Norman Foster to give keynote speech at Dezeen Awards 2026 party
British architect Norman Foster is set to deliver a keynote speech at this year's Dezeen Awards party, which will take place at the Royal Opera House in London on 16 November.
In his address, Foster will focus on the future of architecture, drawing on his oeuvre as one of the most influential architects of his generation.
The nonagenarian is one of the world's most respected architects, leading global firm Foster + Partners alongside serving as president of the Norman Foster Foundation.
He has had an immense impact on global architecture over the past 60 years, with early landmark projects including the HSBC Building in Hong Kong and London Stansted Airport.
He remains at the helm of the global architectural powerhouse as executive chairman, with more recent significant projects including Apple Park in the USA and the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. The architect recently unveiled the final designs for memorial statues and a glass bridge dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II.
Foster is also one of the most decorated architects in history, being awarded the RIBA Gold Medal, AIA Gold Medal, Pritzker Architecture Prize and Praemium Imperiale award, while three buildings designed by his studio have won the Stirling Prize – including, most recently, a project described as the largest stone building built in the City of London since St Paul's Cathedral.
His foundation, along with his eponymous institute for sustainable cities launched in 2024, are initiatives that both promote interdisciplinary thinking and research to help new generations of architects, designers and urbanists anticipate the future as well as educating the civic leaders of the future.
Foster joined the architecture judging panel for Dezeen Awards 2026, alongside industry leaders Annabelle Selldorf, Daniel Libeskind, Ma Yansong and Amanda Levete, judging this year's projects which came from over 90 different countries across the globe.
Last week, Dezeen revealed all 392 shortlisted projects in the running for this year's awards. The architecture shortlist was announced on Monday, the interiors shortlist on Tuesday, followed by the design shortlist.
Readers can now choose their favourite shortlisted projects to be awarded in this year's public vote.
Amongst this year's shortlisted projects are a mosque with a perforated, blanket-like roof of stone-clad steelwork, an over-century-old dockside warehouse conversion and a modular furniture system made up of upholstered squishy balls.
Dezeen will announce the public vote winners and across social media channels ahead of the party on 16 November.
Dezeen Awards party tickets on sale
Tickets for the Dezeen Awards 2026 party are on sale. The occasion is an opportunity to celebrate with fellow nominees and VIPs, connect with others from around the world and reward your team for their hard work.
Studios that have been shortlisted for this year's Dezeen Awards are eligible to purchase discounted tickets for £249.
Subscribe to the Dezeen Awards newsletter to keep up to date with the latest announcements on the party.
Top image is courtesy of Nigel Young/Foster + Partners.
Dezeen Awards 2026 in partnership with Trimble
Dezeen Awards is the ultimate accolade for architects and designers worldwide. The ninth edition of the annual awards is in partnership with global technology company Trimble. Through connected hardware and software solutions, Trimble helps designers to transform the way they shape spaces and buildings as well as drive productivity in the process. Trimble's collaboration with Dezeen Awards demonstrates its ongoing commitment to inspiring and supporting creative excellence across the globe.
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