2026 IIDA Global Excellence Awards

The 2026 IIDA Global Excellence Awards have been announced. 2026 commemorates the 17th annual design competition.

The IIDA Global Excellence Awards honor excellence in originality and creativity in international interior design and interior architecture projects across 19 categories.

Winners will be celebrated with an awards ceremony in Paris, France in February 2027. Winners will also be featured on IIDA.org and across IIDA’s social media platforms, receive official digital assets, including competition winner logos for self-promotion, and coverage in an official press release distributed to leading industry outlets and media partners.

Any interior designer, interior architect, or architect may submit design project(s).

Projects must be completed in or after August 2024, and must be located outside of the United States. The submitting designer/design firm may be based anywhere, including the United States.

Competition categories include:

• Aviation and Transportation (centers, hubs, stations, and transportation-related facilities)
• Corporate Space Large (1,000 square meters and above
• Corporate Space Small (under 1,000 square meters)
• Education (elementary/secondary educational facilities, colleges/universities)
• Entertainment (casinos, performing arts centers, theaters)
• Healthcare (hospitals, outpatient clinics, medical facilities)
• Hotels – must include one (1) guest room image
• Institutional (cultural, government/municipal spaces, libraries, religious spaces)
• Public Spaces & Commercial Lobbies
• Multi-family (residential complexes, student housing, and mixed-use developments)
• Retail (stores, boutiques)
• Residences Large (125 square meters and above)
• Residences Small (under 125 square meters)
• Restaurants, Lounges & Bars
• Sales Centers & Show Flats
• Showrooms & Exhibition Spaces
• Spas and Wellness
• Sports (arenas, gymnasiums, fitness centers and facilities)

Submissions are judged on excellence in aesthetics, design, creativity, and function as well as the suitability of the design solution to the project challenge and the successful integration of the elements of design.

Please check the official website for further information.

2026 IIDA Global Excellence Awards – Entry Fees

Entry fees vary depending on the time of entry and the IIDA membership.

• Early-Bird pricing: 1-8 September, 2026
  • IIDA Members: $350
  • Non-Members: $450
• Regular pricing: 9 September 2026 – 5 October 2026
  • IIDA Members: $450
  • Non-Members: $550
• Last Chance pricing: 6-13 October, 2026
  • IIDA Members: $550
  • Non-Members: $650