Tactical Urbanism NOW! 2026 – Architecture Competition
Tactical Urbanism NOW! 2026 – Architecture Competition is now open for entries!
TerraViva Competitions recently has launched its Tactical Urbanism NOW! 2026, a new edition of the architecture competition that calls on architects, planners, designers and creatives from all disciplines to design tactical interventions that prototype new ways of adapting public spaces to everyday urban challenges.
Short description
TerraViva Competitions has launched Tactical Urbanism NOW! 2026, a new edition of the architecture competition that calls on architects, planners, designers and creatives from all disciplines to design tactical interventions that prototype new ways of adapting public spaces to everyday urban challenges.
This new edition invites architects, urban designers, planners, artists and creatives from all backgrounds to propose innovative tactical projects that rethink public space through experimentation, adaptability and community engagement.
Participants are invited to explore how temporary, lightweight interventions can act as powerful tools for testing ideas, responding to local conditions and rethinking the future of public space.
Tactical Urbanism NOW! 2026 encourages designers to work with overlooked, underused or contested urban spaces – from traffic-dominated streets and residual plots to overheated plazas, forgotten pathways and fragmented public areas. By embracing adaptable systems, low-cost materials and participatory approaches, projects should demonstrate how tactical design can generate immediate impact while informing long-term transformation.
Rather than fixed solutions, this competition looks for proposals conceived as prototypes: flexible, testable and rooted in real urban life. Whether addressing climate stress, reclaiming space for people or strengthening community ties, the goal is to show how small-scale interventions can unlock new possibilities and reshape the urban experience over time.
How can simple, temporary actions help cities cope with climate stress? How can tactical projects reclaim space from cars and give it back to people and nature? How can modular and participatory solutions foster safer, greener and more inclusive urban environments?
Participants are encouraged to explore themes such as:
➜ People-First Streets: reimagining car-oriented spaces as social, walkable and shared environments;
➜ Community Co-Creation: projects that actively involve residents, users and local stakeholders;
➜ Climate Adaptation: tactical responses toheat, rain, flooding or lack of shade through lightweight and reversible solutions;
➜ Modularity & Flexibility: systems that can be assembled, disassembled and adapted over time;
This competition is an invitation to design realistic, field-ready proposals that can act as catalysts for long-term urban change!
Participants are free to choose any location in the world as the settingfor their tactical project. From dense metropolitan centres to small towns, informal settlements or peripheral neighbourhoods, every urban context can become a testing ground for transformation.
Designers are encouraged to look beyond conventional public spaces and investigate areas where change is already needed or quietly emerging.
The selected project area should be carefully analysed and justified, demonstrating how tactical design can activate latent qualities, respond to local challenges and generate positive impact.
By embracing adaptable systems, low-cost materials and participatory approaches, projects should demonstrate how tactical design can generate immediate impact while informing long-term transformation.
The jury will evaluate all the proposals according to the following principles:
➜ Originality of the concept;
➜ Flexibility and multi-functionality;
➜ Creative regeneration of the context;
➜ Social impact of the proposal;
➜ Use of “Tactical” techniques;
➜ Graphic representation;
Projects that express a special sensitivity towards tactical design and quality architectural solutions will be highly appreciated.
Reaching deep technical-constructive details will not be considered extremely important in the evaluation process.
Who may enter?
The competition is open to students, architects, designers, artists, engineers, urban planners, makers and creatives of all kinds. Participants can compete individually or in teams.
Prize:
Prizes up to $10,000 will be awarded to the winners, selected by an international jury.
Entry fees:
➜ Early registration (until 5th June 2026): 59 Euro + VAT (22%)
➜ Standard registration (until 25th September 2026): 89 Euro + VAT (22%)
➜ Late registration (until 30th October 2026): 129 Euro + VAT (22%)
