The fellowships are awarded every year to non-architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture.

Rama, who became prime minister in 2013 after entering politics in 1998 as minister of culture, youth and sport, was praised by the RIBA for his ‘creative and efficient ways of promoting art and culture’ in Albania while launching a campaign to transform the capital of Tirana by restoring public spaces and introducing new green areas.

The list includes the managing editor of the AJ, Will Hurst, for his ‘pioneering role in promoting the reuse of existing buildings and materials’ and for co-founding the campaign group Don’t Waste Buildings.

Long-time AJ contributor and freelance architectural journalist Pamela Buxton also made the list for her career working at a multitude of publications such as the RIBA Journal, The Guardian’s Space supplement, Blueprint, Building Design, Time Out, Grand Designs Magazine, Elle Decoration and Crafts magazine.

Kate Raworth, ecological economist and internationally best-selling author, was recognised for her book Doughnut Economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st century economist. The RIBA noted her work collaborating with architects and policymakers to ‘explore how cities and buildings can operate within ecological limits while meeting essential social needs’.

International lawyer and climate activist Farhana Yamin was awarded an honorary fellowship for her role in negotiating the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, as well for ensuring net-zero emissions became part of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Other recipients include Tom Copley, deputy mayor of London, for housing and residential development; Nicholas Boys-Smith, founder and chair of Create Streets and visiting professor of architecture at the University of Strathclyde; former BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin; and Andy Downey, engineer and director of Elliott Wood.

AJ readers will also be familiar with other 2026 honorary fellows, such as architectural curator Charles Hind, engineer Steve Webb, writer and scholar Samantha Hardingham, public art expert Stella Ioannou, and activist and artist Alicia Pivaro.

RIBA president Chris Williamson said: ‘It is a privilege to acknowledge 27 new Fellows this year, whose backgrounds, professions and perspectives span a remarkable breadth.

‘From serving politicians and economists to lawyers, lecturers, artists and more, the vast range of sectors they represent underlines architecture’s ability to touch each aspect of our everyday lives.

‘We welcome all suggestions from our members for clients, collaborators or colleagues who deserve recognition as Honorary Fellows.’

This year’s list is considerably longer than the last series of honorary fellows, with only eight of the titles handed out in 2025. Last year’s list included Neil Onions, who founded social impact organisation Beyond the Box, and architectural PR guru Leanne Tritton.

Full list of RIBA 2026 honorary fellows list

Alan Bainbridge
Richard Baldwin
Fahad Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah
Nicholas Boys-Smith
Pamela Buxton
Tom Copley
Andy Downey
Theodore Gamble
Samantha Hardingham
Roger Harrabin
Charles Wheelton Hind
Will Hurst
Stella Ioannou
Tom Nancollas
Lara Newman
Murray Orr
Lorenzo Pandolfi
Alicia Pivaro
Edi Rama
Kate Raworth
Matthaios Santamouris
Marjorie Strachan
Alison Watson
Steve Webb
David Worthington
Farhana Yamin
Wei Yang