Architecture & Design Collection Awards 2026 (ADCA)
Competition Brief
The Architecture & Design Collection Awards 2026 (ADCA) is an annual international design recognition programme organised by Architecture Collection, a private online platform operating multiple award programmes including ADCA, Houzee Awards, IAD Awards, DS Awards, and IE Awards. Open to architects, interior designers, landscape architects, product designers, photographers, and communication designers worldwide, the programme accepts both built and conceptual work across a broad category spectrum. The submission deadline is 19 October 2026 and winners are announced 18 November 2026.
Intent
The ADCA positions itself as a documented record of global design achievement operating across technical merit and creative execution. Every submission undergoes evaluation within its specific professional context. The programme spans architecture, interior design, landscape design, product design, communication, web, AI, fashion, furniture, lighting, packaging, transportation, and photography. Three main judging criteria are applied: Innovation and Originality; Design and Aesthetic Look; and Functionality and Spatial Integration, each scored from 0 to 100. Students compete in dedicated student categories and receive a 50% discount on all fees.
Purpose
Winning and awarded projects receive a certificate of achievement, a personalised award logo, a physical trophy, publication in the ADCA winners list, a dedicated landing page on the platform, coverage on ADCA’s official Instagram and Facebook, potential homepage feature, and inclusion in ADC newsletters. The best projects may appear on future ADC Awards covers. Architecture Collection operates as both an awards platform and a media outlet publishing content across architecture, interior, and landscape categories. Past platinum winners include projects from Olson Kundig, Pininfarina, Mops Architects, and practices from Portugal, China, Mexico, and Singapore.
Requirements
Open to all professionals and students worldwide with no restrictions on nationality, career stage, or project typology. Registration is required before submission. Each registration generates a unique registration key sent by email which is required to upload the project. Multiple projects and additional categories can be entered at reduced additional fees. Full terms and conditions are available at architecture-collection.com/terms-and-conditions-adc-awards. Contact: architecture-collection.com/contact.
Jury
- Pal Pang — Chief Creative Officer, Another Design, United Kingdom. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA); jury member for BLT Built Design Award and SIT Furniture Design Award.
- Dr. Zaki Mallasi — Architectural BIM Designer and Adjunct Professor, iconViz, USA. 15+ years across Perkins+Will, AECOM, Hickok Cole; PhD from University of Teesside (EPSRC funded); founding member and past president of ASCAAD.
- Johana Mendoza — Architectural Designer, Olson Kundig, Ecuador/USA. Experience at Rivera+Bracaci, MAE, and Army Corps of Engineers; winner at Inspireli Awards and Drawing of the Year.
- Aihui Dong — Producer and Advisor, Bad Student Media, China. 23 film projects shown at Berlinale, Venice, SXSW; curator of Chinese Pavilion at Noorderlicht International Photofestival; juror at Webby Awards and Telly Awards.
- Ivan Sipilov — Platform Design Lead, Citadel, USA. Co-creator of June Homes ($120M raised); juror at Indigo Awards and Orpetron.
- Fateme Mohammadi Maklavani — Founder and Product Owner, Mishin, USA. Exhibitor at Golden Bee Biennale (Russia) and Lahti Poster Triennial (Finland); winner at Taipei Design Award.
- Qiwei Li — Chief Designer and Adjunct Professor, APlace Design / ArchCollege, USA. Co-founder of ArchCollege (2.1M+ followers); experience at SOM and RATIO; AIA CES instructor.
- Qichao An — Founder, Design Director, Mornice Brand Design, China/USA. Winner at A’ Design Award, International Design Awards, Graphis, Indigo Awards, WOLDA, and Asia Design Prize; member of The One Club for Creativity and AIGA.
Registration Fees
| Registration Tier | Deadline | 1st Project | Additional Category | Additional Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance | 10 July 2026 | €150 | €90 | €150 |
| Standard | 19 August 2026 | €170 | €100 | €170 |
| Extended | 18 September 2026 | €190 | €110 | €190 |
| Late | 16 October 2026 | €210 | €120 | €210 |
Students receive a 50% discount and compete in student categories. Prices include 23% VAT for individual members; companies apply Reverse Charge VAT mechanism (fees exclusive of VAT). All fees are non-refundable. Submission deadline is 19 October 2026.
Prizes and Rewards
| Award Level | Prize |
|---|---|
| Platinum | Physical trophy + certificate of achievement + personalised award logo + dedicated landing page + homepage feature + newsletter inclusion + potential future cover + social media posts (Instagram and Facebook) |
| Gold | Physical trophy + certificate + award logo + dedicated landing page + social media posts |
| Silver | Physical trophy + certificate + award logo + dedicated landing page + social media posts |
| Bronze | Physical trophy + certificate + award logo + dedicated landing page + social media posts |
There are no cash prizes. All prizes are recognition, publication, and physical trophy based. No acceptance fees are charged upon winning — all benefits are included in the submission fee.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Advance registration deadline (€150) | 10 July 2026 |
| Standard registration deadline (€170) | 19 August 2026 |
| Extended registration deadline (€190) | 18 September 2026 |
| Late registration deadline (€210) | 16 October 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 19 October 2026 |
| Winners announced | 18 November 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
ADCA is one of several commercial design award platforms operated by Architecture Collection alongside ADCA, Houzee, IAD, DS, and IE Awards, which share jury members and infrastructure. The category range is genuinely broad, spanning architecture, landscape, interior, furniture, product, fashion, packaging, AI, and web design within a single programme, which reflects commercial breadth rather than disciplinary specialisation. The jury of eight includes credible practitioners from Olson Kundig, SOM, and AECOM backgrounds alongside graphic designers, film producers, and UX specialists, which is a mixed panel for an architecture-led brief. The advance fee of €150 is competitive for an international awards platform of this scale, and the student 50% discount is a genuine access provision. No cash prizes at any level. The platform’s track record of platinum winners from notable practices and its media partner network suggest consistent operation. For architects seeking international publication exposure across a broad-category platform, ADCA is a functional and fairly priced option within the commercial awards ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
The Architecture & Design Collection Awards 2026 is a broad-category international design recognition programme with advance fees from €150 (deadline 10 July 2026) and a submission deadline of 19 October 2026. Winners announced 18 November 2026. Register and submit at architecture-collection.com.
Registration Deadline
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