The un Design Award has entered its second season and it is open for entries for 2026. Centered around the theme “The Self is the World“, the competition embraces an operational philosophy of being “undefined”. Its aim is to discover and recognize the most influential, outstanding designs and innovative talents worldwide. Based on the collective average scores of the submissions, the un Design Award will confer “Platinum,” “Gold,” and “Silver” awards.

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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.

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The Micro Living 2026 Architecture Competition invites participants to design more than a compact house by reimagining the logic of living itself to transform limitation into intelligence, and density into opportunity. Marking a decade of pioneering global design discourse, Volume Zero is proud to announce the launch of its 29th international architecture competition. This landmark edition marks a significant milestone in Volume Zero’s 10-year journey as a “curator of potential,” continuing our commitment to a new wave of architecture that is as responsive as it is resilient. As our world shifts toward unprecedented fluidity where we work, connect, and relocate with increasing speed the traditional rigid script of “the home” is being rewritten. Micro Living challenges the global design community to step beyond the constraints of shrinking footprints and instead expand the logic of possibility. This is an invitation to architects, designers, and thinkers to join a decade-long legacy of innovation and help reimagine how 250 square feet can transform from a limitation into a powerful model for urban intelligence.

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Celebrating a decade of shaping global architectural discourse, Volume Zero proudly introduces Tiny House 2026 – their 31st international architecture competition. Tiny House 2026 aims to celebrate individuality, reimagine sustainability and to exalt simple, innovative yet resourceful living. This competition stands as a testament to Volume Zero’s ongoing mission: to explore how architecture can create thoughtful, efficient, and inspiring living environments within a minimal footprint. The total prize fund for 2026 is $5,000. The best four projects will be awarded. 10 Honorable mentions will also be selected.

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UNESCO, in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA) and with the financial support of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), has opened an international, single-stage architectural design competition to select a winning design for the Construction of a Protective Shelter over Trench I at the Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan Archaeological Site in the State of Palestine. Тhe competition is an international open call conducted in open procedure and endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA), inviting submissions from architects and engineers worldwide. Three selected projects will be awarded financial prizes and the winner receives the contract for the development of the detailed design.

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The Green Product Awards are open for submissions for 2027, awarding the best products of established companies and start-ups, as well as visionary design concepts. For the 2027 cycle, the Awards introduce a clear certification structure where all submissions are checked, reviewed by the international expert jury and assessed against published criteria. Projects that qualify are recognized as Finalists or Winners and receive defined communication assets, seals and certificate.

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The 18th Comprehensive School “William Gladstone” in Sofia has announced an international architectural competition for a new educational building. The competition invites architects and design teams from Bulgaria and from around the world. It seeks a conceptual architectural design for a new educational building, functionally connected to the existing historic school building and the Bulgarian-Japanese Cultural Centre, together with proposals for the functional reorganization and landscaping of the school grounds. The best works will be awarded with a First Prize of €30,000, a Second Prize of €20,000 and a Third Prize of €10,000. The total prize fund amounts to €60,000.

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The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) has announced the 2027 IIDA Student Design Competition. The 14th annual edition of the competition invites design students from around the world who are currently enrolled in an interior design or interior architecture program. It seeks space planning and design concepts for a healthcare project set out in the published design brief. The best works will be awarded with $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second place and $750 for third place. Winners will be featured on IIDA’s website, in the spring 2027 issue of QUAD and in Design Matters newsletters, and in a press release distributed to industry outlets.

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The 2027 edition of the AZ Awards has been announced by AZURE Magazine. The international architecture and design competition showcases the world’s best projects, products and ideas. The competition invites architects, designers and students from around the world to participate. It welcomes entries across architecture, interiors, landscape, urbanism and product design. The best works will be awarded with the AZ Awards trophy, publication in print and online, and international exposure. The A+ Award for Student Work bestows a $5,000 CAD cash prize.

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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.

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