Every year it just seems to get bigger and better! In 2026 the Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) received a record-breaking number of entries, with around 300 of them making the shortlist across all categories.

Established in 2002, IDEA is the longest-running and one of the most highly respected design awards programs in Australia. Now in its 24th year (and, yes, we have some very special events being planned to mark the big silver anniversary next year… but no spoilers yet!), IDEA this year will see its winners announced at the annual gala event on Friday 4 December at Melbourne Museum, following this week’s shortlist reveal event at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney.

Before that salubrious December affair, however, we can now reveal the shortlist. Featuring a wide selection of both well-established and talented up-and-coming names and practices, the shortlist is a wonderful snapshot of the state of Australian interior design as we pass the first quarter of the century mark.

The IDEA team congratulates and thanks every single practice and individual who entered the awards this year. Considering the high calibre of work on display across the board – you’re all winners in our book!

The shortlist by category

To see if your project or product was selected, head to the entire shortlist here. 

And clink the links below to view the IDEA 2026 shortlist for each category:

• Colour
• The Mark Robinson Community Award
• Event 
• Hospitality
• Institutional 
• Outdoor Design
• Object, Furniture & Lighting – Professional 
• Object, Furniture & Lighting – Rising
• Public Space
• Residential Single
• Residential Interior Curation 
• Residential Multi
• Retail 
• Sustainability 
• Workplace Over 1000sqm
• Workplace Under 1000sqm
• Emerging Designer of the Year
• Designer of the Year 
• Enduring 

Don’t forget, every one of the shortlisted projects is featured in inside 123, the shortlist edition of the magazine, available to order here.

What comes next

After the revelation of all the shortlisted entries, it’s over to our esteemed jury to pick the best of the best. This year, that panel comprises jury chair Michael Drescher (DKO), along with Adèle Winteridge (Foolscap), Kelvin Ho (Akin Atelier), sustainability judge Felicity Bernstein (Melbourne Design Studios), Shaun Lockyer (SLa), Diana Espiritu (3XN/GXN) and Daniel Boddam.

The panel will convene in October to select the winning entries in all 14 categories, along with seven Special Awards.

The latter Special Awards include Overall Project of the Year, Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year, the IDEA Gold Medal, the Sustainability award, the Mark Robinson Community award and the newest award, Enduring, which was presented for the first time in 2025.

The judging for two of those Special Awards will take place at live events:

• IDEA 2026 Emerging Designer of the Year presentation: Taking place on Thursday 20 August 2026 at 6:00pm at the ForestOne Melbourne showroom (601 Victoria Street, Abbotsford Vic 3067).
  
• IDEA 2026 Designer of the Year presentation: Taking place on Thursday 1 October at 6:00pm at the Cult Brisbane showroom (925 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006).

And it all culminates with IDEA’s unmissable gala, during which the winners of all categories will be announced at Melbourne Museum on Friday 4 December, followed by the party of the year, when we celebrate the fantastic showcase of Australian design talent and creativity, and catch up with colleagues and friends from across the industry.

Subscribe to Australian Design Review for any further updates and information. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for some very special announcements about IDEA’s 25th anniversary next year. It’s going to be huge!

Keep up-to-date with IDEA

Along with subscribing to ADR‘s weekly newsletter, you can also receive regular updates through our social media channels.

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LinkedIn: @Australian Design Review
Facebook: @Australian Design Review

IDEA 2025 is proudly brought to you by our overall sponsor Miele and sponsors Crafted Hardwoods, Cult, Designer Rugs, ForestOne, MillerKnoll, Laufen, Clipsal, Roche Bobois and Zenith.

Top image: Footscray Hospital, designed by Billard Leece Partnership and COX Architecture, with landscaping by Tract, entry in Public Space. Photo: Peter Bennetts.