Guwahati: Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport’s (LGBIA) Terminal 2 in Guwahati has been recognized as one of the world’s seven most beautiful new airport terminals of 2026 by Prix Versailles, an international architecture and design award presented annually with UNESCO.
Design Inspiration and Recognition
The terminal, inspired by bamboo orchids and Assamese motifs, joins an elite global list announced by the Paris-based Prix Versailles alongside Navi Mumbai International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminal 3 (China), Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3 (Germany), Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Pittsburgh International Airport (United States), and San Diego International Airport Terminal 1 (United States).
“These seven projects – each one exhibiting extraordinary, distinctive architecture – illustrate how airports are now turning away from the old standards in order to offer the world a richer, more harmonious point of view,” Prix Versailles said in a statement.
World Title Selection
Three airports and/or airport terminals from the 2026 list will also receive a World Title (Prix Versailles, Interior or Exterior), to be awarded at the end of the year, the statement added.
Architectural Details
Prix Versailles described LGBI Terminal 2 Guwahati as, “There are few airports that embrace a land so magnificently. In Guwahati, the international terminal 2 delivers a spectacular arrival experience that reflects the living spirit of Northeast India.”
“At the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia, architect Nuru Karim was inspired by the bamboo orchid, a symbol of the region’s biodiversity. Sweeping vaulted ceilings in organic shapes provide structure to the whole building, subtly referencing Assam’s sacred landscapes and indigenous architectural traditions,” Prix Versailles stated.
It further describes, “These vast spaces are complemented by fluid ceiling patterns that trace the rhythms of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, intuitively guiding passengers through a sequence of open, legible spaces. Indigenous art, tribal narratives and local craftsmanship are seamlessly embedded within the interiors, transforming waiting areas and transition zones into moments of discovery and reflection. Here, cultural expression is not ornamental but rather spatially and emotionally integral to the passenger journey.”
“Through the use of bamboo, passive daylighting and biophilic design, Terminal 2 harmoniously blends sustainability with regional identity and global connectivity,” it added.
Government Reaction
“The world is taking note of Assam’s architectural identity,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X regarding the new LGBI terminal being featured in the prestigious Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airports List 2026. He described it as “earning global recognition for a design that seamlessly blends indigenous art, local craftsmanship and nature inspired narratives. A proud moment as the Gateway to the North East joins an exclusive list celebrating some of the finest airports in the world.”
