Architecture Competitions Open for January 2026

Architectural competitions are an important part of the design world. They give architects, designers, and students the chance to share ideas, experiment with new concepts, and respond to today’s social and environmental challenges. As January 2026 begins, many international architecture competitions are opening their registrations.

Registering for an architecture competition is more than just submitting a design—it is an investment in your growth as a designer. Competitions push you to think freely, explore ideas without client limits, and respond to real-world challenges in a creative way. They help you build a strong portfolio, improve your design skills, and develop a clear architectural voice. For students and young architects, competitions offer a chance to gain recognition and confidence; for professionals, they provide space to experiment and stay connected to current architectural debates.

These competitions focus on topics such as cultural spaces, sustainability, affordable housing, small-scale living, and design for extreme climates. Some ask for conceptual ideas, while others focus on real urban and landscape projects. Together, they show how architecture is changing and what designers are thinking about today. Below is a list of ten architecture competitions open for registration in January 2026.

Women in Architecture (WIA) Recognition Award

Registation Deadline: 9/1/2026

The Women in Architecture Recognition Award celebrates the professional achievements, leadership, and impact of women in the architectural field. Open to practitioners, researchers, educators, and emerging voices, the award highlights projects and careers that contribute to equity, innovation, and meaningful change within the built environment.

NOT A HOTEL Design Competition 2026

Registation Deadline: 11/1/2026

This competition challenges participants to rethink hospitality by designing a new “NOT A HOTEL” concept that blurs the boundaries between private living and shared experience. Submissions are encouraged to explore experimental residential typologies, strong architectural identity, and site-specific narratives that redefine luxury, comfort, and place.

Find Fitzrovia

Registation Deadline: 13/1/2026

Find Fitzrovia focuses on uncovering new spatial, social, and cultural potentials within one of London’s most layered urban districts. The competition calls for design ideas that respond to Fitzrovia’s mixed-use character, historical depth, and contemporary pressures, proposing interventions that enhance public space, identity, and everyday urban life.

The Architect’s Stair #3

Registation Deadline: 15/1/2026

The Architect’s Stair #3 invites designers to reinterpret the staircase as an architectural element beyond pure circulation. Participants are asked to explore stairs as spatial experiences, sculptural forms, or narrative devices, pushing conceptual boundaries while addressing movement, interaction, and architectural expression.

Ecological Design Challenge

Registation Deadline: 16/1/2026

The Ecological Design Challenge encourages architecture that responds directly to environmental urgency. Competitors are asked to propose solutions that integrate ecological systems, climate resilience, and regenerative strategies, demonstrating how design can actively restore ecosystems while supporting human use.

Sports Park 2026 International Architecture Competition

Registation Deadline: 16/1/2026

Sports Park 2026 International Architecture Competition seeks innovative visions for a contemporary sports park that combines athletic facilities with public landscapes. Proposals should balance performance-driven design with inclusivity, adaptability, and urban integration, transforming sports infrastructure into a multifunctional civic destination.

Call For Ideas: Tiny House 2025 Architecture Competition

Registation Deadline: 16/1/2026

The Tiny House Competition calls for creative ideas that rethink minimal living through efficient layouts, adaptable structures, and sustainable materials. Designers are encouraged to explore affordability, mobility, and spatial intelligence, presenting compact housing concepts that respond to changing lifestyles and housing needs.

Modular Arctic Research Station Architecture Competition

Registation Deadline: 17/1/2026

Modular Arctic Research Station Architecture Competition challenges architects to design a modular research station capable of operating in extreme Arctic conditions. Proposals must address harsh climate, logistical constraints, energy efficiency, and adaptability, offering innovative architectural systems that support scientific research while minimizing environmental impact.

HOME WITHIN REACH – Affordable Living Solutions

Registation Deadline: 18/1/2026

HOME WITHIN REACH focuses on developing realistic and scalable solutions for affordable housing. The competition encourages designs that prioritize social equity, cost efficiency, and spatial dignity, proposing housing models that are adaptable, sustainable, and responsive to diverse community needs.

The competitions open in January 2026 cover a wide range of topics, allowing you to choose projects that match your interests, values, and long-term goals. Many of them welcome conceptual thinking and innovative approaches, making them accessible even with small teams or limited time. Registering early gives you more time to develop your ideas and turn them into thoughtful proposals. Whether you aim to learn, challenge yourself, or gain international exposure, taking part in these competitions can be a strong and motivating start to the year.