In 2026, ten BDA regional associations—Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia—will jointly present the max40 architecture prize for young architects for the first time. This initiative from the Association of German Architects (BDA) serves as a sponsorship award, bringing public recognition to the architectural excellence of emerging practices, fostering discourse around their work, and highlighting the untapped potential when young architects lack adequate support. The prize honors completed buildings and carries no monetary award.

An independent jury will select award-winning projects from all submissions, with additional honorable mentions possible. Jury-recognized works will be unveiled publicly in February 2026 at an exhibition at the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt am Main, then travel to participating BDA regional associations. A catalogue will accompany the exhibition. Jury members include: • Donatella Fioretti, Bruno Fioretti Marquez, Berlin and Düsseldorf Academy (invited) • Friederike Kluge, Alma Maki, Basel and University of Konstanz • Peter Cachola Schmal, German Architecture Museum DAM, Frankfurt am Main • Oliver Thill, Atelier Kempe Thill, Rotterdam and Leibniz University Hannover • Kristina Ziadeh, studio*k Architecture, Berlin.

Eligible applicants are chamber-registered architects, architects in training (AiP), and junior members who will not have reached age 41 by January 1, 2026, and work in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, or Thuringia. Submit your work online by August 15, 2025, at www.bda-max40.de.

Winning projects will be presented to the public in February 2026 at the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt am Main, then tour participating BDA regional associations as a traveling exhibition. An accompanying catalogue will be published. Jury members include: • Donatella Fioretti, Bruno Fioretti Marquez, Berlin and Düsseldorf Academy (invited) • Friederike Kluge, Alma Maki, Basel and University of Konstanz • Peter Cachola Schmal, German Architecture Museum DAM, Frankfurt am Main • Oliver Thill, Atelier Kempe Thill, Rotterdam and Leibniz University Hannover • Kristina Ziadeh, studio*k Architecture, Berlin. Eligible applicants are chamber-registered architects, architects in training (AiP), and junior members who will not have reached age 41 by January 1, 2026, and work in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, or Thuringia.

Submit your application online by August 15, 2025, at www.bda-max40.de.