Stunning images capturing architecture, people and the relationship between buildings and their surroundings have been shortlisted for the Chartered Institute of Building’s prestigious annual photography competition.
Twelve photographs have been selected as finalists for CIOB’s Art of Building 2026 competition, which celebrates the built environment and the people, places, skills and ideas that shape it.
The shortlisted images take viewers from the snowy mountains of Iran and the floodwaters of rural Bangladesh to iconic buildings in Seoul, Prague and Barcelona.
The finalists include an aerial view of Bangladesh’s historic Somapura Mahavihara, a dramatic low-angle photograph of Prague’s Masarycka building, and an image of a traditional Himba shelter being constructed in Namibia.
Other entries feature the Library of Birmingham, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre in the Azores, and a residential tower on Toronto’s waterfront.
The 12 photographers are based in the UK, the United States, Iran, Bangladesh, Poland, Singapore, the Czech Republic, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, and will now compete for the public’s vote.
Saul Townsend, Head of Communications at CIOB, said the shortlist continues to surprise him each year.
“Every year I think I know what to expect from Art of Building, and every year the photographers prove me wrong,” said Townsend.
He added that the selection reflects the many different ways people engage with architecture and construction around the world.
“I genuinely love this collection, and I think it shows just how differently we can all see and experience the built world around us,” said Townsend.
Public voting opens on Monday 21 September and closes on Friday 16 October, giving people the chance to choose their favourite photograph from the 12 finalists.
The winning image will be announced alongside the other Art of Building 2026 winners, who are selected by a panel of judges, on Tuesday 3 November.
The 12 Art of Building 2026 public vote finalists are:
- Aqualuna, by Swee Choo Oh, photographed in Toronto, Canada
- Ascending Geometry, by Joanne Bird, photographed at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul, South Korea
- Ice Flower Hotel, by Maho, photographed in Shemshak, Iran
- Layers of Time, by Muhammad Amdad Hossain, photographed at Somapura Mahavihara, Bangladesh
- Living on the Edge, by Azim Khan Ronnie, photographed in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh
- Muther Turm, by Sebastian Szostek, photographed on Rugen Island, Germany
- Pavilion of Enlightenment, by Garion Chee, photographed in Bangkok, Thailand
- Sculpted Pinnacle, by Tomas Salac, photographed in Prague, Czech Republic
- The Hidden Ballroom, by Damien Walmsley, photographed at the Library of Birmingham, UK
- The Himba Builder, by Satya Maia Patchineelam, photographed in Namibia
- Underground, by Jens Moser, photographed in Faial, Azores, Portugal
- Windows of Light, by Shyjith Kannur, photographed in Barcelona, Spain
Members of the public can view all 12 finalists and cast their vote for a favourite ahead of the closing date next month, with the overall winners of the Art of Building 2026 competition to be revealed in early November.