2026 AIA UK Excellence in Design Awards Gala Celebrates Design Across the UK and Beyond
The American Institute of Architects UK Chapter welcomed architects, designers, students, industry partners, and friends to the 2026 Excellence in Design Awards Gala at the Royal College of Physicians in London on 28 May 2026.
The evening celebrated projects that demonstrate outstanding design excellence, innovation, sustainability, and positive impact on the built environment. The 2026 programme marked an important evolution of the awards, expanding its international reach while placing the AIA Framework for Design Excellence at the centre of the jury's evaluation process. Projects from across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa showcased how design can respond to today's environmental, social, and economic challenges through thoughtful and enduring solutions.
This year's awards were generously supported by headline sponsor MillerKnoll, whose continued commitment to design excellence helped make the evening possible.
The jury was chaired by Mouzhan Majidi, FAIA, Chief Executive Officer of Zaha Hadid Architects, and included Elie Gamburg, AIA, Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox, Natalia Uribe, Cities Director at BDP, Mina Hasman, Sustainability Director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Dr Paolo Zaide, Assistant Head of School at University of Westminster. Bringing expertise from architecture, urban design, sustainability, engineering, and academia, the jury carefully reviewed a diverse and highly competitive field of submissions.
The 2026 awards recognised excellence across five categories:
• Excellence in UK Design
• Excellence in Global Design
• Excellence in Interior Architecture and Design Innovation
• Excellence in Urban Design and Environmental Stewardship
• Noel Hill Student Research Award
In a refined awards structure introduced this year, projects were recognised through Citation, Merit, and Excellence awards. Rather than representing progressive levels of achievement, each distinction recognised projects that independently met the jury's high standards within their respective categories.
Following an evening of networking in the Royal College of Physicians' gardens, guests gathered for the awards presentation, where the jury celebrated projects that exemplified creativity, technical excellence, environmental responsibility, and meaningful contributions to their communities.
Congratulations to all of the 2026 award recipients, whose work demonstrates the breadth and quality of contemporary architectural and urban design practice. The complete list of winners, jury citations, and project information is available on the AIA UK Excellence in Design Awards website.
The AIA UK Excellence in Design Awards continue to provide a platform for recognising projects that advance the profession while addressing the complex challenges facing our built environment. This year's programme highlighted how design excellence extends beyond aesthetics, embracing resilience, sustainability, inclusivity, and long term value for communities.
The AIA UK Chapter extends its sincere thanks to our distinguished jury for their time and expertise, all participating practices and students for sharing their work, our sponsors and partners for their generous support, and the many volunteers whose dedication made the event a success. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate another outstanding year of architectural excellence.
Written by Paolo Mendoza, Assoc AIA
