A Milestone Moment: WAF Comes to Miami
This year, the World Architecture Festival (WAF) is making historyits landing in the USA for the first time, hosted at the iconic Miami Beach Convention Center from November 1214, 2025. After editions in Singapore, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Berlin, WAF is switching continents, setting the stage for a vibrant new chapter. The move feels fresh, boldand perfectly Miami.
Global Stars & Rising Talent
Over 460 projects made the shortlist, all handpicked from 780+ entries. These include: 235 completed buildings (from New York film studios to Expo 2025 pavilions), 157 future concepts (imagine Athens next-gen airport or Chiles giant telescope enclosure), 64 interior gems (a rainforest hotel in Singapore, a Chongqing noodle bar), and 12 landscape projects (Canary Wharfs public plaza, Indias wildlife eco-park). Big names like Bjarke Ingels Group, Foster + Partners, Studio Gang, and Perkins&Will are in the mixalongside emerging studios making bold statements. And yes, U.S. architects dominate, with strong representation also from China, the UK, Australia, India, Canada, Singapore, UAE, Turkey, and Japan.
Live Judging & Nerve wracking Shows
What really makes WAF unique? The live-judged format: all finalists present, debate, and defend their work in front of 164 international judges across 43 categories. Theyll distill winners in each category, and then on the final day, the top contenders will face the Super Jury to compete for top titles like World Building of the Year and Future Project of the Year.
Beyond Awards: Parties, Projects, & Panels
Besides the main event, WAF is a full-on festival experience: keynotes with leading voices in design, an exhibition area featuring entries and cutting-edge products, networking, tours of Miamis architectural icons, a Gala Dinner to celebrate overall winners, and special side programs: student charrettes, 40 Under 40, and more.
Technical Sheet
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Festival Name | World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025 |
| Dates | November 1214, 2025 |
| Location | Miami Beach Convention Center, South Beach, Miami, USA |
| Total Entries | 780+ projects submitted |
| Shortlisted Projects | 460+ (235 Completed, 157 Future, 64 Interiors, 12 Landscapes) |
| Judges | 164 experts from 37 countries |
| Categories | 43 categories, plus WAFX & Special Prizes |
| Host Partner | GROHE (launching GROHE SPA in Americas) |
| Festival Components | Live judging, keynote talks, exhibition, networking, tours, gala dinner |
Shortlist Breakdown
| Category | Number of Projects |
|---|---|
| Completed Buildings | 235 |
| Future Projects | 157 |
| Interiors | 64 |
| Landscapes | 12 |
| Total Shortlisted | 468 (approx.) |
