SURFACE Design Awards 2026 are now open for entries, with new categories and judging format. The awards, now in its 14th year, continue to champion the very best in architecture, design, and manufacturing, shining a spotlight on material excellence and design innovation from the UK and around the globe, says the company.
For 2026, the awards have been refreshed with a new process that will see a panel of distinguished judges – each selected for their specialist knowledge and expertise – evaluating entries across 10 categories. The updated award categories are described to have been devised to reflect the most innovative products and projects that improve the way we approach materiality in design. Divided between ‘Projects’ and ‘Products’, judges will lead the conversation in their area of expertise while collaborating with the panel to shape the overall decisions, says The Surface Design Show.
It adds: ‘An important element of the Surface Design Show is supporting young designers. This is now reflected with the introduction of the Emerging Talent Award. This award is by invite only, where student projects and universities will be invited to enter projects that demonstrate outstanding material innovation.’
The main categories are:
Projects
– Lighting
– Hospitality
– Public Realm
– Facades
– Regenerative Design
Projects
– Innovation
– Digital
– Sustainability
– Material Transformation
– Heritage & Craft
The Surface Design Show will also award an Outstanding Contribution Award which will be given to a practice or studio that has made an ‘Outstanding Contribution’ to the industry.
The 2025 edition of the awards received various submissions from around the globe, showing a diverse range of projects and products that push the boundaries of material use and design. The winners exhibited strong material innovation across projects and products, with the finalists embodying creative ingenuity and all placed a strong emphasis on sustainability.
David Todd SDS event director explains: ‘We’re incredibly excited to introduce these new enhancements to the Surface Design Awards which is evidence of the vital importance of materiality in architecture and design. By refining the judging process and expanding the categories, we’re creating an even stronger platform to showcase the best of innovation and creativity in our industry, celebrating projects and products shaping the future of surface design”.
The closing date for Surface Design Award entries is 5pm 17 October 2025, with judging taking place in late-November 2025. The winners will then be announced at a champagne reception during SDS26, at London’s Business Design Centre on Wednesday 4 February at 6pm.
The Surface Design Awards 2026 promises to once again uncover and celebrate the very best in design excellence, offering a global platform for groundbreaking projects and product design, says the organisation.
www.surfacedesignshow.com
