The Prix Versailles architecture awards announced the list of the 7 most beautiful railway stations in the world for 2026 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 28/9. This is one of 8 categories honored annually since 2015, alongside airports, university campuses, sports facilities, museums, shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants.

An international jury, comprising architects, designers, artists, and influential figures, evaluated the projects based on architectural quality, innovation, integration with the local cultural context, and commitment to sustainable development. Among the 7 stations chosen this year, three will receive additional world titles (Prix Versailles, Interior, or Exterior) at the awards ceremony in December.

Monte Sant'Angelo Station (Naples, Italy)

Designed by Indian-British artist Anish Kapoor in collaboration with Future Systems and AL_A architecture firms, Monte Sant'Angelo Station draws inspiration from Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the first part of the Italian writer's famous epic poem The Divine Comedy. Construction began in 2003, and the station opened in 2025.

The station features two entrances adorned with two gigantic Corten steel and aluminum sculptures. These sculptures, resembling winding ground fissures, evoke Mount Vesuvius and the legend of the Cumaean Sibyl, who guided souls to the underworld. Located 48 m underground, its interior is clad in rough concrete, like a cave, guiding passengers through a mysterious journey before they return to the surface. *Photos: Time Out and Architecturetoday*

Town Hall Station (Melbourne, Australia)

Situated in Melbourne's historic center, Town Hall Station was designed by Hassell, RSHP, and WW+P. It is one of 5 new underground stations within the Metro Tunnel project, opening in November 2025. The underground concourse, built beneath City Square, resembles a grand cathedral, notable for its massive underground space.

Eight colossal, tree-like columns with branching forms support the structure. A 10 m high bronze vaulted ceiling extends across the platforms, creating an expansive feel. *Photo: Time Out*

Lyon Part-Dieu Station (Lyon, France)

Lyon Part-Dieu Station, the city's main railway hub, was built in 1978 and is one of Europe's busiest transit points, serving approximately 140,000 passengers daily. The station has undergone several recent renovations: a new concourse and entrance, Galerie Beraudier, opened in June 2024; an underground transit plaza in April 2025; and refurbished ground-level platforms in September 2025.

The most significant expansion is the Beraudier plaza, now a tree-lined pedestrian space connecting the station to the Part-Dieu district. Prix Versailles recognized its community spaces and France's largest bicycle parking facility, with a capacity of 1,500 bikes. *Photo: Time Out*

Colosseo - Fori Imperiali Station (Rome, Italy)

Colosseo - Fori Imperiali Station adopts a theatrical approach, transforming the descent to the platforms into a journey through the city's history. Opened in December 2025 on the metro C line, the station is situated between the Colosseum and the Basilica of Maxentius.

During construction, the team discovered numerous ancient archaeological remains and integrated them into the station's design, creating an "archaeological station." An opening in the station ceiling, known as the Oculus, provides an unexpected view, allowing transferring passengers to see the Colosseum above. *Photo: webuildvalue*

National Museum Station (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Designed by the Arup architecture firm, National Museum Station features an entrance enveloped by a mesh-like concrete shell, drawing inspiration from the Tuwaiq mountains. Triangular openings, reminiscent of traditional Najdi architecture from central Saudi Arabia's plateau, reveal a brightly lit pale blue interior. *Photo: CNN*

Western Station (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Riyadh has two representatives on the list. Western Station takes inspiration from desert dunes. Its wavy roof provides shade for a complex including shops, a mosque, and a pedestrian plaza, all arranged around the railway tracks. *Photo: Zain Mustafa*

LAX/Metro Transit Center (Los Angeles, USA)

The LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles stands out with its soft, sculptural canopies, designed to reduce the need for air conditioning by utilizing natural ventilation. Solar panels installed on the structure meet approximately one-half of the building's energy demands. *Photo: Cntraveler*

By Tam Anh (according to Time Out)