Architecture is part of everyday life, shaping the homes, workplaces, streets, and public spaces where people spend their time. The work of architects, designers, and other creatives influences how these spaces are experienced and how communities connect and grow. This broader perspective is at the heart of the upcoming Anthology ASEAN Architecture Festival 2026, which brings together ideas and experiences from across the region to explore architecture’s role in society and the future of cities.

A glimpse of what to expect from the festival was shared during a media briefing at the Kuysen Design and Experience Center in Makati on Sept. 8, 2026. Organized by WTA Architecture and Design Studio with the City of Manila, the Intramuros Administration (IA), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the festival will take place on Oct. 2–4 at Intramuros, Manila, under the theme “Shared Ground: Architecture of Care, Culture, and Collective Futures.”

The three-day event will bring together professionals, students, communities, and the public for conversations and experiences centered on architecture and design. William Ti Jr., festival curator, founder of Anthology Festival, and principal architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, gave an overview of the program, which will feature 128 speakers from the Philippines and across ASEAN, including Pritzker Prize laureate Shigeru Ban and architect Ole Scheeren, alongside international keynotes, Filipino and ASEAN conversations, roundtables, and open presentations.

Much of the program will unfold across the walled city, with regional collaborations presented throughout the historic district. Other activities include the Living Anthology Exhibition, Anthology RAW for emerging practitioners, and After Dark, a series of evening forums connecting architecture with culture and public life.

Anthology aims to make architecture more accessible, with this year’s installations giving people more ways to experience and appreciate design. As Ti explained, the festival was founded on the belief that architecture affects everyone. “One of the core beliefs on why we started Anthology was that it seems that only architects understand architecture and only architects talk about architecture, but it affects every single person. So we said maybe if we make it into a celebration, like how we celebrate art, we celebrate music, maybe more and more people can be interested in architecture because it's something they enjoy,” he shared.

At the ceremony, Atty. Joan M. Padilla, administrator head of IA, welcomed the festival’s return to its first home and highlighted the district’s role in the evolution of architecture. “We are very blessed to be the home of Anthology since 2016. I believe they are celebrating your 10th year, and what a way to celebrate it but to return to your first home in Intramuros. For centuries, Intramuros has been a venue where we can see the evolution of architecture, from the 16th century with religious architecture such as the still-standing San Agustin Church. And now, through this festival, we can see how this architecture will evolve in the future.”

The discussion continued with a “Shared Ground Conversation,” which explored the festival’s themes through the perspectives of architects and design practitioners. The panel featured Benjee Mendoza of BAAD Studio, Jose Pedro “Bong” Recio of Rchitects, Inc., AJ Javier of Javier Design Studio Manila, Rebecca Plaza Ti of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, and Paulo Alcazaren, editor-in-chief of BluPrint.

For anyone interested in the spaces around them, Anthology 2026 offers a chance to see the built environment from new perspectives. By bringing architecture into public spaces and everyday conversations, the festival makes room for more people to understand, experience, and appreciate how design shapes the way communities live.