National Competition for the UFC Center for Arts, Culture and Events

The Federal University of Ceara and the Institute of Architects of Brazil are running a national open competition for a new arts and culture centre on the Fortaleza waterfront. Proposals are due 21 October 2026.

illustrarch Editorial Team24 September 20261 Mins read230

National Competition for the UFC Center for Arts, Culture and Events

Image: courtesy Federal University of Ceara.

Competition Expired

Category: Open call
Organizer: Federal University of Ceara (UFC) and IAB Ceara
Location: Fortaleza, Brazil
Project site: Former Sao Pedro Building, Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza
Eligibility: Open to architects and urban planners, individually or in teams
Language: Portuguese
Registration deadline: 6 October 2026
Submission deadline: 21 October 2026
Prizes: R$ 140,000 total: R$ 80,000 first place, R$ 40,000 second, R$ 20,000 third

Prize breakdown

1st place: R$ 80,000.00
2nd place: R$ 40,000.00
3rd place: R$ 20,000.00

Official competition website

The Federal University of Ceara (UFC), with the Ceara department of the Institute of Architects of Brazil, has opened a national competition for architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture for the UFC Center for Arts, Culture and Events in Fortaleza. Registration has been open since 13 August 2026 and runs to 6 October, and proposals are due by 21 October 2026, Brasilia time.

The building will occupy the site of the former Sao Pedro Building in the Praia de Iracema neighbourhood, on one of the most visible stretches of the Fortaleza waterfront, so the brief covers the public space around the centre as much as the building itself.

Prizes and eligibility

UFC will award R$ 140,000 across the top three proposals: R$ 80,000 for first place, R$ 40,000 for second and R$ 20,000 for third. The competition is open to architects and urban planners, working individually or in teams. Registration and submission are made through the official competition website.