Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre: The rhythm of resilience

The Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre in Uganda has been awarded the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects International Award for Excellence 2026. A thriving beacon of creativity and unity in Africa’s largest refugee settlement, the centre empowers creativity, creates opportunity and brings dignity to the plight of refugees. 

Two years post-completion, the centre is flourishing through programmes like Salam Music, led by Ugandan non-profit organisation Sina Loketa (SINAL). Here, the refugee community uses music and performance to share stories, encourage healing, build resilience, and reconnect with culture. What’s emerging is not just creative output, but a sense of ownership — with the centre serving as a vital platform for expression, gathering and exchange. 

“This centre brings a lot of people,” says Victor Aluonzi, Music Program Manager. ​“We have a recording studio, a music classroom, a large auditorium, and a 200,000 litre tank that gives water to the centre and to the community. It’s an all-in-one centre.” 

The evolving uses for Bidi Bidi reflects a broader idea: that design can enable agency. Flexible, open spaces have allowed the community to define what the centre becomes over time. From rehearsals and informal performances to workshops and celebrations, the building supports a rhythm of daily life that extends well beyond its original design brief.