A’ Design Award opens 2026 call for trophy, prize and competition entries

A’ Design Award & Competition has opened entries for its 2026 award, trophy, prize and competition design contest, with submissions due Sept. 30, 2026 and results set for May 1, 2027. The global competition targets designers and organizations creating recognition objects, with winners receiving a prize package that includes promotion, certification and exhibition opportunities.

Why it matters: - The competition puts award, trophy, medal and prize design on the same stage as other design disciplines. - Winners get visibility, promotion tools and industry recognition that can help designers, manufacturers and organizers showcase work to a wider audience. - The contest is open worldwide, making it a global entry point for recognition-object design.

What happened: - A’ Design Award & Competition announced its call for entries for the A’ International Award, Trophy, Prize and Competition Design Awards 2026. - Entries are open to designers, studios, agencies, manufacturers, consultants, award organizers, competition sponsors and other professionals worldwide. - Eligible work must have been developed within the last 10 years. - The entry deadline is Sept. 30, 2026. - Results will be announced on May 1, 2027.

The details: - The contest runs in two phases, starting with a complimentary preliminary evaluation. - Projects that pass the preliminary review can move to nomination. - A nominal fee applies to nomination for award consideration. - Eligible entries include trophies, medals, plaques, cups, badges, shields, competition awards, achievement prizes and other recognition objects. - Entries are judged anonymously by an international jury of more than 300 experts. - Judging criteria include originality, symbolism, aesthetics, material quality, functionality, craftsmanship and design excellence. - The competition focuses on designs that communicate prestige, identity and symbolic value through form, materials and craftsmanship. - The competition category information is available here. - Registration is available here.

Between the lines: - The prize package is built to turn a win into a marketing moment, not just a trophy on a shelf. - The competition also leans on its own ecosystem of rankings, interviews, exhibitions and press distribution to amplify winning work. - The scale of the jury and the breadth of eligible entrants suggest the contest is positioning itself as a serious industry credential, not a niche design showcase.

What's next: - Designers and organizations can submit projects now for preliminary evaluation. - Laureates will receive the A’ Design Prize, which includes a design excellence certificate, winner logo license, yearbook inclusion, Italy exhibitions, an exclusive design award trophy and gala-night invitation. - Winners will also get translation of awarded works, access to Prime Clubs and inclusion in World Design Rankings, Designer Rankings, Accolade Design Classifications and Design Legends platforms. - Laureates will receive an exclusive interview, a winner announcement press release and a press kit with images and supporting materials. - Press kits will be distributed to thousands of accredited press members, with dozens of press partners already set to publish selected winning projects. - More details are available at designaward.com.

The bottom line: - A’ Design Award is using its 2026 competition to formalize trophy and prize design as a recognized design category, while offering winners a built-in publicity engine.