International Architecture & Design Awards (IADA) 2027
Exhibitions, trade-show stands, conferences, festivals and brand experiences are designed spaces that exist for days or weeks and are remembered much longer. The International Architecture & Design Awards (IADA) recognise event and exhibition design in a dedicated Event discipline and in related nominations for exhibition interiors, stands and event lighting, all evaluated by an independent international jury. This page covers those nominations, the IADA 2027 fees and deadlines and recent winners.
Why enter the event and exhibition design category of IADA?
Temporary work is easy to lose: once an exhibition closes or a stand is dismantled, only photographs remain. An independent award gives the design documented, third-party recognition that studios and agencies can cite in pitches and in communication with clients and organisers.
Each IADA winner receives a published winner page with the project description, images, design team and credits. Certificates, winner logos and graphic materials are available in the participant account, and a physical trophy can be ordered separately; it is optional. IADA is organised by Architecture & Design Community (ADC) and has run since 2019; IADA 2027 lists 19 disciplines and 640 nominations in total.
Event design nominations at IADA 2027
The Event discipline includes 17 nominations covering designed events and experiences, from exhibitions and conferences to performances, celebrations, public events and virtual formats. Choose the nomination that matches the type of event; each additional nomination is paid separately.
| Nominations | |
|---|---|
| Art and Cultural Events | Business-to-Business (B2B) Events |
| Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Events | Cause and Fundraising Events |
| Celebrations and Ceremonies | Concerts and Music Events |
| Conferences and Conventions | Corporate and Team Building Events |
| Educational and Tech Events | Festivals and Carnivals |
| Live Shows and Performances | Public Events and Roadshows |
| Sports and Tournaments | Trade Shows and Expos |
| Weddings and Social Events | Virtual Events |
| Other Events | |
Exhibition design in other disciplines
Exhibition spaces, stands and event lighting can also be entered in these nominations:
| Nomination | Discipline | Typical projects |
|---|---|---|
| Showroom, Exhibit & Gallery Interior Design | Interior | Exhibition interiors, showrooms, gallery spaces |
| Exhibitions, Events & Trade Shows | Conceptual | Exhibition stands and event concepts |
| Stage and Event Lighting | Lighting | Lighting for stages, events and exhibitions |
| Museum, Exhibition & Gallery Design | Architecture | Museum and exhibition buildings |
Compare all options on the IADA categories and nominations page. Museum buildings are covered on our page on IADA public and cultural buildings category.
Completed projects and concepts
IADA accepts both realised projects and concepts, and the project status is shown on each winner page. Recent winners include the Penguin Random House book fair stand in Spain, a completed Platinum winner in Exhibitions, Events & Trade Shows, and Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue in Canada, a completed Platinum winner in Public Events and Roadshows. Students are judged by the same jury against the same criteria and receive a 50% discount on everything except trophies.
IADA 2027 fees and deadlines
The entry fee depends on the registration period. The fee for the first project includes one nomination; each additional nomination for the same project costs less.
| Registration period | Register by | First project | Each additional nomination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Bird | 13 November 2026 | $140 | $90 |
| Advance | 18 December 2026 | $170 | $110 |
| Standard | 29 January 2027 | $200 | $130 |
| Extended | 5 February 2027 | $230 | $150 |
| Late | 9 April 2027 | $260 | $170 |
- Project submission deadline: 12 April 2027
- Winners announced: 14 May 2027
- Students: 50% discount on entry fees
Registration and project submission have separate deadlines. Full details are on the entry fees and deadlines pages.
How event and exhibition projects are judged
Each member of the jury evaluates every project in its nomination against three criteria:
- Innovation & Originality: the strength of the concept and the story it tells.
- Design & Aesthetic Quality: spatial design, graphics, materials and lighting.
- Functionality & Spatial Integration: visitor flow, orientation and how the space works during the event.
The jury scores each entry against these published criteria and the scores are averaged. The highest-ranked projects receive Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze awards, and Honourable Mentions may also be given. Meet the jury on the IADA jury page.
Recent IADA event and exhibition winners
Platinum and Gold winners from IADA 2025 and 2026 in event, exhibition and trade-show nominations.
| Project | Studio | Country | Award | Nomination | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penguin Random House _ Book Fair stand | MANDARUIXA DESIGN SL | Spain | Platinum, IADA 2025 | Exhibitions, Events & Trade Shows | Completed |
| Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue | Supply + Demand | Canada | Platinum, IADA 2025 | Public Events and Roadshows | Completed |
| Fulton Market Design Days | Oetee | United States | Platinum, IADA 2025 | Business-to-Business Events | Completed |
| Accenture Federal Services: The Forge® | Dimensional Innovations | United States | Gold, IADA 2026 | Showroom, Exhibit & Gallery Interior Design | Completed / Built |
| Aatma Manthan Museum | Sanjay Puri Architects | India | Gold, IADA 2026 | Showroom, Exhibit & Gallery Interior Design | Completed / Built |
| Tales of nostalgia | 1:1 Studio | Saudi Arabia | Gold, IADA 2025 | Showroom, Exhibit & Gallery Interior Design | Completed |
Browse more projects in the IADA winners archive.
Preparing a strong event or exhibition entry
For temporary work, the documentation is the project. Plan photography and short descriptions of the visitor experience before the event ends.
- Explain the brief: the client, the audience, the duration and the venue.
- Show the plan and the visitor route, not only the main view.
- Include the event in use, with visitors, where possible.
- State the status (realised or concept) and credit the full team, including producers and lighting designers.
Our guide How to enter IADA covers the materials you need and the order in which to prepare them.
How to enter IADA 2027 in four steps
- Create your participant account. Registration and submission are managed in your account.
- Register your project and pay the entry fee. Choose your event or exhibition nomination and any additional nominations.
- Prepare your presentation. Project description, images and drawings; our guide How to enter IADA explains what to prepare.
- Submit before 12 April 2027. Winners are announced on 14 May 2027.
IADA event and exhibition design category FAQ
Which nomination fits a trade-show stand?
Trade Shows and Expos in the Event discipline, or Exhibitions, Events & Trade Shows in the Conceptual discipline.
Where do I enter an exhibition design in a museum or gallery?
Showroom, Exhibit & Gallery Interior Design in the Interior discipline, or Art and Cultural Events in the Event discipline, depending on whether the entry focuses on the space or the event.
Can I enter an event concept that has not taken place?
Yes. IADA accepts concepts as well as realised projects. Select Concept as the project status when you register.
How much does it cost to enter IADA 2027?
In the current Early Bird period, until 13 November 2026, the first project costs $140 and each additional nomination $90. Fees increase with each registration period (see the fee table). Students receive a 50% discount on everything except trophies.
Who judges the entries?
An independent international jury. Each member scores projects against three published criteria, and the scores are averaged. See the IADA jury.
When are the IADA 2027 winners announced?
On 14 May 2027. The project submission deadline is 12 April 2027.
Ready to enter your event or exhibition?
Early Bird registration for IADA 2027 is open until 13 November 2026: $140 for the first project. Register early: fees increase with each period.