Hunter International Forum 2026 Confirms Full Schedule

Architecture Hunter announces the full program for the Hunter International Forum 2026 (HIF 2026), confirming all speakers, presentation topics, and session schedules for the second edition of the event, which will take place on September 29 and 30, 2026, at the Simon Bolívar Auditorium in the Memorial da América Latina, an iconic complex designed by Oscar Niemeyer, in São Paulo, Brazil.

With the program now fully confirmed, HIF 2026 will feature 14 sessions over two days, including keynote lectures, panel discussions, and premieres, spanning four continents and a broad spectrum of practices—from internationally recognized firms to professionals who are transforming architecture from Latin America. All lectures will have simultaneous translation between Brazilian Portuguese and English.

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Day 1 — Tuesday, September 29

‍Thefirst day brings Latin American architecture into dialogue with global perspectives. Highlights include the official announcement of the finalists for the 2026 Architecture Hunter Awards; a talk by Brazilian architect Arthur Casas on research, practice, and innovation; Tatiana Bilbao from Mexico, presenting her socially engaged and humanistic approach; the Amazon-based firm Guá Arquitetura, addressing architecture as social impact; Natureza Urbana, discussing regenerative futures; Rute Nieto Ferreira of Gehl People, speaking about public space and public life; and the closing lecture by Thomas Heatherwick, who will present “Humanise,” his campaign for happier and more humane cities.

Day 2 — Wednesday, September 30

The second day broadens the perspective. Pat Bosch, director of design at Perkins&Will, kicks off the morning program, followed by Paraguayan architect Solano Benítez, winner of the Golden Lion at the 2016 Venice Biennale. A special panel will bring together the institutes responsible for preserving Brazil’s modernist legacy—the Lina Bo Bardi Institute, the Burle Marx Institute, and the Virgínia & Vilanova Artigas Institute—moderated by design journalist Ana Paula de Assis. In the afternoon, the program will feature the São Paulo-based firm FGMF Arquitetos, a panel with the Portuguese architects Luís and Tiago Rebelo de Andrade, and closing lectures by Kofi Bio, CEO of Adjaye Associates Accra in Ghana, and Kai-Uwe Bergmann, a partner at BIG—Bjarke Ingels Group.

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Confirmed Speakers — HIF 2026

Thomas Heatherwick (United Kingdom) — Founder of Heatherwick Studio, with more than 30 projects in ten countries and 30 years of dedication to creating cities that are more joyful, interesting, and humane.

Tatiana Bilbao (Mexico) — One of Latin America’s most influential architects, she has been integrating research, design, community strategies, and sustainable construction since 2004. She is a professor at Yale University.

Kai-Uwe Bergmann (Denmark/Germany/U.S.) — A partner at the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), he oversees the firm’s international offices, which have projects in more than 40 countries.

Kofi Bio (Ghana) —CEO of Adjaye Associates Accra—leads projects across the African continent focused on sustainable development and the use of advanced technologies combined with vernacular elements.

Pat Bosch (U.S.) — Director of Design at Perkins&Will Miami, recognized for a humanistic and environmentally responsible approach that combines bold creativity with a careful analysis of project programs.

Solano Benítez (Paraguay) — Founder of Jopói de Arquitectura, he received the Golden Lion at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale and the 2021 UNESCO Global Award. He is known for his radical experimentation with materials.

Rute Nieto Ferreira (Portugal/Global) — Senior Project Manager at Gehl People, with two decades of experience in neighborhoods, public spaces, and child-centered urban planning in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Portugal, and the United States.

Arthur Casas (Brazil) — One of Brazil's most celebrated architects and designers, founder of Studio Arthur Casas (1990) and the IACAI Institute (2024).

FGMF Architects (Brazil) — Fernando Forte, Lourenço Gimenes, and Rodrigo Marcondes Ferraz, who lead one of São Paulo’s contemporary architecture firms, known for projects that have garnered widespread recognition in Brazil.

Guá Arquitetura (Brazil) — Luis Andre Guedes and Pablo do Vale, a firm with roots in the Amazon, listed among the 50 most influential firms of 2024–2025, with research on vernacular riverside dwellings and ancestral knowledge.

Natureza Urbana (Brazil) — An international consulting firm that integrates architecture, the environment, infrastructure, and strategic planning in the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East.

Luís & Tiago Rebelo de Andrade (Portugal) — A firm with over 40 years of experience, focusing on landscape architecture, heritage, and cultural continuity.

Legacy Panel (Brazil) — Bruno Simões (curator, Lina Bo Bardi Institute), Isabela Ono (executive director, Burle Marx Institute), and Marco Artigas (president, Virgínia & Vilanova Artigas Institute), moderated by journalist and design editor Ana Paula de Assis of POP-SE.

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Exclusive Experiences

Alongside the forum’s two main days, HIF is once again offering its Exclusive Experiences—carefully selected visits to offices and projects that bring the forum’s discussions to real-world spaces and practices.

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Global Broadcasting and Accessibility

Expanding its reach beyond its physical venue, HIF 2026 will be broadcast live, connecting architects, students, and enthusiasts from around the world in real time. All lectures will feature simultaneous translation: sessions in Brazilian Portuguese will be translated into English, and those held in English will be translated into Brazilian Portuguese. Tickets—including one-day passes, two-day passes, and online access to the live stream—are available at hif.architecturehunter.com.

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HIF 2026 Service

Forum dates: September 29 and 30, 2026 (Tuesday and Wednesday), from 8:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Location: Simon Bolívar Auditorium — Latin American Memorial, São Paulo, Brazil

Exclusive Experiences: September 28, October 1 and 2, 2026

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For more information and details about the schedule and ticket purchases, visit the event's website: hif.architecturehunter.com

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