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A major international architecture initiative is making its debut in Cyprus, with Open House Nicosia set to take place for the first time in 2026. The event will invite the public to explore the capital through free guided tours of selected buildings, offering a rare opportunity to step inside spaces that are not usually accessible.

The concept is simple but powerful: for one weekend, architecture becomes the main attraction. Public and private buildings of architectural interest will open their doors, allowing visitors to learn more about their design, function, and history through tours that cover both exterior features and chosen interior areas.

A global institution that began in London

Open House is not a new idea internationally. It started in London in 1992 and has since developed into one of the most recognized global platforms for promoting architecture and the built environment. Today, it operates in more than 60 cities worldwide, connecting communities through events that encourage residents and visitors to discover the identity of a city through its buildings.

Alongside the building tours, Open House programs in different cities often include additional activities such as Open Walks, Open School, Open Office, and Open Photo, expanding the experience beyond traditional guided visits.

According to the data shared, the initiative has grown significantly over the years, involving more than 6,250 buildings, supported by 13,500 volunteers, and attracting over 610,000 participants, with approximately 1.8 million visits and activity participations recorded.

In 2025, four new locations joined the international network: Murcia, Istanbul, Pristina, and Ticino. Nicosia is now joining this expanding list for the first time.

Open House Nicosia 2026: Dates and activities

The Nicosia edition is scheduled for the weekend of 18 and 19 April 2026. Beyond the guided building tours, organizers also plan parallel events such as themed architectural walks and visits to workshops, aiming to create a city-wide experience.

The organizers describe the goal as transforming Nicosia, both symbolically and practically, into a kind of “open museum” of architecture for the weekend.

Open House Nicosia was founded by:

Angelos Siamaris (Architect)

Christiana Kyperounta (Project Manager)

Stelios Theodorou (Real Estate Advisor)

Their aim is to establish the festival as a recurring cultural institution built on principles of inclusion, equality, and accessibility, offering opportunities for participation to both residents and visitors.

The event is being organized by the NGO “Voices of the City – Open House Nicosia”, under the auspices of the Municipality of Nicosia, and has received support from both the Cyprus Architects Association and ETEK.

Open calls for buildings and volunteers

To prepare for the 2026 launch, the organization has announced two public calls.

The first, Open Call Buildings, invites architects to submit completed projects located in Nicosia that could be opened to the public during the event. The deadline for submissions is 12 February 2026.

The second, Open Call Volunteers, invites members of the public to take part as volunteers, assisting with tours, guidance, and visitor support throughout the weekend. Volunteer applications close on 28 February 2026.

Organizers say interest is already strong

The founding team says they were inspired to bring Open House to Cyprus after previously experiencing similar events abroad, particularly in Greece, either as visitors or volunteers. Their intention is to help people connect more directly with architecture and to encourage broader public discussion about the city’s built environment.

While the list of participating buildings has not yet been announced due to the ongoing submission process, the organizers confirm that the program is expected to include a wide range of buildings, spanning different uses, sizes, and styles, ensuring variety from the very first year.

Read the original Greek article from Weekend By Must here.

Source: https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/life/open-house-nicosia-2026-brings-a-global-architecture-festival-to-cyprus-for-the-first-time

Nicosia is getting its own Open House festival this April — and for one weekend, the city’s most architecturally significant buildings will throw open their doors for free.

Open House Nicosia, taking place on 18 and 19 April, is the first edition of the globally recognised festival to be held in Cyprus. Visitors will be able to walk into selected public and private buildings for guided tours led by volunteers and professionals, join themed architectural walks, and explore spaces that are normally off-limits — all without booking or paying.

The event is organised by the NGO Voices of the City – Open House Nicosia, after being granted rights by the international cultural initiative Open House Worldwide. An organising committee of 19 volunteers has been preparing the first edition.

The Open House concept began in London in 1992 and has since spread to more than 60 cities worldwide. Founding members Angelos Siamaris, Christiana Kyperounta and Stelios Theodorou say they have followed the festival for years — attending as visitors and volunteers in other countries, mainly Greece — before deciding Cyprus was ready for its own edition.

“We believe Cyprus has a significant architectural heritage that deserves to be brought to a wider audience,” they said.

The founders are candid about what they hope to change. Conversations about architecture in Cyprus, they say, tend to stay within professional circles despite the efforts of organisations such as ETEK and SAK. Open House, they argue, is a chance to change that — not by lecturing people, but by making the city more open and participatory.

“Unlike other events where you have to book a spot and pay in advance, during Open House weekend someone can simply be walking around Nicosia with their family or friends, spot a building offering tours and just go in,” they said.

The festival is deliberately accessible. The founders describe their core message not as a statement but as a provocation: they want visitors to start thinking about how architecture could help them live better at home, work better in their workplace, and experience their city not merely as passive observers trying to get through the day, but as people who genuinely enjoy it.

Buildings for the first edition were selected through an open call — open to any architect or owner with a building they felt had something architecturally meaningful to say — alongside targeted invitations drawn up by the organising committee. The aim is to represent a broad range of architectural quality across different periods and styles, giving a platform to both emerging and established architects.

Nicosia, the founders say, is well-suited to host the festival. Its architectural identity has been shaped by thousands of years of history — Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, Ottoman and British periods have all left their mark — while recent years have brought new projects and urban interventions that are continuously redefining the city’s contemporary character.

The festival also wants to shift how people look at buildings. Most of the time, the founders note, we examine architecture through a historical lens. Rarely do we ask what the architect was thinking when they made a particular decision, or how that decision affects the experience of the people who use the space. Open House, they say, puts those questions front and centre.

Volunteers are central to the festival. Those wishing to take part can apply through the open call, which closes on 28 February.

Source: https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/whats-on/open-house-nicosia-2026-free-architecture-tours-april/