Delta Award for Architecture and Delta Festival of Architecture 2026 Launched in Dhaka

The Delta Award for Architecture, an award platform designed to celebrate innovative, sustainable, contextual and socially responsive design excellence, was officially launched in Dhaka on Thursday, alongside the Delta Festival of Architecture 2026. The platform aims to promote architectural excellence, sustainable design thinking, construction and innovation in Bangladesh’s built environment.

The initiative is jointly organized by ARCHICONNECT, founded by Ar. Jalal Ahmed, FIAB, FKIA, and CEMS-Global, with the 31st Build Bangladesh International Expo 2026 serving as the host platform. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is a strategic partner of the initiative.

The Award will recognize outstanding architectural projects, professional leadership, emerging talent and academic contribution through dedicated award streams and recognitions, including the Delta Sustainability and Resilience Award, the Delta Contextual and Social Impact Award, the Delta Life Time Achievement Award, the Delta Architect of the Year Award, the Delta Emerging Architect of the Year Award and the Delta Architectural Scholar Award. 

The program will culminate in the three-day Delta Festival of Architecture 2026. The festival has been designed to connect architecture, industry, technology, material innovation, green finance and environmental responsibility within a collaborative platform. 

The launching ceremony of the platform, held at The Sheraton Dhaka, brought together representatives from development institutions, financial institutions, diplomatic missions, sustainable construction and green building experts, certification and standards organizations, technology companies, government and private-sector organizations, architects, engineers, urban planners, industry leaders and policymakers.

Online submissions for the awards will remain open from July 16 to August 16, 2026. Participation in all categories is free of charge. Eligible projects from any region of Bangladesh will be able to submit their entries through the official website of the Delta Award for Architecture.

Submitted projects will be evaluated by the Delta Award for Architecture Jury Board, comprising Ar. Niklaus Graber, Co-Founder of Graber & Steiger Architects; Ar. Saif-Ul-Haque, Principal of Saif Ul Haque Sthapati; Ar. Professor Md. Rafiq Azam, Principal Architect of Shatotto-Architecture for Green Living; Firdous Azim, PhD, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of English and Humanities at BRAC University; and Ar. Md. Ehsan Khan, Principal Architect of Ehsan Khan Architects Ltd. For the Delta Sustainability and Resilience Award category, and IFC will provide technical advisory support, bringing global knowledge on green and resilient buildings into the assessment process.

Selected projects will be showcased at the Delta Festival of Architecture and featured in the official awards monograph. Shortlisted architects and projects will also receive opportunities for curated exhibition, media promotion, professional visibility, publication and participation in the awards ceremony. Winners will receive cash prizes, trophies and certificates, along with national and international exposure, publication opportunities and professional networking support. The award ceremony will be held on November 12, 2026, where the winners will be announced and formally honored.

The 31st Build Bangladesh International Expo 2026 will be held from November 12 to 14, 2026, at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Kuril, Dhaka.

The exhibition is one of Bangladesh’s longest-running international platforms dedicated to building materials, construction technologies, infrastructure, engineering solutions and the wider construction industry. Running concurrently with Build Bangladesh International Expo, the three-day Delta Festival of Architecture will feature curated exhibitions of shortlisted and award-winning projects, seminars, publication launches, showcases of innovative architectural and construction solutions, masterclasses and networking opportunities for professionals and industry stakeholders.

Through the Delta Award for Architecture and Delta Festival of Architecture 2026, ARCHICONNECT and CEMS-Global seek to establish a long-term platform for advancing architectural excellence, strengthening industry collaboration and supporting the green transition of Bangladesh’s building and construction industry.