WAF 2026: The Talks, The Crits and 414 Projects Competing LIVE
With 165 miles of inland waterways, Fort Lauderdale is known as the 'Venice of North America', making it the perfect host for WAF's 19th edition. Join 1,800 senior architects and designers at the Broward County Convention Center for global networking, world-class learning and the world's largest live-judged architecture awards.
Meet the speakers
This year's WAF Stage speakers explore how water shapes the way we design, build and live. Professor Carlo Ratti of CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and MIT Senseable City Lab presents Senseable Cities, while Benedetta Tagliabue of EMBT Architects considers water in the plural. Cazú Zegers asks what happens when water shapes architecture, and Elizabeth Diller, Founding Principal of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, closes the festival on Friday evening.
Closer to home, Michael Berkowitz of the University of Miami's Climate Resilience Institute shares lessons from South Florida, and John Stuart of Florida International University revisits Mar-a-Lago as an architectural narrative. Andrew Whalley and Jolyon Brewis of Grimshaw, Ted Givens of 10 Design, Mary Bowman, Viviana Muscettola, Sanjay Puri and John Jennifer Marx complete a packed line-up.
Over on the Festival Hall Stage, catch the WAFX winners presenting live, the GROHE Water Prize and The Architecture Drawing Prize.
Meet the speakers | View the talks programme
Watch the finalists compete LIVE
At the heart of WAF sits its unique live-judged awards programme. On Wednesday and Thursday, 414 shortlisted projects present across 16 crit rooms: ten minutes to tell their story to three judges and the WAF audience, followed by eight minutes of Q&A. Delegates are welcome in every session.
Look out for Lotus Clubhouse by MIA Design Studio, Kaway'an EcoPark by Sangay Architects & Ibuku Studio, Sydney Fish Market by 3XN GXN, Zayed National Museum by Foster + Partners and even the festival's own venue, the Broward County Convention Center Expansion by Fentress Studios.
With 164 judges from 37 countries deciding the category winners, the best return on Friday to present to the Super Juries, competing for World Building of the Year and the festival's other top prizes. The overall winners are revealed at the Gala Dinner that evening.
Explore the live judging schedule | Meet the judges
Beyond the crit rooms
Kick off the week at the Welcome Reception, supported by Della Townships, on Tuesday 17 November, then make time for book signings at the ORO Bookstore, the Student Charrette, the 40 Under 40 South America exhibition in association with Architecture Hunter and India@WAF. Premium pass holders can also join a WAF Tour, from a private water taxi cruise along the New River and Intracoastal Waterway to a behind-the-scenes visit to the NSU Art Museum.
Book by 16 October and save £100
Standard pass: £1,299 + VAT (7%). Access to both stages, all live judging sessions, the exhibition, the welcome reception, partner fringe events and the WAF app.
Premium pass: £1,849 + VAT (7%). Everything in Standard, plus a seat at the Gala Dinner and one WAF Tour.
Booking three or more? Contact us for a group discount.