In 2026, North Rhine-Westphalia will once again launch its regional BDA architecture awards. Every three years, these awards shine a spotlight on projects that excel architecturally while also contributing to social cohesion, climate adaptation, and the quality of our living spaces. Sixteen regional BDA competitions across NRW will determine how successfully this vision is realized. Architects are invited to enter the following awards:

– Aachen Architecture Award 2026
– Bonn Rhine Sieg Architecture Award 2026
– Düsseldorf Architecture Award 2026
– Gelsenkirchen + Vest Recklinghausen Architecture Award 2026
– KAP Cologne Architecture Award 2026
– Left Lower Rhine Architecture Award 2026
– Mülheim an der Ruhr Architecture Award 2026
– Münster Münsterland Architecture Award 2026
– South Westphalia Architecture Award 2026
– Wuppertal Architecture Award 2026

For the tenth consecutive year, architects and urban planners are invited, together with their clients, to submit their projects. Eligible are completed works that were finished on or after January 1, 2023 within the respective catchment area of the regional BDA groups. The BDA Architecture Awards operate through three procedural levels. Starting from the city or regional level, progressing through the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and culminating at the federal level, award winners advance to the next tier. Projects honored with regional architecture awards are nominated in 2027 for participation in the state association's "Architecture Award North Rhine-Westphalia." Winning projects from the NRW award then compete in the following year in the "Nike" Architecture Award of the BDA federal association. This tiered structure is what makes the BDA awards particularly attractive.

www.bda-nrw.de