Pan-African Biennale 2026: Nairobi Hosts First Architecture Festival
The Pan-African Biennale 2026, the continent's first dedicated architecture platform, will launch on 7 September in Nairobi, Kenya, and run until 11 September. Curated by Somali-Italian architect Omar Degan, the event focuses on the built environment of Africa, featuring 54 exhibitors from African and diasporic studios. The theme is 'Shifting the Center: From Fragility to Resilience', with displays organized by climatic zones rather than national pavilions, emphasizing shared conditions and histories. Venues include the Kenyatta International Convention Centre and several sites in the Ngara district, with an evening film programme at Unseen Nairobi. Public programming includes keynotes, panels, and workshops. The Van Alen Institute's Paris Prize, dormant for three decades, will be relaunched as the Re:Paris Prize, with the winning group announced on 10 September. The biennale is set to move to a different African city every two years. Admission is free.
Key facts
- The Pan-African Biennale 2026 is the first architecture festival of its kind in Africa.
- It will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 7 to 11 September 2026.
- The curator is Somali-Italian architect Omar Degan.
- The theme is 'Shifting the Center: From Fragility to Resilience'.
- There are 54 exhibitors, at least one per African country.
- Exhibits are organized by climatic zones, not national pavilions.
- The Van Alen Institute's Paris Prize is relaunched as the Re:Paris Prize.
- The biennale will move to a different African city every two years.
Entities
Artists
- Omar Degan
- George A Ndege
- William Van Alen
- Ellie Stathaki
- Djamel Klouche
- Larry Tchogninou
- Olufemi Hinson Yovo
- Armel Sagbohan
- Aboubakar Fofana
- Nu Goteh
Institutions
- Pan-African Biennale 2026
- Architectural Association of Kenya
- Van Alen Institute
- Wallpaper*
- RAAS Architects
- Medhanie Teklemariam
- Nana Collective
- Moyésoa
- ADD.locus Architects
- Unseen Nairobi
- Pan-African Biennale (PAB)
- Kenyatta International Convention Centre
- Moralo Designs
- Association La Voûte Nubienne
- Remesha Design Lab
- Ramos Castellano Arquitectos
- Barla Barla Architectes
- Archi Infini & Partenaires
- Afrostudio
- Megawra – BEC
- Hive Earth
- Raas Architects
- MASS Design Group
- Design Without Borders
- Daar Studio
- Lemon Pebble
- Banga Coletivo
- World Urban Forum 13
- UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona
- Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2026
- Stuudio TÄNA
Locations
- Nairobi
- Kenya
- Mogadishu
- Ethiopia
- Nigeria
- Seychelles
- Massawa
- Eritrea
- Rift Valley
- New York
- Paris
- Greece
- London
- Kenyatta International Convention Centre
- Kigali
- Rwanda
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eswatini
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Senegal
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Baku
- Azerbaijan
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Tallinn
- Estonia