MEXTRÓPOLI Pavilion 2026 (Mexico City)

Since 1998, Arquine has organized an architecture competition that offers a platform for comparing ideas and proposals on equal terms. As in previous editions, the Arquine Competition No.28 invites participants to design, build, and activate a pavilion in Mexico City’s Historic Center as part of the MEXTRÓPOLI Architecture and City Festival.

Participants must design a structure that meets the requirements outlined in these guidelines regarding time, cost, and characteristics, while also demonstrating the ability to provoke and engage the public—an essential criterion for evaluation.

Objectives

• To invite participants worldwide to propose ideas for the design and construction of a public pavilion that is recyclable or reusable, in compliance with the requirements of these guidelines.

•  To create a reference space within the MEXTRÓPOLI Architecture and City Festival, a venue for reflection and dialogue about architecture and the urban environment.

   

  Site

  The MEXTRÓPOLI Pavilion 2026 will be installed in one of two emblematic public spaces within Mexico City’s Historic Center: the Alameda Central or the Plaza Manuel Tolsá, depending on the festival’s logistical and curatorial decisions.

  Submission Requirements

  Participants must submit a single digital image containing all the necessary information for understanding the proposal. The image must include:

• Site plan, floor plans, and sections at appropriate scales.
• Diagrams, sketches, collages, or any freehand or digital representation that conveys the project concept.
• Construction details at appropriate scales.

• A descriptive text of up to 250 words in either Spanish or English.
   

  Awards

• First Prize: $ 100,000.00 MXN
  - Construction of the MEXTRÓPOLI Pavilion 2026*
  - Free access to MEXTRÓPOLI for up to two team members
  - A set of up to ten Arquine books
• Second Prize: $ 50,000.00 MXN
  - Free access to MEXTRÓPOLI for up to two team members
  - A set of up to ten Arquine books
• Third Prize: $ 25,000.00 MXN
  - Free access to MEXTRÓPOLI for up to two team members
  - A set of up to ten Arquine books

Honorable Mention
- The jury may grant as many mentions as it deems appropriate

Competition Calendar

• 2025 November 17 - Opening of registration
• 2026 February 23 - End of inquiry period
• 2026 March 2 - Publication of FAQs
• 2026 April 17 - End of registration period
• 2026 April 20 - Submission deadline
• 2026 April 23 - Jury deliberation
• 2026 April 27 - Announcement of results
• 2026 May - Beginning of executive development
• 2026 September - Pavilion installation and opening

cash prize award: $ 9,500.00 USD

More information on the official website.