The Pan-African Biennale has announced the official selection of participants for its inaugural edition, bringing spatial practices from across the African continent together under a curatorial framework developed from within the continent.

Taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 7 to 11, 2026, the Biennale places architecture, design, urbanism, and other spatial practices at the centre of a continent-wide exchange. Nine participating offices form part of the initial selection, while additional keynote speakers and programme contributors are expected to be announced ahead of the event.

Nairobi as an Active Curatorial Site

Nairobi holds a distinctive role as the host city of the first Pan-African Biennale. Instead of representing Kenya through one selected architectural or design practice, the Biennale positions the city itself as a collective contributor.

Architecture offices, academic institutions, cultural organisations, and spatial practitioners across Nairobi will contribute to activities taking place throughout the city. Public spaces, established venues, and satellite programmes will become part of the wider Biennale experience.

This approach gives Nairobi more than a logistical function. The city's architectural history, rapidly evolving urban environment, cultural institutions, and contemporary design practices become part of the intellectual framework surrounding the event.

O/S Architecture

O/S Architecture is among the selected participating offices. Its inclusion contributes to the Biennale's examination of how architectural practice can respond to local contexts while engaging with broader conversations about the built environment.

Within a Pan-African setting, architectural offices such as O/S Architecture provide opportunities to examine the relationship between design decisions, communities, materials, climate, and the changing character of African cities.

Ajwang + Langat Design Bureau

Ajwang + Langat Design Bureau, also known as ALDB, joins the inaugural participant list with a practice grounded in architectural design. Its participation adds another perspective to discussions surrounding contemporary spatial production in Africa. The inclusion of different practices allows the Biennale to present architecture as a field shaped by varied professional approaches, cultural contexts, and interpretations of place.

Ardhi Na Mbao

Ardhi Na Mbao is another participating practice featured in the official selection. Its presence contributes to the Biennale's wider exploration of spatial thinking and the diverse ways architecture and design can engage with environmental and material considerations. Such perspectives are particularly relevant within a continent where climate, available resources, construction methods, and local knowledge can strongly influence the built environment.

Local Works

Local Works forms part of the inaugural participant group, reinforcing the Biennale's emphasis on practices connected to their immediate environments. The name itself reflects an important idea within the event's broader framework: meaningful architectural work can emerge from close engagement with local conditions and communities.

Studio Propolis

Studio Propolis is included among the selected participating offices. Its participation strengthens the representation of contemporary design practices within the Biennale and contributes to a broader conversation about how architecture responds to changing social, cultural, and urban conditions.

Urko Sanchez

Urko Sanchez is part of the inaugural participant selection, adding another established architectural voice to the programme. The participation reflects the Biennale's interest in bringing together practices with different experiences and perspectives. This diversity is central to creating a continental platform where architectural ideas can be examined through multiple geographic and professional lenses.

Cave Bureau

Cave Bureau joins the programme with a practice that adds further depth to the Biennale's exploration of architecture and spatial culture. Its inclusion supports the event's ambition to examine relationships between architecture, landscape, history, ecology, and society.

Studio 1:1

Studio 1:1 is also included in the official participant selection. Its presence contributes another contemporary architectural perspective to the inaugural edition and strengthens the range of practices represented. The collection of participating offices creates an environment where different methodologies and interpretations of spatial practice can sit alongside one another.

Boogertman + Partners

Boogertman + Partners completes the initial list of nine participating offices. With its inclusion, the Biennale brings another significant architectural practice into a programme designed to encourage exchange across different professional backgrounds. Together, the selected offices provide a starting point for a wider conversation about the direction of architecture and spatial practice across Africa.

The inaugural Pan-African Biennale establishes Nairobi as more than a host location by treating the city as an active part of the curatorial programme. With additional participants, keynote speakers, and programme contributors still to be announced, the event is shaping into a significant platform for exchanging ideas about architecture, design, cities, and spatial practice across Africa.