The International Union of Architects has many years of experience overseeing and assisting in the organisation of international competitions in architecture and urban planning. In 1956, delegations of practicing architects from all over the world drew up a set of standard regulations for international competitions in architecture and urban planning, which UNESCO subsequently ratified. The framework and objectives embodied in the UNESCO Regulations have endured for more than sixty years, prioritising equal treatment, transparency, qualified adjudication, quality and innovation. The experience and authority conferred on UIA by UNESCO allows us to serve as a reference in terms of ethics and prestige in the realm of international architecture and urban planning competitions. Support from the UIA gives organisers access to architects and architecture students as well as to media and professional institutions worldwide.
The UIA promotes excellence in architecture, sustainability and cultural diversity. Student and professional international architecture competitions endorsed through the UNESCO-UIA International Competitions Programme have taken place all over the world and have resulted in some of the most iconic edifices of the 20th century. The experience and authority conferred upon the UIA by UNESCO in 1956 allow us to serve as a reference in terms of ethics in the realm of architecture and urban planning competitions globally.
The UIA also advises on the organisation of international architectural prizes. Launched by public or private organisms these prizes spotlight specific architectural realisations, materials, technologies, themes, or research. UIA-endorsed architecture prizes have taken place all over the world.
The International VELUX Award for Students of Architecture has been relaunched as Light of Tomorrow for its 2026 edition. Endorsed by the UIA since 2004, the award invites students worldwide to investigate the role of daylight in architecture and everyday life.
The organisers of the UIA 2026 Barcelona World Congress of Architects, the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE) and the Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC), invite architecture students worldwide to participate in the international single-stage ideas competition “Catalysts of Resilience.”
This initiative offers young architects an opportunity to contribute to one of the most prestigious cultural initiatives – the Biennale di Venezia. Through their participation, the next generation can demonstrate their vision for enhancing the experience of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Through the open international architectural competition “Innovative Bioclimatic European School complex in Crete”, the School Buildings Organisation of Greece (SBO) sought the best ideas from around the world for the new European school in Crete.
The competition was held in association with the International Union of Architects (UIA), through its UIA‐ARES International Work Programme.
This competition was a single-stage project competition following the UNESCO-UIA recommendations on international architectural and urbanism competitions and endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA).
This competition was organised for the construction of the House of Arts and Culture (Lebanese- Omani Centre).
Please visit the official website for the competition: http://houseofartsandculture.org/intro.html
This international two-stage competition was organised with the authorisation of the Government of Hungary and the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts’ New National Public Collections Complex Office, and concerned the design of new museum buildings in the framework of the Liget Budapest Project in the City Park of Budapest.
The Government of Hungary made a commitment to erect new buildings for six different cultural institutions in Budapest, organised via four competitions integrated in the City Park Development Project.
This competition was approved by the International Union of Architects (UIA).
The Art Gallery of New South Wales traces its origins to a public meeting on April 24, 1871, which established an “Academy of Art” for the purpose of promoting the fine arts through lectures, art classes and regular exhibitions.
The Gallery sought inspiring concepts for how it could create a unique, authentic, inspiring and agile 21st century art museum.
This was a two-stage competition, officially endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), the city of Sydney, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) and the International Union of Architects (UIA).
Fundació Mies van der Rohe and the Barcelona City Council have launched an international single stage ideas competition open to all young architects as part of the city’s nomination as the 2026 UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture.
The International VELUX Award (IVA) is a biennial ideas competition for students of architecture. It invites students from all over the world to create projects investigating the role of daylight in our everyday lives.
The International Union of Architects (UIA) has launched the Next Generation of Stroke Rehabilitation Centres international single stage student ideas competition open to all students in architecture of the world.
The competition is organised by the UIA Public Health Group and the NOVELL Redesign Team. It is co-sponsored by the Australian Health Design Council (AHDC).