World Architecture Festival 2025: Miami to Host Design’s Most Ambitious Gathering

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In November 2025, Miami will host one of the most anticipated design gatherings of the year: the World Architecture Festival, which makes its long-awaited U.S. debut. For three days—November 12–14, to be exact—the Miami Beach Convention Center will transform into a live arena of architectural discourse, design exhibition, and peer-reviewed competition. This is not your average architecture festival; WAF is a proving ground for ideas that shape the built environment worldwide.

All You Need to Know About WAF Miami

Having previously toured global cities like Singapore, Lisbon, and Amsterdam, WAF’s decision to anchor its 2025 edition in the United States carries weight. North American firms are the most highly represented on this year’s shortlist, with U.S. projects showing strongly across completed buildings, future concepts, and interiors.

Three Days of Design, Debate, and Discovery

Across three immersive days of architecture-focused events, designers from across the globe will present live to juries in 17 parallel crit rooms. This format encourages open critique, professional connection, and real-time learning. These sessions are action-oriented, participatory, and broadcast an ethos of shared inquiry.

This year’s judges will hear from both rising talents and globally recognized names, which include Foster + Partners, BIG, Studio Gang, Grimshaw, and Perkins&Will among them, alongside smaller firms pushing boundaries in their regions. One such highlight is Darlington Public School, the 2024 World Building of the Year, which will be frequently referenced as a touchstone for innovation rooted in place and community engagement.

Interiors, Talks, and a Look Inside

Running concurrently is WAF Interiors, formerly known as Inside. This event spotlights the finest examples of interior architecture across twelve categories. From adaptive reuse to hospitality, and this year (even Yachts and Ships) these projects provide attendees with layered perspectives on spatial design.

A full slate of keynote talks, main stage debates, and festival hall sessions will respond to themes of resilience, human-centered design, climate urgency, and material storytelling. From photos and films of past winners to live sketches and presentations, the audience is invited not just to observe, but to participate in the process.

A Platform for Exchange

The World Architecture Festival is so much more than a series of award ceremonies. When incredible designers gather together like this, we can explore and prove ideas through dialogue, criticism, and peer exposure. Beyond the presentation rooms, designers can engage in curated architecture tours across Miami, meet publishers through the Architecture Book of the Year platform, and explore the evolving role of hand-drawing through the Architecture Drawing Prize. The latter is curated by WAF, Make Architects, and Sir John Soane’s Museum.

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Don’t Forget About the Gala!

Of course, WAF’s final evening culminates in the Gala Dinner, where the World Building of the Year, World Interior of the Year, and WAFX overall winner will be announced. For many, this night is the emotional capstone where we celebrate a culmination of dialogue, design action, and global engagement.

If You’re Attending WAF in Miami, Also Consider…

• Design Miami/
• Art Deco District walking tours
• Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (ICA)
• Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
• The Bass Museum of Art
• The Wolfsonian–FIU
• Little Haiti and Wynwood Arts District

Will We See You There?

Comment below whether you plan to attend WAF or any other Miami arts and culture events this year. We would love to share your travel tips with our readers. To book your tickets, head to the WAF website here.

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