The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has officially announced its shortlist for the 2025 edition, showcasing a dynamic mix of completed buildings, future proposals, cutting-edge interiors, and transformative landscape projects from across the globe. This yearโs festival, set to take place from November 12 to 14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, marks WAFโs first-ever event in the United States โ a significant milestone for the global architecture community.
The 2025 shortlist was drawn from more than 780 submissions, with over 460 projects selected across diverse categories including Housing, Education, Hotel, Sports, Culture, and Creative Re-Use. The chosen works represent a sweeping range of architectural vision โ from urban megaprojects to intimate interior spaces โ reflecting both emerging trends and enduring themes in global design.
Among the shortlisted entries are acclaimed architectural firms such as Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Foster + Partners, Studio Gang, Grimshaw, Mario Cucinella Architects, Nikken Sekkei, and Perkins&Will, along with rising studios that bring fresh perspectives to the field. The projects span a wide geographic footprint, with the highest number of shortlisted firms hailing from the United States, followed by entries from China, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Canada, Singapore, the UAE, Turkey, and Japan.
The jury panel for WAF 2025 comprises 164 architectural experts representing 37 countries, reinforcing the festivalโs global ethos. Finalists will present their work live during the first two days of the festival, competing for category wins and the coveted titles of World Building of the Year, Future Project of the Year, Interior of the Year, and Landscape of the Year.
The 2025 shortlist includes 235 completed buildings, such as a state-of-the-art film studio in New York, community-driven pavilions for Expo 2025, and a forest hotel blending nature and luxury. Among the 157 future projects, highlights include a new international airport for Athens and an astronomical telescope enclosure set in the Atacama Desert, Chile. The 64 interior design finalists range from a tropical rainforest-themed hotel in Singapore to a contemporary noodle bar in Chongqing, China. The 12 shortlisted landscape designs include a revitalized public plaza in Londonโs Canary Wharf and a wildlife eco-park in Bhabua, India, showcasing the growing emphasis on ecological resilience and public space.
With its expanded global footprint and Miami debut, WAF 2025 is poised to offer an unprecedented platform for architectural excellence, interdisciplinary dialogue, and design innovation. The festival continues to set the stage for whatโs next in architecture โ from sustainable urbanism to experiential interiors and imaginative future planning โ while celebrating the creative force behind todayโs most ambitious built environments.
