The winner of the 2026 competition of the Tallinn Architecture Biennale is “How Much?” curated by Studio TÄNA and Mark Aleksander Fischer

The winner of the curatorial competition of the Tallinn Architecture Biennale TAB 2026 is the Estonian architectural bureau Stuudio TÄNA (studio TODAY) with Mark Aleksander Fischer. “How Much?” the winning entry for the competition, examines how architecture can respond to today’s economic, social and environmental constraints so that budget limitation is not an obstacle but an opportunity for a new quality. “How Much?” is placed in a broader social discussion, where the relationship between value and price needs to be reinterpreted – both in the built environment and in culture as a whole.

The jury of the curatorial competition, organised by the Estonian Centre for Architecture, consisted of architect and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the Estonian Academy of Arts Sille Pihlak (PART Architects), architect Kadri Klementi (B210, School of Architecture), Kristiina Reidolv (Head of the Estonian Centre for Architecture), architect Jaan Kuusemets (DAGOpen OÜ, TAB 2024 curatorial team) and architect Roland Reemaa (LLRRLLRR,  visiting lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts and Central Saint Martins in London).

According to the jury, “How Much?” is a multifaceted, well thought out and socially resonant topic that concerns both local and international spatial practices and has a potential for initiating a wide-ranging discussion across different fields. Facing today`s realities where several European states are grappling with overspending and high budget deficits, “affordability” versus “extravagance” is becoming universally more and more relevant.

Sille Pihlak, architect and dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the Estonian Academy of Arts, member of the TAB 2026 jury: “How Much?” highlights austerity and scarcity as curatorial themes — and asks above all how to turn them into a positive quality in spatial design. The attempt of the architectural bureau Stuudio TÄNA to address this is fully justified at this point in time. The topic is not limited to the field of architecture or our region; this is a poignant question in a broader sense. We want to know what to give up and what to prefer and how to use the resources reasonably and cost-effectively.”

“In today’s cultural policy situation, where the marginalisation of culture in society can be seen in many countries, the theme of the curatorial vision of TAB 2026 by young Estonian architects is most relevant,” says Kristiina Reidolv, Head of the Estonian Centre for Architecture, emphasising the topicality of the winning entry. “Due to the importance of the topic, the jury decided to give the opportunity to organise the biennial this time to young Estonian architects and provide them an international platform for introducing their vision and art.”

The Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2026 takes place from 9 September to 30 November 2026. The opening week is from 9-13 September when the TAB 2026 curatorial program is launched and the main exhibition “How much?” opens.

TAB 2026 consists of a core programme, the architecture-themed supplementary program and the interdisciplinary satellite programme. The Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB), organised by the Estonian Centre for Architecture, is an international architecture festival that has been held since 2011. The festival introduces local architectural culture, discusses current topics in architecture and takes a look at the future of the field of architecture. TAB offers an event programme for the top professionals in the field, young professionals who are just starting out in the field of architecture, and architecture enthusiasts.

More information:
Maria Helena Luiga TAB 2026 project coordinator
maria@arhitektuurikeskus.ee
+372 5362 7012