Discover Singapore Archifest 2026, the country’s biggest architecture festival featuring world-renowned architects, guided tours, exhibitions, films, workshops and public programmes from 17 to 31 July.

Architecture isn’t just about nice buildings; it also encapsulates the stories we tell, the cities we shape and the communities we create. This July, Singapore Archifest (SGAF) 2026 returns for its landmark 20th edition, inviting everyone from design enthusiasts and curious explorers to students and families to experience architecture in ways that go far beyond blueprints.

Running from 17 to 31 July 2026, this year’s festival embraces the theme “Convergence: Themes and Variations,” celebrating two decades of architectural dialogue while looking ahead to the future of our cities. Organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), the annual festival has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated design events, bringing together internationally acclaimed architects, designers, academics and thought leaders alongside the wider public.

Whether you’re interested in world-class talks, behind-the-scenes architectural tours, immersive exhibitions or simply looking for unique things to do in Singapore this July, Singapore Archifest 2026 promises something for everyone.

Returning as Festival Director, renowned architect René Tan and his team from RT+Q Architects have curated a programme that reflects on the evolution of architecture while exploring how design continues to respond to today’s environmental, cultural and social challenges.

Rather than presenting architecture as a discipline reserved for professionals, this year’s festival highlights how great design emerges through collaboration between architects, communities, policymakers, educators and craftspeople.

As René Tan explains: “This year’s Singapore Archifest theme, Convergence: Themes and Variations, reflects the many ways in which designers and architects approach the challenges of our time. While these approaches may differ, they are united by a shared commitment to improving the built environment.”

The result is a festival that feels both reflective and forward-thinking, encouraging conversations about how cities can become more sustainable, inclusive and resilient for future generations.

One of the biggest highlights of SGAF 2026 is its three-day Conference at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, where more than 20 internationally renowned architects and designers will share their work and ideas.

Among the headline speakers are some of architecture’s biggest names:

• Elizabeth Diller, co-founder of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, whose portfolio includes New York’s iconic High Line, the expansion of MoMA and the world’s first purpose-built women’s mosque.
• Marina Tabassum, the celebrated Bangladeshi architect recognised internationally for climate-responsive architecture and recipient of two Aga Khan Awards.
• Lina Ghotmeh, acclaimed for combining archaeology, sustainability and contemporary architecture in award-winning projects across Europe and the Middle East.
• Elisabetta Trezzani, Partner at Renzo Piano Building Workshop, who has led globally recognised projects including the Whitney Museum of American Art.
• Kris Yao and Kuo Ying-Chao, two influential architects from Taiwan known for blending poetic design with environmental sensitivity.

For anyone passionate about architecture, urban planning or design innovation, this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from some of the industry’s most influential voices, all in Singapore.

Beyond the conference halls, Singapore Archifest transforms the city itself into an open-air gallery. One of the festival’s most popular experiences, Architours by NUS, returns with guided visits to 16 carefully selected architectural landmarks across Singapore. These curated tours offer exclusive insights into the stories, design philosophies and engineering behind some of the country’s most fascinating spaces.

Instead of simply admiring buildings from afar, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation for how architecture shapes everyday life, heritage and urban identity.

Even if you’ve never attended an architecture festival before, SGAF 2026 offers plenty of accessible experiences designed for the general public. Film lovers can catch screenings including A Pile of Ghosts, an award-winning documentary examining China’s ghost cities, alongside Nagari Films, a collection of short films exploring urban life in India, and Summer Island, a visually stunning documentary showcasing some of Singapore’s most remarkable architectural projects.

Interactive experiences include Resourcity, a strategy board game challenging participants to build sustainable cities while navigating real-world constraints, while sketching sessions and creative workshops encourage visitors to see familiar spaces through fresh eyes.

The newly introduced Community Square further expands the festival’s appeal, offering discussions, workshops and collaborative activities where architects, students and the public can exchange ideas in an informal setting.

To commemorate two decades of architectural conversations, SGAF 2026 launches a special SGAF20 programme that celebrates the festival’s legacy. Visitors can explore a multimedia exhibition featuring archival photographs, stories and milestones from every edition of Singapore Archifest, while a commemorative publication brings together reflections from all 20 Festival Directors.

Ahead of the festival, a dedicated season of SIA’s ArchitectuREAL podcast also revisits the people and ideas that have shaped Singapore’s architectural landscape over the past twenty years. SIA President Ar. Tiah Nan Chyuan reflects on the festival’s significance: “Singapore Archifest has always been a gauge of what our profession believes in—what we build, why we build it, and for whom.”

This year’s programme also embraces wider conversations around sustainability, leadership and inclusive design. The SGAF Forum, curated by the SIA Young Architects League, brings together emerging architects from across Southeast Asia to discuss the future of the profession, artificial intelligence, education and regional collaboration.

Meanwhile, the expanded SGAF Expo doubles its exhibition footprint, connecting architects and interior designers with building material specialists, while the Community Square creates opportunities for dialogue between professionals, students and members of the public.

Special exhibitions such as Women in Architecture, SCDA30: Beyond Boundaries, and the returning Singapore Pavilion from the Venice Biennale 2025 further demonstrate how architecture intersects with culture, identity and everyday living.

Unlike traditional trade events, Singapore Archifest succeeds because it makes architecture approachable. Whether you’re attending a keynote by an internationally acclaimed architect, discovering hidden gems through a guided tour, watching thought-provoking documentaries or simply exploring creative installations across the city, the festival offers countless opportunities to see Singapore from a new perspective. As DesignSingapore Council Executive Director Dawn Lim puts it: “Architecture has always been about convergence: of people and places, memory and ambition, evolution and what endures.”

That idea is what drives SGAF 2026—a festival where design becomes a conversation about how we live today and how we imagine tomorrow. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, creative professional or simply looking for inspiring things to do in Singapore this July, Singapore Archifest 2026 offers a unique opportunity to experience the city through the lens of design and discover how architecture continues to shape the future of everyday life.

Singapore Archifest 2026 runs from 17th to 31st July 2026. The Conference & Expo runs from 22nd to 24th July 2026 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre. More information available here