We’re delighted to share that Paul Finch, Editorial Director of The Architects’ Journal and Architectural Review and Programme Director of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), has been awarded a CBE for services to architecture in the King’s New Year Honours 2026. It’s wonderful news, and thoroughly deserved!

Paul’s career in architectural media stretches back to the early 1970s. He has edited Building Design, The Architects’ Journal (from 1994 to 1999) and the Architectural Review, and has been co-editor of Planning in London since 1994. He was formerly chair of CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) and deputy chair of the Design Council. In 2008, he founded WAF, the only architectural awards programme where all finalists present their projects live to a panel of judges and an audience of peers.

This CBE follows the OBE Paul received back in 2002, also for services to architecture. Speaking about the honour, Paul said: “The award, although personal, is recognition of the efforts of many organisations and people I have had the privilege of working with this century, including the AJ. Flying a flag for good architecture has informed those efforts, and will continue to do so.”

Huge congratulations to Paul, it’s a brilliant recognition of an exceptional career.