The THEORY Competition is a three-stage program, which takes place every two years. Its aim is to select the best, theoretical written piece, related to the city chosen by the participant, in the field of architecture and culture relations, created after the ‘Architecture Writing Workshop’ organised at the Foundation’s headquarters in Warsaw in May 2026.
The deadline for submitting entries to the competition is 26 April 2026.

1^st STAGE
The first and obligatory stage for participants is a 2-day, stationary, free “Writing Workshop” organized in Warsaw on 23–24 May 2026, in which, after the pre-selection by the Competition Jury on the basis of qualifying material (portfolio + motivation letter), a selection of 12 people takes part. The Foundation provides accommodation and meals for the workshop participants.

2nd STAGE
Participants of the program have 2 months after the workshop to write a text on a pre-agreed topic. The final selection of the winning work, from among all studies, is made by the Jury of the competition, expanded by a group of workshop leaders. It comprises outstanding architects and journalists.

3rd STAGE
In the third stage, the laureate(s) refine the text for the next 2 months. The text, after editing and translation into English, is published as an essay constituting the 12th volume of the publishing series of the Foundation “Architecture of Culture – Culture of Architecture”.

Jury of the THEORY Competition:
Ewa P. Porębska – Chairperson of the Jury
Marcin Szczelina
Grzegorz Piątek
Bogna Świątkowska
Marta A. Urbańska
Piotr Sarzyński

Leaders of “Writing Workshops” 2026:
Mentor: Ewa P. Porębska
Tutor: Zygmunt Borawski, Igor Łysiuk
Lecturer: Monika Komorowska
Academic support: Ewa Kuryłowicz