Ten BDA regional associations—Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia—will jointly launch the max40 architecture prize in 2026, recognizing exceptional young architects. Established by the Association of German Architects (BDA), this sponsorship award celebrates the architectural quality of emerging practices, sparks public dialogue, and underscores the untapped potential that emerges when young architects receive meaningful support.

The prize recognizes completed buildings and carries no monetary award—it is purely honorary. An independent jury selects winning projects from all submissions, with additional commendations also possible. The jury-honored works will be publicly unveiled in February 2026 at the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt am Main, followed by a traveling exhibition across participating BDA regional associations. A comprehensive catalogue will document the exhibition.

Jury members include:

Bettina Götz, ARTEC Architects, Vienna and Berlin University of the Arts
Peter Cachola Schmal, German Architecture Museum DAM, Frankfurt am Main
Friederike Kluge, Alma Maki, Basel and Konstanz University of Applied Sciences
Oliver Thill, ATELIER KEMPE THILL, Rotterdam and Leibniz University Hannover
Kristina Ziadeh, studio*k ARCHITECTURE, Berlin
Eligibility is open to registered chamber members – including architects, architects in training (AiP), and junior members – who will not have reached their 41st birthday by January 1, 2026, and who practice in one of these German states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, or Thuringia.

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

Submissions must include a completed project and a concept description, presented on a maximum of two DIN A2 pages. You may supplement your entry with additional images and text. You'll also need to provide proof of age and a declaration of authorship. For collaborative projects, all authors must meet the eligibility requirements.

www.bda-max40.de