How Oslo gets its citizens involved in shaping their city

Design festivals can be great for grabbing attention and getting column inches. But programmed thoughtfully, they can also invite citizens and professionals alike to have a healthy debate about the future of cities. The Norwegian capital has been leading the way with some particularly effective examples.

The Oslo Architecture Triennale takes a different theme every three years, holding exhibitions, debates, publications, competitions and events which turn building design into a shared civic issue, not a specialist discussion behind closed doors. Its 2022 edition ‘Mission Neighbourhood’ focused on friendly, human-scaled environments, while its 2026 edition ‘What if Nature Comes First?’ explored how biodiversity can be sustained by development.

The Greenland area of Oslo, location of the 2025 Oslo Urban Week (image: Michelle Äärlaht)

Meanwhile, Oslo Urban Week is an annual urban development festival organized by the Oslo Metropolitan Area (OMA). Held in a different location from year to year, each attempts to illuminate new aspects of urban development. The event champions what can happen when citizens care.

Every year, the OMA Awards celebrate what actually works, asking both citizens and professionals to nominate candidates for the OMA Awards. These recognise the buildings, initiatives, and people that are making a difference in Oslo and beyond. 

Both festivals are about to take place, and Humanise's Abigail Scott Paul will be speaking at both. See our latest events for details.