MAC Panamá 2026 International Architecture Competition
Competition Brief
The MAC Panamá International Architecture Competition 2026 is a challenge issued to architects and different professionals in the world to come up with new designs for the headquarters of the MAC Panamá museum. The contest is looking for new architectural concepts that can show the museum’s values of sustainability, inclusion, transparency, and social engagement. It is planned that the new structure will play a crucial role in the city’s cultural life by being an artistically active space that opens to or functions with the public.
Intent
The competition aims at the generation of architectural solutions which would mirror the cultural mission of the Museum of Contemporary Art and also help to enhance Panama’s place in the regional cultural framework. The proposals have to take into consideration the museum’s need for a venue, which would promote community interaction, public engagement, and artistic expression all in one spot.
Purpose
This contest is about developing a new quarters that enlist the support of the institution’s principles and at the same time make an impact on Panama’s urban character. The structure must be accessible to the city, facilitating the interaction between art, architecture, and the audience and at the same time providing support for ecologically friendly urban development.
Requirements
The contest is open internationally for architects, architecture firms, and teams of professionals from different fields. The submission is not named and is organized in two rounds for the sake of fairness and architectural excellence. The entries must meet the competition’s specifications and criteria, which encompass design documents and adherence to the jury’s rating standards. Comprehensive submission directions and registration are found on the official competition microsite.
Jury
The panel consists of world-class architects and experts who have worked across different fields such as architecture, art, and museum design. Among them are practicing architects and experts who will judge the proposals for their artistic value, appropriateness to the urban environment, and the degree of conformity with the ideals of the competition.
- David Basulto — Architect
- José Esparza Chong Cuy — Architect and Curator
- Martha Thorne — Urban Planner
- Antonio Murzi — President of the Board of Directors
- Graciela Quelquejeu de Chapman — Honorary Director and Co‑founder
- Ramón Zafrani — Architect
- Annamaria Zampogna — Architect
Fees
| Submission Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Entry Submission | Free |
Rewards
| Award | Description |
|---|---|
| Main Award | Recognition for the winning architectural proposal for the new MAC Panamá headquarters. |
| Finalist Recognition | Acknowledgement for shortlisted proposals that demonstrate high architectural quality. |
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for Entries Published | January 13, 2026 |
| Phase 1 Submission Deadline | March 29, 2026 – 23:59 GMT‑5 |
| Finalists Announced | April 20, 2026 |
| Phase 2 Submission Deadline | May 3, 2026 – 23:59 GMT‑5 |
| Results Announcement | May 25, 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The MAC Panamá 2026 International Architecture Competition is organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art Panamá with publicly listed international jury members, providing transparency at a high level. The competition is professional and academic and targets high-quality architectural proposals for a cultural institution. It is free to enter, and the prizes are mainly recognition of the winning design and of the shortlisted finalists, which is fair and proportionate considering the scale of the competition and the efforts done. The main benefit for the participants comes from the development of their portfolio and getting exposed rather than immediate implementation of their designs. The jury is composed of renowned architects and curators, thus ensuring that the evaluation is based on professional standards concerning the creativity, urban integration, and alignment with the institutional values.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The MAC Panamá 2026 International Architecture Competition is a venue for creative architectural thinking that is lauded and highlighted through its focus on cultural infrastructure and urban integration. The open and anonymous two-phased format not only supports but also guarantees the transparent evaluation process, besides ensuring global participation. Those who are especially interested in cultural and urban design competitions may benefit from comparing this competition to other international design challenges that are published on ArchUp, such as Architecture at Zero, International Excellence Awards 2026, and Urban & Architecture Design Awards 2026, as they will have more options to choose from. In addition to that, these challenges share a lot in common with each other, and thus it will be easy to distinguish between them since all the competition aims are cultural relevance and urban engagement through clear and conceptually strong design responses.
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