World Architecture Festival 2022

Entry guide

World Architecture Festival will take place on the 30 November-2 December 2022 at FIL, Lisbon.

Now in its 15th year, WAF is the place where architects meet to share ideas and set the future agenda. The live-judged awards sit at the heart of the festival alongside keynote talks, fringe events and an exhibition.

Why enter the awards?

Receive unparalleled exposure in the global media. Finalists are featured in 700+ articles
Gain invaluable insight from our world-renowned judges.
Showcase and celebrate your work on a global stage
Permanently archive your project on the brand-new worldbuildingsdirectory.com, even if you are not shortlisted • Benefit from our network of media partners including ArchDaily, Designboom and Architects’ Journal
Enter one of WAF’s many dedicated prizes at no additional cost, increasing your chances of winning
Feature in a dedicated finalist catalogue distributed to The Architectural Review subscribers
Join WAF’s ever growing community to form partnerships with other architects and meet potential clients
Feature in WAF’s films, podcast and building studies distributed to a database of 130,000
Receive a V2com gift certificate for a press kit distribution worth $1525
Share ideas and learn from your international peers

Awards categories

Completed buildings

• Civic and community • Culture • Display • Health • Higher education and research • Hotel and leisure • House • Housing • Mixed-use • New and old • Office • Production, energy and recycling • Religion • Education • Shopping • Sport • Transport • Villa

Completed buildings must have been completed within 1st of January 2021 and 30th of June 2022

Future projects

• Civic • Commercial mixed-use • Competition entries • Culture • Education • Experimental • Health • House • Infrastructure • Leisure-led development • Masterplanning • Office • Residential

Landscape

• Rural • Urban

World Festival of Interiors: INSIDE – WAF’s sister awards taking place at the same time and place!

• Bars & Restaurants • Education • Health and Fitness • Hotels • Public Buildings • Residential – single dwelling • Residential – housing, more than one dwelling • Retail • Temporary/ Meanwhile uses • Workplace – large • Workplace - small

Interior projects must have been completed within 1st of January 2021 and 30th of June 2022

The Word Architecture Festival is a rare if not unique occasion bringing together a large number of the finest architects from around the world under one roof, to exchange and share ideas and to learn from each other.

Tszwai Tszwai So Spheron Architects

The presenters and speakers were an incredible who's who of the architectural and interior world. Nothing like getting all your networking for a year done in three days!

Mark Dytham, Principal Klein Dytham Architects

It's good to know what's happening around the world and what other people are doing in other parts of the world.

Lee Min Development Manager Far East Organisation

Winning the WAF award has given credibility and respect to the work of the practice, an unquestionable kudos which speaks for itself - we are taken seriously and shown respect.

Peter Rich Principal Peter Rich Architects

It has been amazing to be part of an award-winning team. When you look across the range and quality of projects put forward for the WAF Awards, to be shortlisted and then become associated with the overall winner is a momentous achievement for us.

Keith French Director Grant Associates

Great opportunity to connect with international architects and understand what happens in the global context.

David Basulto Editor in Chief ArchDaily

WAF is a wonderful mix of theory and the reality of everyday practice in the presentations, the jury-comments, the lectures, the debates and exhibitions. The excursions, parties and dinner offer excellent opportunities to network. WAF is the most inclusive cross-border event on the architectural horizon!

Brigitte Van Bakel Principal Architect Am

How to enter?

Choose the category for WAF and/or INSIDE that you wish to enter.
Create your account or log in
Tell us the details of your project, provide a project description and upload images and plans to support your entry.
Upload the artwork for your entry boards that will be used by the judges to make their shortlisting decisions and be displayed at the festival. We will print your entry boards.
You can save and come back to your entry at any stage. Once you have paid your entry fee online your entry is completed.

Key dates

27 May Entries close (extended entry deadline)

11 July Shortlist announced

15 July Last day for finalists to buy festival passes at a discounted rate

30 Nov - 2 December World Architecture Festival takes place in Lisbon and category judging commences

2 December Final rounds of judging take place and the overall winners are announced

The judging process

➊ 27 May All entries are received All entries must be submitted online by 27 May 2022

➋ 17 June Shortlist decided Leading architects and industry professionals gather to look at the entry boards and decide on a shortlist.

➌ 11 July Shortlist is announced All finalists will be published on the WAF and INSIDE website, international press and WAF’s renowned media partners.

➍ 30 Nov -2 December Live category judging at WAF All finalists present for 10 minutes to a panel of three category judges followed by 10 minutes of Q&A with the jury. Judging takes place in a ‘crit’ room open to all delegates. Category winners are announced at the end of each day.

➎ 2 December Live judging for overall winners Each category winner presents again for the Completed Building, Future Project, Landscape or World Interior of the Year Super-Jury.

➏ 2 December The final winners are revealed The World Building, Future Project, Landscape and Interior of the Year winners are announced at the end of the day. Winners have been meticulously weighed over three rounds of peer-review judging.