KL Architecture Festival 2026 kicks off, design contests open to public

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 19): The Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) 2026 has been launched at RexKL here as a year-long programme themed Future Culture.

This year, KLAF 2026 will feature several design competitions open to the public, including the Batik Design Competition, HP DPI Photography Competition, Installation Competition (KLAF × KRF), Titiwangsa Pavilion 3.0 Competition, and the Brown-Build Urban Renewal Ideas Competition.

Organised by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), the launch was officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, together with PAM president Adrianta Aziz on Saturday.

KLAF 2026 director Lim Gim Huang said the competitions, including on climate-related themes, will play a key role in encouraging wider participation.

“This year, competitions are not only open to architects. We also have participatory competitions open to everyone. We want to engage communities from all groups and classes to come together and make architecture happen,” Lim said.

Participation and submissions will be managed digitally via the KLAF app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

“We’re not only doing events for architects and sponsors. We want to reach the public as much as possible. This includes design professionals from other industries, stakeholders, and founders, basically anyone who likes to travel, see things and be immersed in culture and Future Culture,” he added.

Lim said the Future Culture theme reflects the idea that design must consider history, memory and people.

“People are culture, and that’s where the idea of Future Culture comes from,” he told EdgeProp at the launch.

KLAF 2026 programmes free for public

The programme also includes the DATUM:KL Conference in July 2026, featuring speakers such as Diller Scofidio + Renfro partner Charles Renfro, Neri&Hu founding partner Lyndon Neri, JADE + QA founder Martin Jochman, and Andryrahman Architect founder and principal architect Andy Rahman.

DATUM:KL is PAM’s annual international architectural design conference, and serves as a platform for professional discourse, and the presentation of architectural works.

KLAF 2026 programmes are free for public participation.

Promoting architecture as part of Visit Malaysia 2026

Adrianta said the initiative also aims to reconnect younger generations with the city, while positioning architecture as part of Visit Malaysia 2026.

“We want to bring these stories back, so the younger generation can understand the meaning of these urban spaces, while promoting architecture through tourism in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026,” he said.

Adrianta said collaboration with key stakeholders is essential to drive placemaking initiatives in the city.

“We need to collaborate with Hannah Yeoh, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and other technical agencies,” he said.

“We want to introduce more placemaking, and let people in KL, as well as visitors, understand the meaning of places with different backgrounds, heritage and storylines.”

New ideas to promote healthy lifestyle, including public shower facilities

Meanwhile, Yeoh said the government would work with PAM to recreate public spaces in KL.

“One of the first things we are looking into is public shower facilities for both tourists and locals, as the lack of such amenities often limits how people, especially women, use public spaces for exercise before work.

“We are going to work with PAM because to create a healthy lifestyle, the infrastructure must be in place to support it,” she said.

She added that the initiative will involve collaboration with multiple stakeholders to develop new ideas for the city.

“This is something we will work on together with stakeholders to explore new ideas and recreate public spaces for KL residents,” she said.

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