Singapore Archifest (SGAF) 2026 returns from 17 to 31 July 2026 with the theme "Convergence: Themes and Variations". 

An annual festival celebrating architecture and the built environment, this milestone 20th edition will bring together architects, designers, academics, policymakers and the public in a celebration of the ideas that have shaped the festival over the past twenty years while imagining new possibilities for the future. 

Organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) since 2007, SGAF has gained recognition as one of the most exciting architectural events in the calendar. 

Under the returning leadership of Festival Director (FD) Rene Tan and his team at RT+Q Architects, this year’s festival is positioned to highlight how architectural knowledge develops across studios, offices, classrooms, and public life, exploring craft, collaboration, and insight in creating spaces that respect cultural legacies while addressing today’s urban realities. 

“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. As leading practitioners from around the world gather in Singapore this July, we hope the festival will reinforce Singapore’s position as a global centre for design excellence,” said Ar. Rene Tan, Festival Director of SGAF 2026. 

SGAF 2026: Directors’ Roundtables 
Converging to celebrate 20 editions of Singapore Archifest, SGAF 2026 presents the Directors’ Roundtables on 24 July 2026 with past FDs and their guests engaging in lively discussions to unpack the evolving challenges and possibilities in architecture. The programme is supported by and in partnership with AHCGM (Singapore) Limited. 

Design, Renew, Repeat 
By Ar. Razvan I. Ghillic-Micu (FD 2021) & Calvin Chua (FD 2023) 

Rethinking Singapore: Can Architecture Still Save Our World? 
By A/Prof. Chong Keng Hua (FD 2020) & Adib Jalal (FD 2012–2013) 

What Future 
By Prof. Ar. Richard Ho, Ar. Chio Wen Tian, & Ar. Sri Saravanan (FD 2015–2016) 

Happy Cities for Life 
By Ar. Seah Chee Huang (FD 2009–2011) & Yann Follain (FD 2018) 

Dreams for Architecture and Singapore 
By Siew Man Kok (FD 2007–2008)

Order of Love - Designing the Intangibles 
By Adj A/Prof Ar. Khoo Peng Beng & Ar. Belinda Huang (FD 2022) 

Competencies, Agencies & Positions 
By Ar. H. Koon Wee (FD 2017), A/Prof. Eunice Seng (FD 2017), Ar. Adrian Lai (FD 2024), & Ar. Alan Tay (FD 2019) 

This year’s edition continues to be supported by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg). 

Dsg Executive Director Ms Dawn Lim commented, “Architecture has always been about convergence: of people and places, memory and ambition, evolution and what endures. Guided by the Design 2035 Masterplan, we are shaping a city that is liveable, loveable and limitless, where design transforms these convergences into new possibilities for the future.” 

SGAF 2026: SGAF20 Commemorative Programme 
To mark its milestone 20th edition, SGAF 2026 unveils SGAF20, a special commemorative programme in collaboration with SGAF20 Curator Ar. Razvan I. Ghilic-Micu, spotlighting the festival’s journey through an immersive experience that unfolds across the SGAF 2026 programming. 

Leading up to the festival, a special season of SIA’s ArchitectuREAL podcast series debuts on YouTube, featuring conversations with past Festival Directors as they reflect on the legacy and evolution of SGAF. During the festival, the SGAF20 Exhibition presents an unprecedented multimedia showcase of the festival’s history through archival materials and storytelling. 

Beyond the festival, a commemorative SGAF20 publication brings together curated reflections from all 20 editions of Singapore Archifest, including SGAF 2026, highlighting its enduring impact on architectural discourse. 

SIA President Ar. Tiah Nan Chyuan said, “Singapore Archifest has always been a gauge of what our profession believes in: what we build, why we build it, and for whom. Across twenty editions, that question has been asked in twenty diƯerent ways, by passionate and dedicated teams, and the answers have been bold, warm, and genuinely surprising. SIA is proud to have supported this conversation for two decades and deeply committed to seeing it grow into the next twenty.”

SGAF 2026 Key Highlights 
The festival offers a diverse array of experiences, designed to engage and build connections with the audiences. 

SGAF Conference 
22–24 July 2026, Sands Expo & Convention Centre 

SGAF Conference brings together over 20 internationally acclaimed architects, designers, and thought leaders from across Asia and beyond. Attendees can expect to hear from internationally renowned architects including Robert Bannura, Elizabeth Diller, Lina Ghotmeh, Prof. Paul Tange, Marina Tabassum, and Elisabetta Trezzani, alongside leading practitioners and industry voices such as Shin Chang, Mior Aizuddin Fahmi, Nondita Correa Mehrotra, Rahul Mehrotra, Kuo Ying-Chao, and Kris Yao. Discover new perspectives and rethink the evolving boundaries of architectural practice through these cross-disciplinary dialogues. 

Highlights among the prominent figures include: 

• Elizabeth Diller, Co-Founding Partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro in New York City, renowned for spearheading transformative cultural projects including the High Line, expansion of MoMA, and the first purpose-built women’s mosque. 
• Marina Tabassum, the visionary Bangladeshi architect, two-time Aga Khan laureate behind Bait Ur Rouf Mosque and Khudi Bari, and educator known for advancing climate-responsive architecture.
• Lina Ghotmeh, the architect and founder of Lina Ghotmeh Architecture, honoured with the Schelling Architecture Award and Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 
• Elisabetta Trezzani, a Partner and President of the Board at Renzo Piano Building Workshop, distinguished for delivering the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Harvard Art Museums. 
• Kris Yao, founder of KRIS YAO | ARTECH in Taipei and Shanghai, acclaimed for his poetic approach and portfolio, including the Lanyang Museum and National Palace Museum Southern Branch. 
• Kuo Ying-Chao, principal architect of Bio-architecture Formosana in Taipei, recognised for the Beitou Library and his biologically inspired approach to sustainable architecture.

SGAF Forum 
22–24 July 2026, Sands Expo & Convention Centre 

Curated by SIA Young Architects League (YAL), the SGAF Forum invites regional young architect leaders from Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Diverse voices come together in a series of dialogues examining leadership, education, AI adoption, and how the profession can respond with resilience, criticality, and purpose to shape a more inclusive and forward-looking built environment. 

SGAF Expo presented by 4PLUS8 
22–24 July 2026, Sands Expo & Convention Centre 

An annual B2B architecture and design exhibition organised with TAC-Group Pte Ltd (TAC), SGAF Expo returns with twice the exhibition footprint across two halls. 

As Singapore’s only curated platform connecting building material specialists with architects and interior designers in a conducive environment, SGAF Expo provides a platform for meaningful partnerships and opportunities. 

SGAF Expo also features SGAF Market, a curated business matching programme that brings together architects, interior designers and Building Material Specialists Exhibitors through pre-arranged one-to-one meetings. 

SGAF Community Square 
22–24 July 2026, Sands Expo & Convention Centre 

SGAF 2026 introduces the Community Square, a vibrant gathering space for architects, designers, students, and the public to exchange ideas, build connections, and participate in hands-on creative experiences. Featuring community and social impact discussions, young architects’ dialogues, workshops, and sketching sessions, the programmes provide opportunities for meaningful collaborative exchange across disciplines and generations. 

SIA Dinner Reception 
22 July 2026, Sands Expo & Convention Centre 

Graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development, the SIA Dinner Reception marks a special milestone celebrating 20 editions of SGAF. 

The SIA Dinner Reception is reimagined as an immersive festival experience, where vibrant music, a sumptuous buffet, an open bar, and lively conversations come together for an unforgettable evening with industry leaders, peers, friends, and architects. 

As the official opening of SGAF 2026, the night of festivities features professional networking, commemorative showcases, interactive exhibits, and a dynamic dining experience. 

SGAF+ 
17–31 July 2026, island-wide 

SGAF 2026 offers an extensive series of public programmes designed for widespread accessibility and participation. Under the festival theme, these diverse events invite everyone to discover how architecture impacts our past, present and future. 

Highlights include: 

• Architours: Join an immersive curated series of chaperoned tours across 16 hand-picked architectural works with Architours by NUS. 
• Screenings: Catch the following film and documentary screenings
  • A Pile of Ghosts (2021) by Ella Raidel, an award-winning film examining ghost cities and speculative urban futures in China
  • Nagari Films presented by Nondita Correa Mehrotra, a thematic curation of 7-minute short films initiated by the Charles Correa Foundation exploring urban dynamics and crises in the Indian context. 
  • シンガポールの夏 (Summer Island) (2025) by Shiya Creative Studio, an architectural documentary short film featuring projects such as House of Tan Yeok Nee, Jurong Lake Gardens (Central and East), Singapore Oceanarium, Holland Road House, and Kueh Kueh at Katong, among others. 
• Resourcity: Hosted at the Singapore Institute of Architects, sessions of the strategic board game Resourcity challenge players to build and manage a sustainable city while navigating resource constraints and unexpected crises. 
• Women In Architecture: A platform in collaboration with The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), showcasing women architects shaping Singapore’s built environment. 
• Rasa-Tabula-Singapura: The Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2025 returns home with a multisensory exhibition.
• SCDA30: Beyond Boundaries: Returning to Singapore at the URA Centre, SCDA Architects marks its 30th anniversary with a commemorative exhibition showcasing three decades of design evolution. 
• SIDS Design Convention 2026: Themed “Beyond the Façade: Interior Design as Spatial Curation” and presented within SGAF in collaboration with SIA, the convention brings together leading voices from architecture and interior design. 

For more information on Singapore Archifest 2026 and event ticketing details, visit the official website at archifest.sg and Instagram at instagram.com/archifest.