WAF 2026: Addressing challenges of water in our built environment

By Malin Norman

The World Architecture Festival has been bringing together the global architecture community for almost two decades. The 2026 edition takes place in Fort Lauderdale – the Venice of North America – and fittingly, this year’s theme is water. Scan Magazine takes a look at key speakers, notable prizes and Scandinavian projects that have been shortlisted.

Every year, the World Architecture Festival (WAF) sees thousands of architects, designers and suppliers coming together to celebrate, learn and discover. The event features groundbreaking ideas from world-leading designers, cutting-edge solutions from innovative practices, and inspiration from engaging keynote talks – plus the world’s largest live-judged architecture awards.

Returning to the USA for a second year, WAF 2026 takes place 18-20 November at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Often described as the Venice of North America, Fort Lauderdale boasts 165 miles of inland waterways, a spectacular natural feature that shapes the city’s character and lifestyle. The waterways attract residents and visitors alike, including many cruise ships that form a distinctive part of the skyline.

Based in Oslo, the New Government Quarter brings together ministries, public institutions and everyday city life. The project, by Nordic Office of Architecture with Haptic Architects, has been nominated in WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and community. Photo: Hufton + Crow Photography

Talks by Carlo Ratti and Cazú Zegers

Fittingly, the theme for this year’s festival is water. “The list of keynote speakers includes architects, designers and thought leaders from around the world,” says Paul Finch, WAF programme director. “They will address how water plays a key part in the creation and management of our built environment, from energy generation to food production, the challenges of flooding and drought, and the way that architecture and infrastructure both influence and respond to the world of water, of which we ourselves are an integral and inevitable part.”

On the main stage, visitors will be able to listen to for instance Carlo Ratti, an Italian architect and engineer who leads the design and innovation practice CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and teaches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he directs the MIT Senseable City Lab. Ratti’s work explores how digital tools and collective intelligence can help cities adapt to a changing world.

Aqualuna by 3XN GXN is a residential development located on Toronto’s waterfront. Photo: Younes Bounhar

Another key speaker is Cazú Zegers, a Chilean architect (PUCV) and the founder and director of Cazú Zegers Architecture Studio. In 2020, Forbes named her among the Latin American architects breaking barriers. Zegers is co-creator of the collaborative educational platform Andes Workshop, together with Grupo Talca, and founder of the Foundation for Our Patrimony +1000.

Finch also recommends the lunchtime talk by Andrew Whalley, chair of Grimshaw. Amongst his many award-winning projects is the famous Eden Project in Cornwall. This year, Whalley’s talk is set to be a manifesto pledge on regenerative architecture. “Grimshaw will do a separate presentation on their project Oriental Eden in Qingdao, China,” adds the programme director. A new member of the Eden Project family, it focuses on water and its vital role in life on Earth. Oriental Eden will showcase the regeneration of the site, bringing the land back in touch with its surrounding water.

Canada Goose Paris Flagship by Snøhetta (US office). Photo: Ludovic Balay

Fish market and new Government quarter

This year’s best international architecture and interiors have been revealed. No less than 416 projects have made the 2026 World Architecture Festival shortlist, spanning completed buildings, interiors, landscapes and bold future visions across categories from creative re-use and housing to hotel, health and culture.

Amongst notable Scandinavian projects is the New Government Quarter by Nordic Office of Architecture (Norway) with Haptic Architects (UK). Shortlisted in WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and community, the building brings together ministries, public institutions and everyday city life in an open yet secure civic landscape. Located in Oslo, it gives physical form to the ambition of more democracy, more openness and more humanity.

Renaissance of the Real by Snøhetta (US office). Photo: Courtesy of USM Haller

Another project by a Scandinavian firm is Aqualuna by 3XN GXN (Denmark). Shortlisted in the category WAF Completed Buildings: Housing, this is a bold and elegant residential development located on Toronto’s waterfront. The building draws inspiration from the movement of water, with a sculptural form that echoes the waves of Lake Ontario, and its terraced design creates a sense of flow and movement – maximising views, light and outdoor living.

Sydney Fish Market by 3XN GXN in association with BVN Architecture and Aspect Studios. Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj

3XN GXN is also behind Sydney Fish Market, which has been shortlisted in WAF Completed Buildings: Mixed Use. Located at Blackwattle Bay in Sydney Harbour, the fish market is a bold architectural statement and new urban landmark – integrating public and wholesale operations under one roof. “3XN are frontrunners of research-based practices, and Sydney Fish Market is an extraordinary project,” says Finch. The firm’s evidence-based projects include Quay Quarter Tower (QQT), located close to the Sydney Opera House, which won World Building in 2022.

to:en by Kerimov Architects

Others on the shortlist are three entries by the US office of Norwegian architects Snøhetta: interior projects Canada Goose Paris Flagship in France and Renaissance of the Real in Milan, Italy, as well as future infrastructure project Sentry Bridge in Watkins Glen, US. Also nominated is to:en by Kerimov Architects (Russia), which has been shortlisted in WAF Future Project: Competition entries. to:en is a proposal for a new museum in the heart of Trondheim, bringing together the city’s Art Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts within one institution.

to:en by Kerimov Architects is a future project based in Trondheim, Norway. Photo: Kerimov Architects

Water-research prize and WAFX winners

Launched in WAF’s tenth year, WAFX celebrates international proposals that embrace cutting-edge design addressing major world issues – ranging from tackling the climate emergency to building community resilience. The WAFX Prize awards projects that best use design and architecture to tackle major world issues, including health, climate change, technology, ethics and values. The winning projects are chosen by judges from the WAF Future Projects shortlist and each winner will present on the Festival Hall Stage, with the overall WAFX winner announced at the gala dinner on the final evening.

Sentry Bridge by Snøhetta (US office). Photo: Snøhetta PLOMP

In addition to the WAF awards and the WAFX Prize, the festival’s founding partner, GROHE, will once again support the Water Prize. GROHE is backing water-based research projects, with the winning initiative set to receive 10,000 pounds in funding. The results will be presented on the Festival Hall Stage, and the overall winner will be awarded their trophy at the gala dinner on the final day of the festival in Fort Lauderdale.

Photo: World Architecture Festival

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Scandinavian projects shortlisted for awards at this year’s WAF:

New Government Quarter by Nordic Office of Architecture (Norway) with Haptic Architects
Project based in Oslo, Norway. Nominated in WAF Completed Buildings: Civic and community.

Aqualuna by 3XN GXN (Denmark)
Project based in Toronto, Canada. Nominated in WAF Completed Buildings: Housing.

Sydney Fish Market by 3XN GXN (Denmark) in association with BVN Architecture and Aspect Studios
Project based in Sydney, Australia. Nominated in WAF Completed Buildings: Mixed Use.

Canada Goose Paris Flagship by Snøhetta (Norway, US office)
Project based in Paris, France. Nominated in WAF Interiors: Retail.

Renaissance of the Real by Snøhetta (Norway, US office)
Project based in Milan, Italy. Nominated in WAF Interiors: Temporary/Meanwhile uses.

Sentry Bridge by Snøhetta (Norway, US office)
Project based in Watkins Glen, United States. Nominated in WAF Future Project: Infrastructure.

to:en by Kerimov Architects (Russia)
Project based in Trondheim, Norway. Nominated in WAF Future Project: Competition entries.

Grenseveien 107 Office & Library by Haptic Architects (UK)
Project based in Oslo, Norway. Nominated in WAF Future Project: Commercial mixed-use.

WAF 2026 will take place 18-20 November at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.