The shortlist for the 2024 (WAF) has been revealed, showcasing the most innovative architectural projects from around the globe. The live event will be held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from 6-8 November.

The shortlist highlights the best new completed buildings and landscapes, as well as inspiring future architectural concepts across 33 categories, including residential, transport, and retrofit projects. The Inside World Festival of Interiors shortlist, celebrating global interior design excellence across ten categories, will be announced on 10 July. The overall shortlist was selected from 800 entries, featuring over 480 projects from more than 350 unique practices.

WAF is the world’s largest live-judged architectural awards program, where finalists present their projects to a panel of judges at the international festival. This year’s finalists include prominent firms like 3XN, , , , , , , , , , , , , , and , alongside emerging practices.

Shenzhen Women Childrens Center by MVRDV

Shenzhen Women Childrens Center by MVRDV | Photography: Xia Zh

Finalists represent 71 countries, with the top five being China, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, and Singapore. The international judging panel consists of 175 industry experts from 32 countries, including leaders like Kelley Cheng, Sanjay Puri, Mariana Simas, Sonali Rastogi, Mario Cucinella, Emre Arolat, Ian Ritchie, Charu Kokate, Yael Reisner, Sir Peter Cook, and Nigel Coates.

Upper Albert by SAOTA | Photography: Adam Letch

On the final day of the festival, category winners from all 43 categories will compete for the top accolades: World Building of the Year, Landscape of the Year, Future Project of the Year, and Interior of the Year. Special prizes, including the WAFX, which honors imaginative designs addressing major global issues, will also be awarded.

Rhodes House Transformation by Stanton Williams | Photography: Hufton and Crow

Rhodes House Transformation by Stanton Williams | Photography: Hufton and Crow

2024 World Festival programme director Paul Finch commented on the high quality and geographic diversity of this year’s entries, expressing excitement for the festival’s return to Singapore. He highlighted the WAFX section, with over 30 awards for future projects addressing critical environmental and social issues, to be announced on 15 July. With 175 judges attending, WAF 2024 promises to be a truly international event, featuring award presentations and a thematic conference program titled ‘Tomorrow,’ focusing on the future of architecture in the 21st century.

WAF, in its 17th edition, returns to Singapore after previous festivals in Lisbon, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Berlin. This year’s event will include a live-judged awards program, crit presentations, a live events program, and keynote talks by international speakers on the theme of ‘Tomorrow.’

Squirrel Park New Green Landscaping

Squirrel Park New Green Landscaping by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris | Photography: Tim Soar

The co-located 2024 Inside World Festival of Interiors will join WAF in welcoming leading architects and designers for three days of talks, awards, exhibitions, and fringe events, highlighting top international practices, new projects, and pressing debates in the industry.

The complete shortlist for the 2024 World Architecture Festival (WAF) can be viewed on the official website.