Transforming Architectural Practice with Intelligent Design Tools and Collaborative Workflows

Today, we’re excited to announce the release of ArchiCAD 2026, delivering groundbreaking innovations that will transform how architects, designers, and consultants collaborate on building information models. This major update introduces powerful AI-assisted design capabilities, immersive visualization technologies, and enhanced documentation automation that significantly boost productivity while maintaining the design freedom and creativity ArchiCAD users expect.

AI-Powered Design Assistant: Your Intelligent Architecture Partner

The centerpiece of ArchiCAD 2026 is our revolutionary new Design Assistant, an AI-powered tool that understands architectural principles and helps automate complex modeling and documentation tasks while ensuring compliance with building codes and design standards.

“Design Assistant represents the biggest leap forward in architectural BIM productivity since the introduction of parametric objects,” says Andreas Schmidt, Senior Director of ArchiCAD Product Development. “It works alongside architects, learning from their design approaches and preferences to become an increasingly valuable creative partner.”

Intelligent Space Planning

Design Assistant analyzes your project’s program requirements and can automatically suggest optimal spatial arrangements based on adjacency requirements, daylight access, circulation patterns, and building codes. As you develop your design, the system recognizes spatial relationships and can intelligently propose room layouts, furniture arrangements, or building core configurations that meet both functional and regulatory requirements.

Natural Language Design Commands

ArchiCAD 2026 introduces a powerful natural language interface that allows you to describe architectural elements in plain language. Simply type or speak commands like “create a 10-foot curtain wall along grid line A with integrated entrance doors at the center” or “design a residential kitchen with island and optimize for natural light,” and watch as ArchiCAD models your intent with precise BIM elements.

Automated Code Compliance

The new intelligent compliance system automatically checks your model against applicable building codes and accessibility standards, ensuring adequate egress widths, maximum travel distances, and accessibility clearances are maintained throughout the design process.

Immersive Visualization for Client Engagement

ArchiCAD 2026 takes design visualization to new dimensions with features designed for immersive client experiences and intuitive design evaluation.

One-Click Immersive Environments

Designers and clients can now enter a virtual reality environment with a single click, walking through the design to experience spatial qualities, evaluate material selections, and make real-time modifications. The new AR mode allows stakeholders to overlay the model onto actual site conditions for enhanced context understanding.

Physically Based Lighting Simulation

Our next-generation rendering engine delivers photorealistic visualizations with accurate daylight studies, artificial lighting effects, and material properties that respond naturally to different lighting conditions. The system works directly within the design environment without requiring exports to external rendering applications.

Interactive Design Presentations

New presentation tools allow architects to create interactive walkthroughs with embedded design options, material alternatives, and annotation points that clients can explore independently or during guided presentations.

Enhanced Documentation and Construction Coordination

AI-Powered Documentation

Our next-generation documentation engine now uses AI to understand your firm’s drafting standards and automatically generates construction drawings, schedules, and specifications that match your specific requirements. The system learns from user feedback to continuously improve output quality and consistency.

Smart Building Element Detailing

ArchiCAD 2026 introduces context-aware detailing that automatically generates appropriate connection details, wall assemblies, and constructible conditions based on building element relationships and regional construction practices.

Automated Quantity Takeoff

The new quantity takeoff system provides real-time cost estimation and material quantities directly integrated with the design model. As design changes occur, cost implications are immediately visible, allowing informed decision-making throughout the design process.

Integration and Performance Breakthroughs

Cloud-Based Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration

Multiple team members from different disciplines can now work simultaneously on the same model with real-time synchronization. The system intelligently manages model ownership and conflict resolution, enabling true parallel workflows between architects, engineers, and consultants.

Advanced Clash Prevention

ArchiCAD 2026 pro-actively prevents clashes before they occur. As you model, the AI system identifies potential conflicts with structural, MEP, and site elements and suggests optimal routing or positioning alternatives to maintain design intent while ensuring constructability.

Performance Optimization

Our new graphics engine delivers 8x faster performance when working with complex buildings or large-scale developments, handling models with millions of elements while maintaining smooth operation even on standard hardware.

Sustainability and Environmental Analysis

Integrated Energy Modeling

ArchiCAD 2026 features built-in energy analysis that provides real-time feedback on building performance as you design. The system evaluates thermal comfort, energy consumption, and carbon impact without requiring export to specialized analysis software.

Climate-Responsive Design Tools

New tools automatically analyze local climate data and suggest optimal building orientation, façade treatments, and shading strategies to maximize passive performance while maintaining design aesthetics.

Materials Sustainability Database

An extensive library of materials now includes embodied carbon data, recycled content percentages, and regional availability information to support environmentally responsible material selections throughout the design process.

Early Adopters Share Their Experience

Firms participating in our beta program have already seen impressive results with ArchiCAD 2026.

Foster + Partners, a leading global architecture firm, reports significant productivity gains. “The AI-powered Design Assistant has reduced the time required for space planning and programming compliance by approximately 35%,” says James Richardson, BIM Director at Foster + Partners. “This allows our architects to focus more on design innovation rather than routine space allocation tasks.”

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects highlights the visualization improvements. “The immersive visualization capabilities have transformed how we communicate design concepts with our clients,” notes Maria Andersen, Technology Director at Schmidt Hammer Lassen. “We’ve seen project approval cycles shortened by 40% and significantly more informed client decision-making throughout the design process.”

Availability and Licensing

ArchiCAD 2026 will be available starting June 15, 2025:

• Available in Standard, Professional, and Enterprise configurations
• Flexible single-user and network license options
• Included in Graphisoft Forward subscription service
• Special upgrade pricing for existing license holders

Current Graphisoft Forward subscribers will receive an automatic upgrade to ArchiCAD 2026 as part of their subscription benefits.

Getting Started with ArchiCAD 2026

To help users quickly master the new features, we’re providing comprehensive resources:

• Online courses through Graphisoft Learn
• Specialized training webinars for different project types and workflows
• Regional localization guides for different markets
• Migration assistance and BIM workflow optimization services

Looking Forward

“ArchiCAD 2026 represents our vision for the future of architectural BIM that seamlessly blends human creativity with artificial intelligence while extending design visualization beyond traditional boundaries,” says Schmidt. “We’re empowering architectural teams to achieve unprecedented levels of design excellence and efficiency while reducing the barriers between conceptual ideas and built reality.”

This release marks the beginning of an exciting new era for ArchiCAD, with our development team already working on additional AI capabilities, expanded cloud services, and deeper integration with the broader Graphisoft ecosystem of design and documentation tools.

ArchiCAD 2026 Training Course

Join us to explore our ArchiCAD 2026 Course, featuring the most advanced version of Graphisoft’s industry-leading architectural BIM software. This comprehensive program is designed to help architects, designers, and BIM specialists master cutting-edge features like AI-powered modeling, natural language design commands, immersive visualization, and automated documentation workflows. Whether you’re designing residential projects, commercial buildings, or large-scale developments, you’ll learn how to optimize your designs using intelligent tools that enhance creativity, reduce repetitive tasks, and improve collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. With real-world examples and hands-on training, this course ensures you’re fully equipped to harness the power of ArchiCAD 2026 in your daily practice and leverage its new capabilities to deliver exceptional architectural solutions.