Czech Architecture Award 2026 - Nomination Evening
The 11th year of the Czech Architecture Award (ČCA), organized by the Czech Chamber of Architects, has registered 301 buildings completed in the last five years in the Czech Republic - making it the third "strongest" year in the history of the competition. An international expert jury will select a shortlist of 25 nominees from these entries, which will be announced at the nomination evening on June 16 at the Prague Center for Architecture and Urban Planning (CAMP). Additionally, the Award for Exceptional Contribution to Architecture for the past year will be presented here, and public voting will be launched. The highest awards, including the ČCA finalists and the winner of the main ČCA award, will be announced at the gala evening on November 12. The general partner of the exhibition for the eighth time is CENTRAL GROUP.
“In ten years, the Czech Architecture Award has become one of the most significant awards in our country. Its strength lies in the independent international jury that personally visits the nominated projects. Czech architecture thus offers a unique evaluation without local ties and comparisons on a European scale,” states Jan Kasl, chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects.
For this year's competition, works completed in the Czech Republic between 2021 and 2025 could be submitted. As in previous years, the highest number of registered buildings was completed in the last two years – 124 works were finished in 2025 and another 82 in 2024. This year, new constructions (168) slightly outnumber renovations (143), with ten projects featuring a combination of renovation and extension.
Typology
Housing remains an important topic in construction in the Czech Republic this year as well. Family and apartment houses, residential complexes, apartments, cottages, and chalets make up more than a third of the registered works (125), with the number of registered apartment buildings significantly increasing in recent years – from 20 buildings in 2023 to 38 this year.
Educational and training facilities (18), sports constructions with facilities (18), including those in smaller towns, civic service buildings, including cultural and community facilities, libraries, theaters, community centers, and ceremonial and mourning halls (48), religious buildings (5), administrative buildings, corporate facilities, and showrooms (25), as well as healthcare facilities such as treatment centers, eye clinics, and emergency services facilities – their number has risen from 6 last year to 18 this year – also occupy a permanent place among the submissions.
Among the entries are also constructions providing services (26), such as hotels, guesthouses, cafés, restaurants, and wine shops, including interior design modifications, as well as small constructions, exhibitions, and memorials (25).
Traditional disciplines of Czech architecture include renovations and conversions, which are once again represented this year – both renovations of monuments and significant historical buildings (7) and conversions of industrial areas and constructions (15), from which libraries, galleries, offices, and more are newly created.
Landscaping projects and public space modifications (27) also have a permanent place among the submissions – focusing primarily on parks, squares, embankments, terraces, etc.
Last but not least, transport constructions (10) are also entered into the competition, including stations, stops, bridges, footbridges, parking houses, and cable car stations.
Share of private and public contracts, projects from architectural competitions
Among the submissions, private contracts (181) continue to prevail over public ones (120), primarily due to the large number of residential buildings. Of the 120 projects funded by public investors, 12 originated from architectural competitions confirmed as regular by the ČKA – these include the VIDA Elementary School (competition 2021), the Resurrection of the Center Park in Most (competition 2020), the Park by the Water (competition 2020), the Olomouc City Library – Kotelna Branch (competition 2020), the Children’s Treatment Center Ostrov u Macochy (competition 2020), the Horácká Multifunctional Arena (competition 2019), the LOŠBATES Union Elementary School (competition 2018), Masaryk Square in Mnichovo Hradiště (competition 2016), the expansion of the cemetery in Hostivař (competition 2016), Smíchov – apartment buildings 02, 04, 09 (following the 2015 competition), the Fulnek Kindergarten (competition 2014), and the new pavilion at Prague Zoo (competition 2014). “The architectural competition is the best possible way to award a public contract for design work. We regret that many buildings are often realized more than 10 years after the competition ends. On the other hand, we are pleased that the number of architectural competitions in the Czech Republic is rising, as evidenced by last year, which saw 72 announced,” evaluates Mirko Lev, chairman of the ČKA working group for competitions and public contracts. More information on the record number of architectural competitions in 2025 is available in the press release on the Czech Chamber of Architects website.
Registered works by regions
The 11th year of the ČCA has seen entries from all regions of the Czech Republic, with the highest number traditionally coming from Prague (81), the South Moravian Region (49), and the Central Bohemian Region (47). Compared to the previous year, the number of entries from the South Bohemian Region (10 last year), the Hradec Králové Region (7 last year), and the Karlovy Vary Region (5 last year) has increased.
Details by region:
Prague – 81
South Moravian Region – 49, of which 28 in Brno
Central Bohemian Region – 47
South Bohemia – 18
Moravian-Silesian – 16
Liberec Region – 16
Hradec Králové Region – 14
Plzeň Region – 14
Vysočina Region – 9
Karlovy Vary Region – 9
Zlin Region – 8
Pardubice Region – 7
Olomouc Region – 6
Ústí nad Labem Region – 6
Construction costs
The economic parameters of the registered works confirm that, alongside smaller buildings and interiors, large investments also consistently appear in the competition. For 164 projects, costs were lower than 30 million CZK, for 59 projects, costs ranged from 30 to 100 million CZK, and amounts higher than 100 million CZK pertained to 78 projects. Among the most expensive constructions are primarily larger apartment and residential buildings, school and sports constructions, administrative and multifunctional buildings, cultural and community buildings (such as libraries), as well as infrastructural works and projects concerning public spaces (urban parks, squares, etc.) – including the Old Town Gate at Miloš Forman Square in Prague, the apartment building by Borský Park, the Resurrection of the Center Park in Most, the revitalization of OC Futurum, the Horácká Multifunctional Arena, the construction of the Prague-Bubny station, the reconstruction of the Brno – Královo Pole station, the reconstruction of Ostravice Textilie, and more.
Sustainability
The organizer of the exhibition, the Czech Chamber of Architects, also monitors the sustainability aspect of the competing works, which this year was confirmed by the authors for 128 projects (which does not mean that it does not apply to the other works). As in previous years, it can thus be stated that most authors designed buildings from the very first studies with sustainability considerations, focusing on energy savings, the use of renewable sources (via photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, or heat pumps), minimizing artificial lighting with the maximum utilization of natural light, controlled ventilation with heat recovery, and supporting natural airflow. Many projects address the principles of blue-green infrastructure – rainwater retention on-site, the use of greywater for flushing, and root wastewater treatment systems, with green roofs that improve climate and biodiversity, etc. Some authors did not adhere to sustainability principles solely from an energy-saving perspective but considered the entire life cycle of the building, including the construction process, where they favored renovation, conversion, or revitalization of existing buildings over demolition, utilized recycled and recyclable materials and environmentally friendly building materials, and paid attention to minimizing construction waste and the use of local materials. To reduce the impact of transportation, some projects consider shared electric cars, and in some buildings, a measurement and control system with automatic management of interior climate (heating, cooling, ventilation, shading, etc.) has been installed. Several constructions have obtained or aspire to obtain BREEAM, LEED, etc. certificates.
International expert jury
The works submitted for the Czech Architecture Award this year will be judged by a 5-member international jury. It will include architect and urban planner Julio de la Fuente (Spain), publicist and curator Manuela Hötzl (Austria), professor of landscape architecture at the University of Copenhagen Bettina Lamm (Denmark), architect Jeroen van Schooten (Netherlands), and architect Ilja Skoček Jr. (Slovakia). Compared to previous years, there has been a slight change in the jury's composition: Jeroen van Schooten, a member of the ČCA 2025 jury, is serving on the jury again this year, becoming the first juror to serve in two consecutive years.
Works registered by architects and nominated by experts
Authors could submit their works to the competition, and their submission could also be initiated by members of the Academy of the Czech Architecture Award. Works submitted in previous years, except for those that have already made it to the shortlist of nominees in the past, could also compete for the awards.
You will be able to learn more about the nominated works for the ČCA 2026 starting from June 16 on the ČCA website, Facebook, and Instagram, in Bulletin ČKA 2/2026, and at exhibitions organized in regions across the Czech Republic. During October, spots on ČT Art will air profiles of all nominated buildings, including short interviews with their authors. On the evening of Tuesday, June 16, public voting will also be launched on the ČCA website – the project that wins the Public Award will be announced on November 12 at the ČCA gala evening.
More information >
“In ten years, the Czech Architecture Award has become one of the most significant awards in our country. Its strength lies in the independent international jury that personally visits the nominated projects. Czech architecture thus offers a unique evaluation without local ties and comparisons on a European scale,” states Jan Kasl, chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects.
For this year's competition, works completed in the Czech Republic between 2021 and 2025 could be submitted. As in previous years, the highest number of registered buildings was completed in the last two years – 124 works were finished in 2025 and another 82 in 2024. This year, new constructions (168) slightly outnumber renovations (143), with ten projects featuring a combination of renovation and extension.
Typology
Housing remains an important topic in construction in the Czech Republic this year as well. Family and apartment houses, residential complexes, apartments, cottages, and chalets make up more than a third of the registered works (125), with the number of registered apartment buildings significantly increasing in recent years – from 20 buildings in 2023 to 38 this year.
Educational and training facilities (18), sports constructions with facilities (18), including those in smaller towns, civic service buildings, including cultural and community facilities, libraries, theaters, community centers, and ceremonial and mourning halls (48), religious buildings (5), administrative buildings, corporate facilities, and showrooms (25), as well as healthcare facilities such as treatment centers, eye clinics, and emergency services facilities – their number has risen from 6 last year to 18 this year – also occupy a permanent place among the submissions.
Among the entries are also constructions providing services (26), such as hotels, guesthouses, cafés, restaurants, and wine shops, including interior design modifications, as well as small constructions, exhibitions, and memorials (25).
Traditional disciplines of Czech architecture include renovations and conversions, which are once again represented this year – both renovations of monuments and significant historical buildings (7) and conversions of industrial areas and constructions (15), from which libraries, galleries, offices, and more are newly created.
Landscaping projects and public space modifications (27) also have a permanent place among the submissions – focusing primarily on parks, squares, embankments, terraces, etc.
Last but not least, transport constructions (10) are also entered into the competition, including stations, stops, bridges, footbridges, parking houses, and cable car stations.
Share of private and public contracts, projects from architectural competitions
Among the submissions, private contracts (181) continue to prevail over public ones (120), primarily due to the large number of residential buildings. Of the 120 projects funded by public investors, 12 originated from architectural competitions confirmed as regular by the ČKA – these include the VIDA Elementary School (competition 2021), the Resurrection of the Center Park in Most (competition 2020), the Park by the Water (competition 2020), the Olomouc City Library – Kotelna Branch (competition 2020), the Children’s Treatment Center Ostrov u Macochy (competition 2020), the Horácká Multifunctional Arena (competition 2019), the LOŠBATES Union Elementary School (competition 2018), Masaryk Square in Mnichovo Hradiště (competition 2016), the expansion of the cemetery in Hostivař (competition 2016), Smíchov – apartment buildings 02, 04, 09 (following the 2015 competition), the Fulnek Kindergarten (competition 2014), and the new pavilion at Prague Zoo (competition 2014). “The architectural competition is the best possible way to award a public contract for design work. We regret that many buildings are often realized more than 10 years after the competition ends. On the other hand, we are pleased that the number of architectural competitions in the Czech Republic is rising, as evidenced by last year, which saw 72 announced,” evaluates Mirko Lev, chairman of the ČKA working group for competitions and public contracts. More information on the record number of architectural competitions in 2025 is available in the press release on the Czech Chamber of Architects website.
Registered works by regions
The 11th year of the ČCA has seen entries from all regions of the Czech Republic, with the highest number traditionally coming from Prague (81), the South Moravian Region (49), and the Central Bohemian Region (47). Compared to the previous year, the number of entries from the South Bohemian Region (10 last year), the Hradec Králové Region (7 last year), and the Karlovy Vary Region (5 last year) has increased.
Details by region:
Prague – 81
South Moravian Region – 49, of which 28 in Brno
Central Bohemian Region – 47
South Bohemia – 18
Moravian-Silesian – 16
Liberec Region – 16
Hradec Králové Region – 14
Plzeň Region – 14
Vysočina Region – 9
Karlovy Vary Region – 9
Zlin Region – 8
Pardubice Region – 7
Olomouc Region – 6
Ústí nad Labem Region – 6
Construction costs
The economic parameters of the registered works confirm that, alongside smaller buildings and interiors, large investments also consistently appear in the competition. For 164 projects, costs were lower than 30 million CZK, for 59 projects, costs ranged from 30 to 100 million CZK, and amounts higher than 100 million CZK pertained to 78 projects. Among the most expensive constructions are primarily larger apartment and residential buildings, school and sports constructions, administrative and multifunctional buildings, cultural and community buildings (such as libraries), as well as infrastructural works and projects concerning public spaces (urban parks, squares, etc.) – including the Old Town Gate at Miloš Forman Square in Prague, the apartment building by Borský Park, the Resurrection of the Center Park in Most, the revitalization of OC Futurum, the Horácká Multifunctional Arena, the construction of the Prague-Bubny station, the reconstruction of the Brno – Královo Pole station, the reconstruction of Ostravice Textilie, and more.
Sustainability
The organizer of the exhibition, the Czech Chamber of Architects, also monitors the sustainability aspect of the competing works, which this year was confirmed by the authors for 128 projects (which does not mean that it does not apply to the other works). As in previous years, it can thus be stated that most authors designed buildings from the very first studies with sustainability considerations, focusing on energy savings, the use of renewable sources (via photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, or heat pumps), minimizing artificial lighting with the maximum utilization of natural light, controlled ventilation with heat recovery, and supporting natural airflow. Many projects address the principles of blue-green infrastructure – rainwater retention on-site, the use of greywater for flushing, and root wastewater treatment systems, with green roofs that improve climate and biodiversity, etc. Some authors did not adhere to sustainability principles solely from an energy-saving perspective but considered the entire life cycle of the building, including the construction process, where they favored renovation, conversion, or revitalization of existing buildings over demolition, utilized recycled and recyclable materials and environmentally friendly building materials, and paid attention to minimizing construction waste and the use of local materials. To reduce the impact of transportation, some projects consider shared electric cars, and in some buildings, a measurement and control system with automatic management of interior climate (heating, cooling, ventilation, shading, etc.) has been installed. Several constructions have obtained or aspire to obtain BREEAM, LEED, etc. certificates.
International expert jury
The works submitted for the Czech Architecture Award this year will be judged by a 5-member international jury. It will include architect and urban planner Julio de la Fuente (Spain), publicist and curator Manuela Hötzl (Austria), professor of landscape architecture at the University of Copenhagen Bettina Lamm (Denmark), architect Jeroen van Schooten (Netherlands), and architect Ilja Skoček Jr. (Slovakia). Compared to previous years, there has been a slight change in the jury's composition: Jeroen van Schooten, a member of the ČCA 2025 jury, is serving on the jury again this year, becoming the first juror to serve in two consecutive years.
Works registered by architects and nominated by experts
Authors could submit their works to the competition, and their submission could also be initiated by members of the Academy of the Czech Architecture Award. Works submitted in previous years, except for those that have already made it to the shortlist of nominees in the past, could also compete for the awards.
You will be able to learn more about the nominated works for the ČCA 2026 starting from June 16 on the ČCA website, Facebook, and Instagram, in Bulletin ČKA 2/2026, and at exhibitions organized in regions across the Czech Republic. During October, spots on ČT Art will air profiles of all nominated buildings, including short interviews with their authors. On the evening of Tuesday, June 16, public voting will also be launched on the ČCA website – the project that wins the Public Award will be announced on November 12 at the ČCA gala evening.
More information >
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