Dulux Colour Awards 2026 Open, Marking 40 Years of Colour

Dulux has opened entries for the 2026 Dulux Colour Awards, marking 40 years of recognising creative and innovative use of colour across the built environment in Australia and New Zealand.

Spanning an impressive four decades, the Dulux Colour Awards celebrate excellence in colour across interior and exterior spaces, including residential, public and commercial environments. With entries now officially open for 2026, Dulux invites architects, interior designers, specifiers and students from Australia and New Zealand to submit their most innovative and inspiring projects.

Reflecting on this milestone year, Dulux Colour & Design Manager Lauren Treloar acknowledges the impact past entrants, projects and judges have had on the design industry.

“As one of Australia and New Zealand’s longest-running design awards programs, the Dulux Colour Awards pays tribute to the thousands of bold and transformative projects that have been submitted throughout the years, and acknowledges hundreds of inspiring judges who have generously dedicated their time and design expertise to witness and assess the projects each year,” says Treloar.

“The accoladed design practices’ creative and innovative use of colour has helped shape and inspire generations of interior designers and architects, encouraging others to push the envelope and demonstrate the ability colour has on transforming the form, feeling and function of a space.”

“Now in its 40th year, we look forward to welcoming entrants for this exciting edition of the prestigious awards program and bid a warm welcome to our illustrious judging panel for 2026.”

Five of Australia and New Zealand’s most prolific architects and designers, all recognised for their own work, will judge the 2026 entries based on innovation, expression and execution of colour.

This year’s judging panel includes Simone Haag, Design Director of Simone Haag Interior Decoration; Ben Peake, Principal at Carter Williamson Architects; Buster Caldwell, Director of Wonder Group; Sarah-Jane Pyke, Principal of Arent&Pyke; and Alix Smith, Principal of Hassell.

Speaking about the milestone year, Simone Haag says the Dulux Colour Awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the depth of talent demonstrated by the Australian design community.

“Anyone can employ the use of colour, but to curate a space while also demonstrating constraint and considered use of colour to enhance the overall design experience is an impressive skill to behold,” says Haag. “I eagerly look forward to assessing this year’s entries with the other judges as the Dulux Colour Awards celebrates 40 years of recognising and celebrating design studios within the industry.”

Dulux encourages entries from individuals, groups, partnerships and larger practices, regardless of the scale or scope of work.

2026 Dulux Colour Awards Categories

The 2026 Dulux Colour Awards are accepting entries until Friday, 20 February 2026 across the following categories:

1—Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail
Interior paint finishes of any commercial or industrial building, including offices, studios, factories, retail outlets and shopping centres.

2—Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality
Interior paint finishes of any commercial or industrial building, including community centres, museums, theatres, places of worship, cafes, restaurants, fitness centres, hotels, event spaces, education and healthcare facilities.

3—Commercial and Multi-Residential Exterior
Exterior paint finishes of any commercial, industrial or educational facility, multi-residential development or apartment building.

4—Residential Interior
Interior paint finishes of a private residence, including single and multi-residential projects.

5—Single Residential Exterior
Exterior paint finishes of a private single residence.

6—Temporary or Installation Design
Interior and/or exterior paint finishes of any temporary installation, exhibition or brand promotion experience.

7—Student (Years 1–6) – Australia and New Zealand
Paint specification by architecture or interior design students currently undertaking or having completed a course within the past 12 months at a recognised university or college.

Each major category winner will receive AUD$1,000 in prize money.

Finalists will also be considered for the Australian Grand Prix and New Zealand Grand Prix titles.

Australian Grand Prix
Selected from Australian category winners (excluding Student), the Australian Grand Prix recipient will receive AUD$5,000.

New Zealand Grand Prix
Selected from New Zealand finalists (excluding Student), the New Zealand Grand Prix recipient will receive NZD$5,000.

Eligible projects must have been completed between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2025 and may not have been previously entered. The shortlist of finalists will be announced on Thursday, 9 April 2026 via the Dulux website.

Winners will be announced at the 40th Dulux Colour Awards on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at Bennelong, Sydney Opera House.

More information: duluxcolour.awardsplatform.com