore then you can download your image here!
World Buildings Directory
The World Buildings Directory is the only place to view projects entered into past and present WAF awards. The site includes some of the most innovative and ground-breaking designs in the world.
Entry FAQs
Need help with your entry? You may be able to find the answers to your questions in our handy entry FAQs.
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