First Sámi building ever nominated for EU award

For the first time ever, a building from Sápmi has been nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. The Čoarvemátta cultural center in Kautokeino is one of 40 projects competing for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2026.

The Čoarvemátta cultural center in Kautokeino is among the selected projects nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Awards 2026. The building is one of 40 projects chosen from 410 nominees across Europe.

Čoarvemátta houses both the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš and the Sámi Upper Secondary School and Reindeer Herding School. It was completed in 2024. The project was developed by 70°N arkitektur, Snøhetta and Joar Nango, with Econor as contractor.

First nomination for the region

No building in Northern Norway or Sápmi has previously been nominated for the prize, according to iFinnmark. The only Norwegian winner so far is the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet in Oslo, which won in 2009. Snøhetta also designed that building.

Seven finalists next

The jury will now select seven finalists. After that, the prize winners will be announced later this year.