TABU Spa has opened the 9th edition of the Ideas4Wood Design Contest 2026/2027. The contest invites designers to propose wood surface decorations for furniture and interiors. The competition is aimed at the design of geometric, organic or combined decorations for wood applications. Participation is open to professionals and students from around the world. A total of €15,000 will be awarded to the best entries across all competition categories. First prize in the Professionals category is €5,000. First prize in the Students category is €5,000. The Carpanelli Award offers €3,000 for Professionals and €2,000 for Students. Special awards are offered by IQD Magazine, Roda For You, Sherwin Williams and Carpanelli.

Read more about Ideas 4 Wood 2026/2027 Design Contest on Contest Watchers.

Nikon Instruments Inc. has opened entries for the 53rd annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography and Video Competition. The 2027 edition is now accepting submissions. The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or older with access to a light microscope. It welcomes still images and videos that reveal the structure, color and complexity of subjects too small to be seen with the naked eye. Subject matter is unrestricted, and any light microscopy technique is accepted. The best works will be awarded with cash prizes, including $3,000 for the first-place winner in each of the two competitions. The Photomicrography Competition recognizes a top 20 and also awards honorable mentions, while Small World in Motion recognizes a top five. Honorable mentions in both contests receive $200 each.

Read more about Nikon Small World 2027 Photomicrography and Video Competition on Contest Watchers.

The Anča civic association has opened the call for entries for the 20th Fest Anča International Animation Festival. The milestone edition of the Slovak festival will present animated short films and music videos from around the world. The competition is open to animators of any age, both professionals and students. Only animated short films and music videos completed after 1st January 2025 are accepted. All works must be original and created by humans. A total of €6,000 will be awarded across five Anča Awards. The winners of Best Animated Short and Best Slovak Animated Short will each receive €1,500, while Best Student Animated Short, Best Animated Music Video and Best Animated Short for Children carry €1,000 each.

Read more about 20th Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2027 on Contest Watchers.

The 14th PHODAR Biennial invites photographers worldwide to submit their work on the theme “Traces Remain”. Founded in Bulgaria in 1999, PHODAR celebrates contemporary photography through its international competition, exhibitions, and publications. Its focus is the photographic series, encouraging projects that combine a distinctive visual language with depth of meaning. Awards include the Grand Prize, Debut Award, and Award for Humanistic Photography.

Read more about 14th PHODAR Biennial Series Awards: Traces Remain on Contest Watchers.

The VADON Association has announced the 13th TransNatura International Nature Photo Contest 2026. The IAAP-recognized photo salon takes place in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania, and is open for entries. The contest invites amateur and professional photographers from around the world to submit nature photographs in two categories: Wildlife and Nature and Landscapes. Images must be taken in natural habitats without disturbing wildlife, and photographs of captive animals are not eligible. A total of seven prizes, worth 5,500 Euro, will be awarded. The TransNatura Grand Prize is €1,500, while each category offers €1,000 for first place, €600 for second place, and €400 for third place.

Read more about TransNatura 2026 International Nature Photo Contest on Contest Watchers.

The International Excellence Awards 2027 invite architects, designers, studios and students worldwide to enter built and conceptual projects in 11 categories, from architecture and interiors to product, fashion and AI-powered design. The International Excellence Awards were founded in 2025 by Architecture & Design Community, and the 2027 edition is the programme’s third season. Winners receive a personalised certificate, a custom award logo, a banner kit for social media and a dedicated winner’s page on the awards website with a studio card and contact details. Trophies are available to order separately.

Read more about International Excellence Awards (IEA) 2027 on Contest Watchers.

The Type Directors Club, the world’s leading typography organization, has launched the global call for entries for its prestigious TDC73 competition. The competition invites designers, studios, type foundries, letterers, educators, and other creative professionals from around the world to participate. Entries are sought across three disciplines — Communication Design, Lettering, and Type Design — under the theme “Be Bold, Be Seen (All Characters Welcome)“. Winners receive TDC Type-High Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards or Certificates of Merit, along with a digital seal certifying their work is among the world’s best typography of the year. Winning work is also showcased in eight exhibitions that travel to museums, schools, and design organizations around the world, and earns points in The One Club for Creativity’s Global Creative Rankings.

Read more about The TDC 73rd Annual Competition on Contest Watchers.

The World Food Photography Awards 2027 has opened for entries. The Awards celebrate exceptional photography telling stories of food: from growing and harvesting, cooking and eating, celebrating to surviving. You do not need to specialise in food photography. With 26 categories to choose from, there’s something for every style of photographer: travel, still life, documentary, portrait & more. It’s the story that matters. Entering puts your work on a global stage: images are judged by an international panel of leaders in food, photography & the creative industries. Plus, images from the Awards receive media coverage from hundreds of outlets around the world every year.

Read more about World Food Photography Awards 2027 on Contest Watchers.

The Aftermath Project has opened its 2026 Post-Conflict Grant. The annual grant supports still-photography projects on the aftermath of conflict. The call is open to working photographers working on post-conflict issues anywhere in the world. One winner will be awarded The Aftermath Project’s $25,000 grant. In addition, four finalists will also be announced.

Read more about The Aftermath Project 2026 Post-Conflict Grant on Contest Watchers.

Zavod Big has opened entries for the BIG SEE Awards 2027. Established in 2018, the awards recognise excellence in architecture, interior design, and product design. Architects, interior designers, product designers, and manufacturers from around the world are invited to participate. Architecture and interior design entries must cover projects completed within the last three years. Product entries must have been launched on the market within the two years preceding submission, or hold a confirmed launch date no later than the award ceremony. The awards carry no cash prize. Awarded projects receive an award logo, an official certificate, and a trophy, and the jury names one Grand Prix winner per category. Winners are also published on the official website, presented on stage at the festival, and offered professional meetings, festival passes, and promotional support.

Read more about BIG SEE Awards 2027 on Contest Watchers.