Top 20 Architecture Competition Platforms to Watch in 2025

For architects and designers, competitions are more than just a chance to win prize money; they are a vital launchpad for careers, a laboratory for innovation, and a global stage to showcase talent. Whether you're a student eager to test your skills or a seasoned professional looking to push the boundaries of design, finding the right platform is key. With countless websites out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

That's why we've done the heavy lifting for you. Based on extensive research into their prestige, jury quality, prize value, and global reach, here is our definitive guide to the top 20 architecture competition platforms you should be following.

1. ArchDaily

Website: www.archdaily.com

About: As one of the most visited architecture websites globally, ArchDaily is an essential resource. Its competitions section is a vast aggregator, featuring a diverse range of challenges from prestigious international awards to smaller, idea-based contests. It’s a one-stop-shop for discovering opportunities from around the world, catering to every level of experience.

Notable Competition: Pritzker Architecture Prize (often announced on ArchDaily)

2. Buildner (formerly Bee Breeders)

Website: www.architecturecompetitions.com

About: Buildner is a major player in the world of architecture competitions, known for its well-organized, thought-provoking challenges. They host a wide variety of competitions, from conceptual design prompts to pavilion projects. With a reputation for attracting high-profile jury members and offering substantial prize funds, Buildner is a go-to for architects seeking to make a significant impact.

Notable Competition: Microhome Competition Series

3. Bustler

Website: www.bustler.net

About: A sibling site to the popular architecture news platform Archinect, Bustler is a comprehensive aggregator of competitions, awards, and exhibitions. Its clean interface and well-organized categories make it easy to filter opportunities by deadline, type, and eligibility. Bustler is a reliable source for finding both high-profile and niche competitions.

Notable Competition: AIA|LA Design Awards (featured on Bustler)

4. eVolo Magazine

Website: www.evolo.us

About: Famous for its annual Skyscraper Competition, eVolo Magazine is synonymous with futuristic, conceptual, and avant-garde architectural ideas. This platform challenges architects and designers to envision the future of vertical living, encouraging radical solutions to social, cultural, and environmental problems. Winning or even being mentioned in this competition is a significant badge of honor.

Notable Competition: eVolo Skyscraper Competition

5. Young Architects Competitions (YAC)

Website: www.youngarchitectscompetitions.com

About: YAC is dedicated to promoting emerging talent. Their competitions are often set in stunning, real-world locations and backed by well-known architectural firms. They are known for their high-quality briefs, prestigious juries (often including architects like Sou Fujimoto and Kengo Kuma), and substantial prize money, making them a top choice for young architects.

Notable Competition: Tree House Module

6. TerraViva Competitions

Website: www.terravivacompetitions.com

About: TerraViva focuses on innovative design solutions that address contemporary urban and environmental issues. Their competitions are idea-driven, encouraging participants to explore themes like sustainable living, urban regeneration, and new housing models. It's an excellent platform for designers who are passionate about social and ecological impact.

Notable Competition: The Living Museum

7. The Architectural Review

Website: www.architectural-review.com

About: As a highly respected architectural journal, The Architectural Review's awards are among the most prestigious in the industry. Their awards focus on recognizing excellence in built projects and celebrating emerging talent. Winning an AR award is a mark of significant achievement and provides invaluable international exposure.

Notable Competition: AR Emerging awards

8. Architizer

Website: www.architizer.com

About: Architizer is a massive platform connecting architects with manufacturers and clients. Their A+Awards are one of the largest and most democratic awards programs in the world, with entries judged by a panel of over 400 luminaries from various fields and a public voting component.

Notable Competition: A+Awards

9. Archaasm

Website: www.archaasm.com

About: Archaasm is a dynamic and growing platform that champions design competitions centered around pressing social, cultural, and humanitarian issues. It serves as a creative hub for architects and designers to engage with real-world challenges, offering a space to innovate and propose meaningful solutions. The platform is gaining recognition for its thoughtful briefs and commitment to fostering a socially responsible design community.

Notable Competition: DSGN ‘24

10. competitions.archi

Website: www.competitions.archi

About: This platform is known for its creative and often whimsical competition briefs that invite participants to think outside the box. From designing a house for a film director to reimagining famous landmarks, competitions.archi offers a refreshing break from purely technical challenges, focusing instead on storytelling and conceptual creativity.

Notable Competition: The Outsider

11. Rethinking The Future (RTF)

Website: www.re-thinkingthefuture.com

About: RTF is a leading online architectural publication that also hosts its own prestigious awards. The RTF Awards aim to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in architecture and design on a global scale. They feature a wide range of categories, making them accessible to firms and individuals working in various typologies and scales.

Notable Competition: RTF Architecture, Construction & Design Awards

12. The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Website: www.aia.org

About: The AIA is the leading professional membership association for licensed architects in the United States. Their awards programs are highly prestigious, recognizing the best in American architecture. While many of their awards are for US-based projects or architects, their influence and prestige are global.

Notable Competition: AIA National Honor Awards

13. Architecture MasterPrize (AMP)

Website: www.architectureprize.com

About: The AMP is a global award that celebrates the very best in architectural design, landscape architecture, and interior design. With a mission to advance the appreciation of quality architectural design worldwide, the AMP is a comprehensive awards program with a prestigious jury and a wide array of categories.

Notable Competition: The Architecture MasterPrize

14. Dezeen

Website: www.dezeen.com/awards/

About: Dezeen is one of the world's most popular and influential architecture and design magazines. The Dezeen Awards are an annual event that identifies the world's best architecture, interiors, and design projects. With a star-studded jury and a global audience, winning a Dezeen Award offers incredible international visibility.

Notable Competition: Dezeen Awards

15. The Architectural League of New York

Website: www.archleague.org

About: This esteemed organization is dedicated to advancing architecture and the urban environment. Its Architectural League Prize is one of North America's most prestigious awards for young architects and designers, recognizing visionary work and providing a platform for the next generation of leaders in the field.

Notable Competition: Architectural League Prize

16. 120 Hours

Website: www.120hours.no

About: 120 Hours is a renowned international competition created for and by students. Participants are given just 120 hours (5 days) to solve a complex and socially relevant architectural challenge. Its fast-paced nature and focus on raw, innovative ideas have made it a rite of passage for many architecture students worldwide.

Notable Competition: 120 Hours Competition

17. The Architecture Community

Website: www.thearchitecturecommunity.com

About: The Architecture Community is a platform that hosts a series of international architecture awards and competitions. Their goal is to create a global community of architects and designers and to recognize and celebrate outstanding design work from around the world.

Notable Competition: World Design Awards

18. Archinect

Website: www.archinect.com

About: Archinect is a bustling online hub for architects, offering news, job listings, and a vibrant community forum. Its competitions section is a valuable resource, listing a wide variety of opportunities from around the globe and serving as a key source of information and discussion for the architectural community.

Notable Competition: Dry Futures (a past competition hosted on Archinect)

19. International Interior Design Association (IIDA)

Website: www.iida.org

About: For those with a passion for interiors, the IIDA is the leading global association for the commercial interior design industry. They host several prestigious competitions that recognize outstanding and innovative interior design projects, celebrating the power of design to enhance the human experience.

Notable Competition: IIDA Student Design Competition

20. World Landscape Architect (WLA)

Website: www.worldlandscapearchitect.com

About: WLA is a vital resource for landscape architects. The annual WLA Awards seek to honor the most innovative and creative work in the field of landscape architecture. It's the premier platform for landscape architects to gain international recognition for their work.

Notable Competition: WLA Professional Awards

Epiphany

Engaging with architecture competitions is an invaluable way to sharpen your skills, build your portfolio, and gain recognition in a competitive industry. Each of these platforms offers unique opportunities to challenge yourself and showcase your vision. Whether you're drawn to conceptual design, sustainable solutions, or built excellence, there's a competition out there for you.

So, bookmark your favorites, assemble your team, and get ready to design the future. Good luck!