2026 IIDA Showroom & Booth Design Competition
Competition Brief
The 2026 IIDA Showroom & Booth Design Competition judges design innovations and visual presentation of showrooms and booths which compete in the NeoCon event at The Mart and Design Days in Fulton Market. The competition recognizes excellence in commercial interior design, spatial storytelling, and visitor experience.
Intent
The intent is to highlight exceptional design in permanent showrooms and temporary booths, providing recognition and professional exposure for participating firms and designers.
Purpose
The purpose aims to recognize inventive interior design solutions which lead to professional development and showcase exceptional achievements throughout the design field.
Eligibility & Requirements
The eligible submissions must include permanent showrooms and temporary booths which will showcase their exhibits at NeoCon in The Mart and Design Days in Fulton Market 2026. Every submission needs to be finished through digital methods because the organization does not accept paper submissions. Applicants must provide:
- Firm contact information (name, address, phone, email)
- Manufacturer name
- Booth or showroom location (address or number)
- Square footage of the space
- On-site contact’s name, email, and phone number
Categories
- Large Showroom category includes spaces which have dimensions of 4,000 square feet or more
- Small Showroom category includes spaces which have dimensions of 4,000 square feet or less
- Large Booth category includes spaces which have dimensions of 400 square feet or more
- Small Booth category includes spaces which have dimensions of 400 square feet or less
Judging & Jury
The jury of design professionals selects winning designs through their evaluation of live design competition submissions at the venue.
- The Fulton Market event will begin on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 8:30 AM.
- The Mart event will start on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 8:30 AM.
The jury selects one Best of Competition winner from the category winners at Fulton Market and one Best of Competition winner from The Mart. The Best of Competition winners compete for the Best of Chicago Design Week Award which will be revealed during the Revel In Design event on June 7, 2026. The jury may choose not to select a winner in a category.
Fees
| Category | Early-Bird Fee (March 3–31) | Regular Fee (After April 1) | Final Fee (After May 27) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Showroom Member | $325 | $375 | $425 |
| Large Showroom Non-Member | $425 | $475 | $525 |
| Small Showroom Member | $275 | $325 | $375 |
| Small Showroom Non-Member | $375 | $425 | $475 |
| Large Booth Member | $250 | $300 | $350 |
| Large Booth Non-Member | $350 | $400 | $450 |
| Small Booth Member | $200 | $250 | $300 |
| Small Booth Non-Member | $300 | $350 | $400 |
Prizes & Recognition
| Prize Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Category Winner | Recognition during NeoCon and Design Days 2026, featured on IIDA.org and social media, official digital assets for self-promotion, press release coverage |
| Best of Competition | Selected from category winners at each site, eligible for Best of Chicago Design Week Award, announced at Revel In Design on June 7, 2026 |
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Open | March 3, 2026 |
| Fulton Market Submission Close | June 2, 2026 |
| The Mart Submission Close | June 5, 2026 |
| Fulton Market On-Site Jury Evaluation | June 6, 2026, 8:30 AM |
| The Mart On-Site Jury Evaluation | June 7, 2026, 8:30 AM |
| Best of Competition & Revel In Design | June 7, 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The IIDA Showroom and Booth Design Competition in Western Europe will take place during 2026. The competition judging process uses NeoCon at The Mart and Design Days in Fulton Market as its evaluation sites for on-site jury assessments. The competition operates as a professional industry event which showcases commercial interior design and spatial storytelling and visitor experience design. The entry fees which range from $200 to $525 depend on booth or showroom size and membership status which organizations should consider as fair because of the effort needed for on-site presentation and documentation work. The awards which include category recognition and the Best of Competition title provide valuable professional exposure but they do not result in financial payments to winners. Participants gain their main advantages through portfolio development and public exposure and design community networking opportunities. The evaluation process receives validation from experienced design professionals who make up the jury, but the evaluation process needs more time to assess each submission because of the limited duration assigned for on-site evaluation. The competition serves as a professional assessment which grants recognition to achievements in spatial design and the effects of commercial interior design on real-world applications.
Critical Conclusion
The IIDA Showroom & Booth Design Competition 2026 provides designers and their firms with an exceptional chance to showcase their innovative interior design work which creates impactful experiential spaces. The competition uses both on-site judging and major event award announcements to create a system that lets participants achieve recognition from their peers while the public sees their accomplishments. The competition invites participants to demonstrate their ability to invent new spatial designs and develop original materials while testing how well they attract visitors to commercial and exhibition spaces.
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