The City of Melbourne has announced its call for entries for the 2026 Melbourne Awards, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece commented, “The Melbourne Awards are our city’s highest honour, recognising the people, organisations and businesses who make Melbourne the vibrant, creative capital we’re proud to call home.”
This year’s awards is organised into 11 categories, several of the which aim to highlight the value of good design. The pinnacle of these is the City Design category, which recognises design excellence in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design.
Last year’s City Design Award-winner was received by Kennedy Nolan for their design for Melbourne Place – a new hotel in the city centre that involved a “complete design” of the built exterior and interior.
For the first time, the Lord Mayor’s Small Business of the Year Awards will be integrated into the program, with the announcement of winners in September. A new Hospitality category has also been introduced, “honouring the bars and restaurants that continue to set benchmarks for quality, creativity and innovation,” a media release from the council notes.
The awards applications process includes nominations for Melburnian of the Year and Young Melburnian of the Year, accolades that recognise individuals who have had an active role in improving the city.
Entries can be submitted on the City of Melbourne’s website until 12 June. Melbourne Awards finalists will be revealed on 28 October and winners announced at a ceremony on 14 November.
ArchitectureAu is the presenting partner of the Melbourne Awards 2026 – City Design Award.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
