Global Architecture & Design Awards 2026
Awarded here before: the names you know
From global icons to breakout studios — tap any name to read their winning feature.
Explore the full winners galleryOver a decade of awarded work from 100+ nations — see the company your project will keep.Check all winners →
A network of winners, worldwide
From Los Angeles to Sydney, winning studios span every continent — one global network of award-winning work.
One working session.
That's the whole entry.
You've already done the hard part — the project. Entering uses material you already have.
Register your project
Name your project, pick categories, pay securely. Your Registration ID and Submission Kit arrive by email within 24 hours.
Prepare 6 sheets
Up to six A3 sheets and a 500-word brief, using the kit's templates. Drawings and photos you already have are exactly what juries want.
Submit by 3 October
Upload through the submission page. Entries are anonymised — the jury scores the work, not the name.
Winners — 15 October
Winner's digital certificate, badge kit, and a dedicated feature published to a global audience.
Every discipline. Nobody left out.
Built and conceptual. Professionals and students. Projects completed after 1 June 2020 — around 60% of participants enter one project in multiple categories.
35 categories — one global stage.
From restored warehouses to parametric towers — if the work is excellent, it belongs here.
What winning actually gets you
No vague promises — this is exactly what every GADA 2026 winner receives.
Global publication
A dedicated feature on your project, published on Re-thinking The Future and shared with our worldwide newsletter and social audiences — a permanent, linkable citation for your firm.
Official winner's certificate
Your GADA 2026 winner's certificate and seal, delivered digitally — ready for your website, proposals and client presentations.
Winner's badge kit
Hi-res GADA 2026 Winner badges and social tiles sized for your site footer, email signature, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Press-ready announcement
A press-release template announcing your win, ready for local and trade media the day results go live.
Client-facing proof
An international award judged by a named academic jury — strength behind every future bid, proposal and pitch.
A serious winners' roll
Join alumni including Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Gang, DP Architects, Field Operations and studios from 100+ nations.
Simple, per-entry pricing
One fee per project, per category. Enter one project in three categories and the third is free — applied automatically at registration.
Students enter at $150 per category — with a focused student category list, judged in their own pool.
Early Bird
Standard
Late
Submission deadline: 3 October 2026 · Winners announced: 15 October 2026
The work that won GADA
From the jury room
Entries are evaluated by an internationally influential panel of established scholars and professionals. In their words:
I am impressed by the creativity, innovation, and dedication demonstrated by the participants. The projects showcased a remarkable level of ingenuity and thoughtful consideration of future challenges and opportunities.
Through their submissions, the participants demonstrated a profound understanding of the challenges facing our world and an unwavering commitment to finding innovative solutions.
I am so amazed at the efforts of architects to create environments that have a variety of functions, materials and colors. Each design shows the skill and professionalism that reflect the developments of the 21st century.
Entries with extended emphasis on the building's social and environmental roles continue to appeal as they add tangible values to the society at large.
Questions, answered
Who can enter GADA 2026?
Architects, interior designers, product designers, construction professionals and students worldwide. Built projects must have been completed after 1 June 2020; conceptual (unbuilt) projects are equally welcome in every category.
What does it cost to enter?
The standard fee is US$300 per project per category until 15 September 2026, and US$350 from 16–30 September. If you enter one project in three categories, the third category is free.
What do I need to submit?
Up to six A3 presentation sheets (JPEG) and a project brief of up to 500 words, using the template in the Submission Kit emailed to you after registration. Entries are anonymised and identified by Registration ID only.
How are entries judged?
An international jury of academics and practitioners scores each entry on concept, design development, execution and impact. Judging is anonymised — jurors see the work, not the studio name. See the Jury page.
What do winners receive?
The official GADA 2026 winner's certificate and seal (digital), the winner badge kit, and a dedicated feature article published on Re-thinking The Future's global platform, shared through our newsletter and social channels.
When are winners announced?
The submission deadline is 3 October 2026, evaluation begins 5 October, and winners are announced on 15 October 2026 on this website and by email to all participants.
The jury convenes in October.
Make sure your work is on the table.
Registration takes about five minutes. Submission closes 3 October 2026.
Enter GADA 2026The Global Architecture & Design Awards, in depth
Celebrating design excellence. Inspiring futures. Everything you'd want to know about the program, its purpose, and the community behind it.
The 2026 Global Architecture & Design Awards are now open. The world awaits your vision.
Submit your projects and become part of an elite group that is redefining the future of architecture and design. Each submission is a step toward leaving your mark on the world.
The objective of these awards is to raise awareness around the strategies Architects and Designers are employing to deal with the contemporary global challenges, and to bring the best of such projects into the light to inspire the next generation.
Participating is the easiest thing to do: no extra staff, no long working hours — the kit and guidelines do the heavy lifting.
Because you are redefining architecture & design
Every architectural project submitted to RTF Global Architecture & Design Awards is a testament to the bold ideas and unique approaches that architects like you bring to the table. Each category honors the finest in every discipline, from architecture and urban design to landscape and interior design. With categories specifically designed to showcase diverse perspectives and global trends, your work has a stage that's as dynamic and far-reaching as your vision.
Entries are invited across disciplines and scales — whether it's a dwelling for 1000 families or a bespoke lamp, if it's excellent and innovative, you can submit your project and be part of the global architecture community.
Join the distinguished hall of RTF winners
The RTF Architecture & Design Awards 2026 program aims to bring exceptional works in the field of Architecture the prestige they deserve. Every year, architects from 100+ nations compete for this globally renowned award, but only a few join the distinguished hall of RTF winners.
Will your name be on that list in 2026?
Excellence wins here — irrespective of size.
A platform for firms across the globe, where the strength of the idea decides, not the size of the team or the building.
Credibility that compounds, year after year
In this digital world, relying only on word of mouth to get new clients is working hard — not only for the young but for established firms too. Winning an award gives an immense boost to your studio's presence and credibility:
Credibility and reach, built in
Global Architecture & Design Awards is organised by RTF | Rethinking The Future and judged by a panel of leading figures from the architecture and design world. Every shortlisted and winning entry is published on RTF official channels and shared via our newsletter audiences and social media, bringing significant recognition to successful entrants.
Winning and Runner-Up studios can promote the fact that they are Rethinking The Future Awards winners — and every winner receives the official winner's certificate and seal.
Three reasons, plainly
Some of the world's biggest firms — beside emerging studios
Previous winners include Zaha Hadid Architects (Chengdu Science Fiction Museum), Foster + Partners (DY Patil University Centre of Excellence), Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (160 Front Street), and Perkins&Will (Waldyr Beira Building), among many others:
Among many architecture awards and design competitions, Rethinking The Future Architecture Awards are one of the most renowned international awards in the field of Architecture and Design. Winning an RTF Award validates your superior work and gives your clients and prospects the confidence they need to invest in your services. And what's more, it puts you in the class of international award-winning architects.
