Dezeen Awards 2026 is open for entries

Dezeen Awards is an annual awards programme identifying the world's best architecture, interiors and design projects, as well as the studios and the individual architects and designers producing the most outstanding work.

Organised by Dezeen, the world's influential architecture and design media brand, Dezeen Awards is now in its ninth year and has become the benchmark for international design excellence and the ultimate accolade for architects and designers everywhere.

Dezeen have made some changes for 2026, including introducing our Regional Showcases, which comprise three Top 50 lists that celebrate the best projects in three regions globally: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Americas (AMER). 

Every project entered into this year's awards can also be entered into the Regional Showcases. The world-renowned judges will continue to choose the winners of Dezeen Awards, while these new Regional Showcases will be chosen by Dezeen's editors. The trio of Top 50 lists will be published in September ahead of the shortlist announcements.

Architecture categories

• House (urban)

New-build individual dwellings in a densely built-up setting (includes conjoined developments of up to two houses). Must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• House (rural)

New-build individual dwellings in a low-density or non-urban setting (includes conjoined developments of up to two houses). Must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Housing

Multiple new-build or significantly refurbished dwellings or extended housing projects of three or more units completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026. Must include three or more units.

• House renovation

Outstanding refurbished homes that have been completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• House extension

An outstanding extension added to an existing home that has been completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Civic project

New-build or significant extension to and/or refurbishment of civic buildings, including civic centres, places of worship, community buildings, council buildings, visitor centres, libraries, sports halls, swimming pools and leisure centres, or any building containing a significant public-facing facility and completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Cultural project

New-build or refurbished cultural projects completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026 that promote culture and the arts, including theatres, archives, cinemas, museums, stadiums, art galleries and music venues.

• Workplace project (small)

New-build, refurbished and retrofitted workplaces, offices or studios that are less than 2,500 square metres and completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026. Includes laboratories, research buildings and office campuses.

• Workplace project (large)

New-build, refurbished and retrofitted workplaces, offices or studios that are more than 2,500 square metres and completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026. Includes laboratories, research buildings and office campuses.

• Leisure and wellness project

New-build projects or significant refurbishments or extensions of a building used for leisure, health and wellbeing. Includes hospitals, doctors' and dentists' surgeries, care homes, clinics and spas completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Education project

New-build or refurbished projects for early years provision, primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and other further or higher education institutions completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Heritage project

Refurbishment, retrofit or extension of historic buildings completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Hospitality project

New-build or refurbished projects, including bars, restaurants and hotels completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026. This category is sponsored by Sanderson.

• Infrastructure and transport project

New-build infrastructure or refurbishment and upgrade work of existing facilities where the projects exhibit a significant spatial or structural design emphasis such as underground, rail or bus stations, bridges as well as buildings constructed to deliver public utilities. Must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Small project

Any standalone project up to 150sqm and with a contract value of £400,000 and under, including pavilions, shelters, cabins, open-air structures, temporary structures, micro-homes, pop-up boutiques, kiosks and classrooms. Must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Mixed-use project

New build, extended or refurbished mixed-use developments designed for at least two distinct uses such as residential, commercial or cultural, completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Landscape and urban design

Landscape architecture or urban design projects, including masterplans and design for the public realm, completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Sustainable building

New-builds that excel in their approach to sustainability, including zero-carbon or negative-carbon projects, zero-energy projects, circular projects, reversible buildings or buildings that employ environmentally friendly construction techniques, materials, energy sources etc. Must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026. This category is sponsored by Michelmersh.

• Sustainable renovation

Renovations or retrofits of existing buildings to make them more efficient, which demonstrate both embodied and operational carbon savings and a holistic whole-life carbon approach to sustainability. Must be completed between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2026.

• Architecture Project of the Year

The winner of each of the above categories will automatically qualify for the chance to win overall architecture project of the year.

Key dates

Entries must be submitted by 23:59 London time on the night of each deadline day.

• 27 May 2026: standard entry deadline
• 3 June 2026: late entry deadline
• Early September 2026: Dezeen Awards Regional Showcases announced online
• Late September 2026: shortlists announced online
• 5 October 2026: public vote opens
• 27-29 October 2026: public vote winners announced
• Mid November 2026: winners revealed

Prices

Entry fees have been set as low as possible to encourage entries from every type of studio around the world. There are reduced rates for individuals and companies with ten employees or fewer.

Standard entry until 27 May 2026

• For small studios (companies with 1-10 employees): £130 per category entry
• For large studios (companies with 11+ employees): £260 per category entry

Late entry until 3 June 2026

• For small studios (companies with 1-10 employees): £270 per category entry
• For large studios (companies with 11+ employees): £540 per category entry

For more information, visit the terms and conditions page.