OTTAWA – The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and Canada Council for the Arts has announced the call for submissions for the 2026 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture is now open.
The medals program provides a snapshot of outstanding design in a recently built project in Canada or anywhere in the world, explains a release. The 2026 medals will reflect how architects are advancing the discipline while inspiring Canadians to recognize the profound cultural impact on communities.
Up to 12 medals will be awarded in this showcase.
Since 2024, the program has mandated that submissions must include Energy Use Intensity and Thermal Energy Demand Intensity metrics, in recognition of the importance of sustainability efforts.
The medals also serve as a unique lens for examining Canadian identity, capturing how regional influences, cultural diversity and historical context shape the nation’s architectural landscape, the release adds. Past winners have included projects that define community gathering spaces, innovative housing solutions, and landmark public buildings.
The 2026 competition welcomes submissions across a wide range of architectural typologies, including but not limited to:
- Cultural – Museums, libraries, concert halls, galleries and other cultural institutions
- Institutional – Educational, governmental, civic, community and sports facilities
- Healthcare – Hospitals, clinics and health care-related facilities
- Infrastructure – Industrial, transportation and utility-related projects
- Commercial – Offices, retail, hospitality and mixed-use developments
- Multi-Unit Residential – Apartment buildings, condominiums and collective housing
- Single-Family Residential– Unique homes and small-scale residential projects
- Other – Urban design, religious buildings, heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, and public realm interventions, innovative, community-driven and remote or northern projects are especially encouraged.
The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, created by the RAIC, are also a notable element to the awards and contribute to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture.
The submission deadline is Dec. 11 at 10 p.m. EST. Recipients will be announced in June 2026.
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