International Architecture & Design Awards (IADA) 2027
Urban design works at the scale of streets, squares and whole districts, and its results are shared by everyone who lives in or visits a city. The International Architecture & Design Awards (IADA) recognise urban design, master planning and public-realm projects across several disciplines, evaluated by an independent international jury. This page brings together the relevant nominations, how urban projects are judged, the IADA 2027 fees and deadlines and recent winners.
Why enter the urban design and master planning category of IADA?
Urban projects take years to plan and deliver, involve many partners and are often credited to institutions rather than designers. An independent award gives the design team documented, third-party recognition that can support future competitions, public tenders and conversations with municipalities and communities.
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.
Urban design and planning nominations at IADA 2027
Urban projects can be entered in several disciplines. Master plans and district-scale work fit Urban Design & Master Planning in Architecture; streets, squares and public spaces fit the Landscape nominations; future-facing urban ideas fit the Conceptual discipline. Choose the nomination that best describes the main contribution of your project; each additional nomination is paid separately.
| Nomination | Discipline | Typical projects |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Design & Master Planning | Architecture | Master plans, district regeneration, public realm strategies |
| Public & Urban Landscape Design | Landscape | Squares, parks and public spaces in the city |
| Streetscape & Pedestrian Design | Landscape | Streets, pedestrian zones, walkability projects |
| Plaza & Courtyard Design | Landscape | Plazas, courtyards and urban open spaces |
| Habitat & Urban Planning | Conceptual | Future-facing urban and settlement concepts |
| Urban & Landscape Project – AI-Powered | AI-Powered Design | Urban projects developed with AI tools |
See the full lists on the IADA categories and nominations page and our pages on IADA landscape architecture category and IADA public and cultural buildings category.
Built projects and concepts
IADA accepts completed projects and unbuilt concepts, and the project status is shown on each winner page. Recent urban winners include Pedestrian Zone Slavonski Brod in Croatia, a completed project, and EUROGARDEN LEISURE DISTRICT in Brazil, a Platinum winner in Urban Design & Master Planning presented as a concept. Students are judged by the same jury against the same criteria and receive a 50% discount on everything except trophies; in 2026 the student entry Humane Practicaility, a concept, won a Platinum award in Public & Urban Landscape Design.
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 urban design projects are judged
Each member of the jury evaluates every project in its nomination against three criteria:
- Innovation & Originality: the strength of the urban idea and its response to the city and its people.
- Design & Aesthetic Quality: the quality of the public spaces, buildings and landscape the plan creates.
- Functionality & Spatial Integration: how the project works for residents and visitors and connects to its surroundings.
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 urban design winners
Platinum and Gold winners from IADA 2025 and 2026 in urban design, master planning and public space nominations.
| Project | Studio | Country | Award | Nomination | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian Zone Slavonski Brod | Rechner d.o.o. | Croatia | Gold, IADA 2026 | Urban Design & Master Planning | Completed / Built |
| Villas de San Pablo Cultural Center | Urban Transformation Program Colombia and partners | Colombia | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Urban Design & Master Planning | Completed / Built |
| Regional Urban Renewal of Chengdu Pengzhou Longxing Temple Area | BEIJING INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN CO..LTD.（BIAD） | China | Platinum, IADA 2025 | Urban Design & Master Planning | Completed |
| OstStern Frankfurt a.M. | HS 02 Huthwelker Stoehr & Partner | Germany | Gold, IADA 2025 | Urban Design & Master Planning | Completed |
| EUROGARDEN LEISURE DISTRICT | GATE ARCHITECTS | Brazil | Platinum, IADA 2025 | Urban Design & Master Planning | Concept |
| Humane Practicaility: Aiding the Homeless and Crime Crisis in San Bernardino | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | United States | Platinum, IADA 2026 | Public & Urban Landscape Design | Concept |
Browse more projects in the IADA winners archive.
Preparing a strong urban design entry
An urban project has to be understood at several scales at once. The presentation should lead the jury from the city to the street.
- Start with the context: the city, the site before the project and the problem it addresses.
- Show the plan at district scale, then zoom in to typical streets and public spaces.
- Explain phasing, participation and how the project is used after completion.
- State the project status (built, in progress or concept) and credit the full team and partners.
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 urban design 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 urban design and master planning category FAQ
Which nomination fits a master plan?
Urban Design & Master Planning in the Architecture discipline is intended for master plans and district-scale projects.
Where do I enter a street or square redesign?
Streetscape & Pedestrian Design, Plaza & Courtyard Design or Public & Urban Landscape Design in the Landscape discipline, depending on the main focus of the project.
Can I enter an urban plan that is not built yet?
Yes. IADA accepts concepts as well as built 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 urban project?
Early Bird registration for IADA 2027 is open until 13 November 2026: $140 for the first project. Register early: fees increase with each period.