Archtober [ärk’töbər] is New York City’s Architecture and Design Month, an annual festival of architecture activities, programs, and exhibitions taking place during the month of October. Across the city’s five boroughs, in museums, cultural institutions, and public spaces, the month-long festival features exhibitions, guided tours, workshops, panel discussions, and film screenings.

Find out how to get involved as an Archtober Partner!

2026 marks 16 years of Archtober! Over the years, the festival has grown to include over 100 partner institutions, many of whom have been with us since the launch of the festival in 2011. While the festival is at its peak in October, its media platforms and partners are active throughout the year, sharing programs and initiatives to engage with architecture and design. Design enthusiasts can subscribe to our monthly Archtober Digest here.

A signature part of the festival is our Building of the Day tours, which give the public exclusive access to some of New York City’s (and neighboring cities) most innovative, historic, and influential spaces. Last year, we visited places like Nevelson Chapel at St. Peter's Church with Art Restoration by Material Whisperer, Manresa Wilds by SCAPE and BIG in Norwalk, CT, One Manhattan West by Field Operations and SOM, Calder Gardens by Herzog & de Meuron in Philadelphia, PA, and many more. These behind-the-scenes experiences, led by the project architects themselves, have become a cornerstone of Archtober. Stay tuned for more information regarding this year's BOD tours!

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Other favorite annual programs include Pumpkitecture, our family-friendly, design-minded pumpkin carving competition. Each fall, New York City-based design firms go gourd to gourd to compete for the Pritzkerpumpkin, the evening's highest honor, carving unique and architectural structures with their pumpkins. Last year, in honor of 15 years of Archtober and the festival theme, the competition was held under the theme of "Pumpkin Places," a celebration of public space. The Pritzkerpumpkin, was bestowed upon Once-Future Office for their Squashington Square Station, an ode to the New York City subway, consisting of squash seats and pumpkin seed rats.

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Collaboration has been at the center of Archtober since its inception, and our programs are not possible without the enthusiastic community we have built together. Interested in joining the festival? Whether through programming, sponsorship, hosting events, or supporting public engagement initiatives, partners play an essential role in making the festival possible. See here for more information on getting involved.