6th Biennale Svizzera del Territorio 2026

Competition Brief

The 6th Biennale Svizzera del Territorio, organised by the Istituto Internazionale d’Architettura (i2a) in Lugano, launches a Call for Action under the theme “Handle With Care”. The event invites proposals for reversible, artful interventions, installations, performances, artistic works, or architectural visions at Villa Saroli in Lugano, exploring care, maintenance, responsibility, and the power of attentive action toward the built and natural environment.

Intent

The intent is to encourage creative responses that treat territory and architecture with care, transforming the theme into tangible actions or proposals that highlight maintenance and responsibility in contemporary spatial practice.

Purpose

It aims to foster debate on architecture’s role in addressing global transformations while creating a public programme of exhibitions and events during the biennale weekend (1–3 October 2026).

Requirements

The call is open internationally. Proposals can range from installations and constructed interventions to performances or visionary projects. Submissions require a registration form, brief description of the action, illustration or technical drawing, project title, and short team presentation. A budget indication may be needed. Selected proposals will be exhibited at Villa Saroli.

Jury

No detailed jury list is publicly available on the official site at this stage. Selection is handled by the organising institution i2a. Winners and shortlisted proposals are expected to be announced in March 2026.

Fees

Item	Details
Registration / Submission Fee	Free (no fee mentioned)

Rewards

Reward	Details
Selected Proposals	Exhibition at Villa Saroli during the Biennale (1–3 October 2026)
Winners	Recognition and inclusion in the official programme

No cash prizes are specified. Selected actions gain visibility within the biennale’s public events.

Dates

Milestone	Date
Submission Deadline	28 June 2026
Biennale Event	1–3 October 2026

✦ ArchUp Competition Review

The Istituto Internazionale d’Architettura (i2a) in Lugano organizes the 6th Biennale Svizzera del Territorio as a Call for Action. Jury transparency is limited, as no specific members are named publicly; selection appears to be managed internally by the institution. The format is an open call for creative interventions rather than a traditional design competition. With no entry fee and rewards limited to exhibition opportunities, the benefits appear modest compared to the effort of developing site-specific proposals. For participants, the primary value lies in potential exhibition exposure and contribution to a themed cultural event, positioning it more as a promotional platform for ideas than a pathway to implementation or significant professional gain. The jury’s expertise cannot be fully assessed due to the lack of named members.

Calls focused on care and maintenance often intersect with current debates in sustainability and responsible design practices. Readers interested in territorial and urban interventions may explore related coverage in urban design. Similar biennale-style events also connect to broader discussions in architecture about public engagement and temporary actions.

Conclusion and final thoughts

This biennale comes from the Istituto Internazionale d’Architettura, a Swiss institution with a history of organising territorial and architectural events in Lugano, though it remains relatively specialised rather than a major global player. The 2026 edition is tied to a specific themed weekend and lacks the scale or long-term reputation of larger international biennales. While it may stimulate local and thematic discussion on care in architecture, its contribution to the wider industry appears limited to exhibition and debate opportunities without strong implementation or financial support. Free participation lowers barriers, but the modest rewards and unclear selection process make its overall value moderate for participants seeking substantial professional advancement.