RIBA Announces Shortlist for 30th Anniversary Stirling Prize

The Royal Institute of British Architects announced the six projects shortlisted for the 2026 Stirling Prize nearly two months earlier than usual. Marking the award's 30th anniversary, the finalists were selected from 32 buildings honored at the RIBA National Awards based on criteria including design vision, sustainability, and innovation.

The shortlist features six projects all located in England, with a heavy concentration in London and the South East. These include Paddington Square in London by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and Adamson Associates, and the Lion Green Road housing in London by Mary Duggan Architects and RUFF Architects. In Cambridge, the list includes Pembroke Mill Lane by Haworth Tompkins and the River Wing at Clare College by Witherford Watson Mann Architects. Other finalists are the BEAM arts venue in Hertfordshire by Bennetts Associates and the House at Fairmead in Essex by Sergison Bates.

Witherford Watson Mann Architects is seeking a rare back-to-back victory after winning the previous year. However, the selection has faced criticism for favoring wealthy clients and elite institutions while ignoring regional winners and projects addressing social issues such as public investment and housing shortages. The winner will be announced on October 15 at Old Billingsgate in London.