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The “Moscow. Architecture of Time” photography competition is held at the initiative of and with support from the Moscow Urban Development Policy and Construction Complex. It is operated by the Agency for strategic development "CENTER".

The competition aims to capture Moscow’s architectural diversity through photography and show how changes in the urban environment are shaping the capital’s new identity.

The organisers have selected 19 sites across Moscow that have recently been restored, reconstructed or built as subjects for the competition. These include the Central Moscow Hippodrome, Gagarinsky Bridge, Torpedo Stadium, the Bauman Moscow State Technical University campus and other social and transport infrastructure facilities. Detailed descriptions of each site are available on the competition’s official website, moskvavkadre.ru.

“Moscow is constantly evolving. New residential and public buildings, transport and social infrastructure are emerging, and the capital’s architectural character is changing. The sites we are inviting participants to photograph have already become part of the urban environment and established new visual landmarks. Photography allows us to see these changes from different perspectives and preserve them as part of the city’s history. Our photography competition will give residents an opportunity to share their views on the capital’s transformation and showcase new buildings and architectural solutions. Initiatives like this help sustain residents’ interest in the city’s development and engage them in its transformation,” said Vladimir Efimov.

The competition will take place in two stages. During the first stage, entrants submit their applications, and experts select 57 finalists, with the top three chosen for each competition site. During the second stage, the jury evaluates the finalists’ work and selects the winners.

The jury brings together experts in architecture, fine arts and photography. Its members include A. G. Dedkov, Deputy Head of the Moscow Department of Urban Development Policy; M. V. Derunova, First Deputy Head of the Office for Coordination of the Moscow Urban Development Policy and Construction Complex; I. V. Mukosey, architect and Creative Director of the ARCH Moscow exhibition; N. V. Tokarev, architect and Dean of the MARCH School of Architecture; E. V. Shalina, art historian and curator of the ArchiGraphics project; and other experts.

Entries will be accepted from October 14 to November 15, 2026. There is no limit to the number of entries submitted by an individual entrant. Applications may only be submitted through the competition’s official website, moskvavkadre.ru. The website also provides full details of the eligibility requirements, competition rules and selected sites.

The finalists will be announced in December 2026, after which the jury will select the winner and runners-up. Based on the jury’s decision, the competition winner will receive RUB 1,000,000, while second and third place will receive RUB 500,000 and RUB 250,000 respectively.

“Architecture encompasses more than structures and façades. It is a complex system of visual codes, including light, scale, rhythm and the history of a place. The ‘Moscow. Architecture of Time’ competition invites participants to see the city as a multilayered narrative, where each photograph offers a way to interpret the urban environment and document its transformation. We are looking for photographs that go beyond depicting a building to reveal its relationship with space, time and urban identity,” said Sergei Georgievskii, Co-founder of the Agency for strategic development "CENTER" and representative of the competition operator.