A' Architectural Lighting Design Awards opens 2026 entries

A' Design Award & Competition has opened submissions for its 2026 A' International Architectural Lighting Design Awards, with eligibility for lighting and design professionals worldwide. The contest is free to enter at the preliminary stage, with final entries due Sept. 30, 2026 and winners announced May 1, 2027.

Why it matters: - The awards give architectural lighting projects a global platform focused on how light shapes buildings, public space and user experience. - Winning projects can gain publicity tools, exhibition exposure and international recognition through the A' Design Prize. - The competition may help designers, architects and manufacturers benchmark work against peers across lighting and built-environment disciplines.

What happened: - A' Design Award & Competition opened calls for entries for the 2026 A' International Architectural Lighting Design Awards. - The competition is open to architectural lighting designers, lighting consultants, industrial design studios, interior designers, architects, architectural firms, landscape architects, urban planners, electrical engineers, lighting technology developers, lighting control system designers, lighting fixture manufacturers, architectural lighting brands, visual perception researchers, lighting project managers and related companies worldwide. - Eligible projects are those developed within the last 10 years. - Entries must be submitted by Sept. 30, 2026. - Winners will be announced on May 1, 2027.

The details: - The competition has two phases. - The first phase is free and provides a preliminary score. - Projects that pass the preliminary stage can move to nomination. - A nominal fee applies for nomination. - Eligible work includes architectural illumination, facade lighting, interior architectural lighting, exterior lighting, landscape illumination, architectural light projections and integrated lighting projects. - Sub-category details are available here. - Registrations are available here. - Past winners are listed here.

Between the lines: - The program is built to reward both technical performance and visual experience, not just decorative lighting. - The prize package is designed to extend a winning project's reach through marketing, translation, exhibitions and press distribution. - The awards also place lighting work inside broader ranking systems, which can raise visibility beyond a single competition cycle.

What's next: - Applicants can register and submit projects ahead of the Sept. 30, 2026 deadline. - Laureates of the professional edition will receive the A' Design Prize, which includes a design excellence certificate, winner logo license, yearbook inclusion, exhibition in Italy, trophy and gala invitation. - Winners will also receive an interview, a press release and a press kit with images and supporting materials. - Press kits will be distributed to accredited press members, with additional publication support from confirmed press partners. - More information is available at designaward.com.

The bottom line: - The 2026 architectural lighting awards are now open, with free preliminary entry and a global field of eligible projects spanning lighting, architecture and design.