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2027 Awards Program:
Stronger Recognition for Australian Architecture

The Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes program is evolving for 2027. 

These changes are designed to strengthen the impact, visibility and value of recognition across the profession, while creating a clearer and more consistent pathway from regional and chapter recognition through to the national awards. 

The updated program also reflects member feedback about making awards more meaningful, competitive and better connected to the stories architecture can tell about the value of design in our communities. 

While some elements of the program are changing, the core purpose remains the same: celebrating excellence in architecture and recognising the architects, projects and ideas shaping Australia’s built environment. 

This forms part of an ongoing evolution and refresh for the Institute’s much-loved Awards and Prizes program, with further complementary updates under consideration for 2028 and beyond. Together, these updates will ensure a more effective, prestigious, and impactful program, strengthening its value both now and into the future.  

Applications for 2027 entries will open on 3 December 2026 and the 2027 entry handbook (to be published shortly) will contain detailed information about what you need to do to enter.   

In the meantime, we encourage you to start preparing your entry materials, including project information, high-resolution photography, and digital assets, ahead of applications opening. 

Before entries open, ensure you have all the requirements for the consent forms (including client and photographer). Having these ready ahead of time will ensure your submission can be completed smoothly as soon as the platform opens. 

Why we’re making these changes

The Institute’s National Architecture Awards program is internationally respected and remains one of the profession’s most important forms of recognition. 

 At the same time, our members have expressed a clear desire for the program to achieve even more. Beyond celebrating exceptional built work, these updates ensure the Awards actively communicate the broader value of architecture, strengthen advocacy for the profession, and highlight design’s critical contribution to community, sustainability, wellbeing, and quality of life. 

These changes are intended to: 

  • Strengthen the prestige and visibility of recognition, making awards more competitive and meaningful 
  • Create a clearer pathway from chapter to national recognition 
  • Improve consistency across Australia, reducing duplication and complexity 
  • Enabling a greater focus on promoting award-winning projects and architects, better communicating the broader impact of architecture on society 
  • Ensure the Awards program remains strong, relevant and sustainable for the future. 

What’s changing in 2027?

01 National Award Categories

At the national level, the program will focus on a select, smaller number of awards. Streamlining the categories enhances competition, aligns directly with the Institute’s advocacy agenda, and allows for a greater emphasis on showcasing winning projects and communicating the value of architecture. 

02 Chapter Award Categories

Chapter awards will be organised around 10 core categories plus an EmAGN award, as well as two Chapter-specific awards and a Chapter medal. 

03 Entry Categories & Limits

Projects will be able to enter up to two core categories. This limit does not include the COLORBOND Award for Steel Architecture, the EmAGN Project Award, or Chapter-specific awards. 

04 Pathway to National Recognition

Chapter Named award winners will form  the national shortlist, creating a stronger and more visible pathway from local recognition to national prestige. 

05 Minimum Entry Requirements

A minimum number of five entries must be received in any Chapter or Region for a Program to proceed. In 2027, Chapters and Regions that do not receive five entries, will have entries banked for the 2028 Awards program. 

06 Program Improvements

A number of operational improvements will make the program easier for entrants, jurors and volunteers, including: 

– One national timeline for entry submissions and jury selection

– Reduced duplication in jury processes through tighter shortlisting prior to site visits, at both Chapter and National levels. 

– Online jury briefings 

– Continued flexibility for jury presentations, either in person or online.

– Physical A1 exhibition boards and exhibition requirements have been removed from the program, with no additional digital submission requirements beyond the online form

These changes allow greater focus on recognising and promoting outstanding work. 

The Institute’s regional awards programs are also evolving to be more aligned with chapter and national programs. In Queensland, the 2027 regional program will operate with a reduced and more focused number of commendations and reconfigured delivery and dates.

For 2027, NSW regional entries will be embedded in NSW State Awards, while the NSW regional program is paused.  A revised regional awards program will be developed with regional members for 2028 implementation. NSW regional members will also have an opportunity for a designated member connection event in 2027.  

More specific detail will be available when entries open on 3 December 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Why change a program that’s already successful?

The Awards program has a proud history and continues to be highly valued by members. However, there are opportunities to improve consistency, simplify processes, strengthen national recognition and better communicate the value of architecture. The updated program is designed to build on the strengths of the existing model while preparing it for the future. 

These changes allow for: 

  • A refined award structure that elevates competition and prestige. 
  • A stronger and clearer pathway from chapter to national recognition 
  • The Institute to devote more resources to amplify projects through national storytelling and advocacy, reaching both our professional networks and the general public. 

By refining our award categories, we are creating clearer, more deliberate connections to the pressing issues facing our built environment and the profession. 

Moving beyond evaluating built form and physical outputs alone, the program will place a heightened focus on storytelling and strategic promotion, reaching both industry networks and the broader public. This expanded platform will highlight how architectural excellence addresses the critical challenges of our time, demonstrating design’s tangible contribution to sustainability, housing equity, community resilience, and wellbeing. 

Chapter Awards remain the foundation of the awards program and will continue to recognise excellence within each jurisdiction. The changes provide a clearer pathway from chapter to national recognition, with more consistent and focused categories. 

Yes, site visits remain an important part of the judging process. Under the updated model, site visits will focus on shortlisted projects, allowing jurors to spend their time where it has the greatest impact. 

Building on feedback from the all-member survey in late 2025, specific consultation on these changes has occurred with Chapter Presidents, Chapter Councils, awards committees, regional committees, past Presidents, key partners, and more. A number of significant changes have been made to the final changes as a direct result of this consultation.

Members told us they wanted an awards program that better celebrates excellence, communicates the value of architecture and supports advocacy for the profession. The updated program is designed to deliver stronger recognition, greater consistency, a clearer pathway to national recognition and more focus on promoting the people and projects shaping Australia’s built environment. 

These changes will apply for the 2027 program year. A number of  complementary changes are under consideration for the 2028 program year and will undergo further detailed consultation with the membership before proceeding. 

Award entries for the 2027 program year are expected to open on 3 December 2026. Detailed entry information, key dates and submission requirements will be available when the 2027 awards program launches. 

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