Dulux has announced the finalists of the 2026 Dulux Colour Awards, in this its 40th anniversary of the program that recognises innovative, original and ambitious use of colour in the built environment.
The finalists were selected by a panel of esteemed designers and architects who culled the 540 entries down to 94 finalists.
In the Residential Interior category, dark colours and interesting details caught the jury’s attention. “While warm whites are still reigning, there are some exquisite deeply hued treatments that stand out, particularly dark-toned ceilings, painted stairs and nuanced details on architraves and skirtings,” says judge Sarah-Jane Pyke, Principal of Arent&Pyke.
Dulux colour and design manager Lauren Treloar says this year’s finalists represents the growth and calibre of the design industry. “It is fitting that in this landmark year we are celebrating such remarkable numbers, but it is the talent and expertise of the region’s design and architecture professionals that we are truly applauding; they constantly astound us with their accomplished mastery of colour and it is our privilege to recognise them in our program.”
Juror Alix Smith, principal of Hassell says that one dominant chromatic theme across this year’s finalists was burgundy, and rust or brick reds with brown undertones. “We love the power that a single hue has to create impact and completely change the perspective,” says Smith, “These reds have a chameleon-like potential, able to exude warmth or drama in interiors, depending on the tone and application, or to blend with a built-up urban setting as well as within a natural environment.”
The program invites architects, designers, specifiers and students from Australia and New Zealand to submit projects that demonstrate an innovative use of Dulux paints. The eight categories are: Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality; Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail; Commercial and Multi-Residential Exterior; Residential Interior; Single Residential Exterior; Temporary or Installation Design; Student AU and Student NZ; and the ultimate prize for the best overall projects, the Australian and New Zealand Grand Prix awards.
The 2026 jury comprised Simone Haag, interior designer; Ben Peake, principal at Carter Williamson Architects; Buster Caldwell, director of Wonder Group; Sarah-Jane Pyke, principal of Arent&Pyke; and Alix Smith, principal of Hassell.
The winners will be announced on May 27 at a gala event at Bennelong, within the Sydney Opera House.
On the shortlist are:
Commercial and Multi Residential Exterior
- Bell Hill Apartments Dunedin – New Heritage Ltd
- Currambine Station Underpass—Currents – Sioux Tempestt
- Harbour Early Learning, Gladesville – Danielle Brustman
- Hellman Extension – JWA Architects Ltd
- LIV Albert – Mirvac (Developer) & Fieldwork (Architect)
- Moving Colour – Linewide Graphic Trail – Moving Colour Studio
- Surry Hills Village – Studio Prineas
- Te Pākau Maru – Kāinga Maha
Commercial Interior – Public & Hospitality
- ACC Farran Hall at Trinity College, University of Melbourne – Hayball
- Bar Monte – Studio Plenty
- Barwon Heads Golf Club – Nexus Designs and Demaine Partnership
- Billy’s, Ayrburn – Alexander &CO. and SA Studio
- Caness – Squillace Architects + Interiors
- Champagne & Oyster Bar – Crown – ElvinTan Design
- Cruise Bar & Restaurant – Luchetti Krelle
- EF Auckland – Studio DB, EF Architecture & Design Studio
- Ember Bath House – Studio Traces
- Flaminia – studio gram
- Glen Waverley South Primary School – Sibling Architecture
- Hannah St Hotel – Flack Studio
- Harriot – Studio Esteta
- Juni Cafe – Studio Traces
- Light Years, Perth – Studio Plenty & Sarah Ellison
- Padre Brewing Co. – Studio Y
- Pyrmont Bridge East Amenities Refurbishment – HDR
- St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar Library – WOWOWA Architecture
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Mental Health Rehabilitation Service – Cheesman Architects
- The Springs Country Club – Palm Lake Works Pty Ltd
- Yiaga – Wardle
Commercial Interior – Workplace & Retail
- Above The Clouds – Pattern Studio
- Atlassian Melbourne – Warren and Mahoney
- Brackenbury & Austin – Studio Shand
- Brisbane Physiotherapy and Podiatry – Loupe Architecture
- Cinderella – Geller Studio
- Forbes House – Swee Design & Studio Griffiths
- Hill of Content Bookshop – Session Architecture and Tsai Design
- HPX – Unispace
- ImaginatioNation – Ateli Architecture
- Kat the Label, Armadale Flagship – Angus Edward, Interior Design Office
- Kori Ice Cream Windsor – Air Design Studio
- Lost Profile Gallery – Nickolas Gurtler Office
- Lunetta Gelateria – Bastian Architecture
- Omnicom – Bates Smart
- RMIT Building 8 Wellness Hub – RMIT Building 8 Wellness Hub
- Shade Skin – State Twenty Eight Interiors
- Studio Y HQ – Studio Y
- Veneziano Coffee Perth – Vacation Studio
Residential Interior
- Beauty Point House – CO-AP (Architects)
- Bellingen Home – commonplace
- Boa Vista – Licht Architecture
- Borland Crossman House – WOWOWA Architecture
- Botanical House – Mim Design
- Bradford – Studio Co and Co
- Coopers Shoot – Polly Harbison Design
- Gordon House – Greg Natale
- Headland House – Richards Stanisich
- House Gretchen – Lintel Studio for Architecture
- Joy Haus – Studio Shields
- Lane Cove House – Lachlan Seegers Architect
- Merri Creek House – Breathe Architecture
- Milanese Pied De Terre – Studio Tali Roth
- Onward House – Pop Architecture
- Paddington – Natalie Bradburn Studio
- Point Nepean House – SJB
- Portsea Treetop House – Studio Esteta
- Ribbon Stair House – Kaiko Design Interiors
- Rocket’s House – Pac Studio
- Rosshire Road – Ali Kaddour Architects
- Soft Light Villa – Pac Studio
- Sunset House – Decus
- Surgeons Haven – Studio Tali Roth
- The View – Studio Shields
- Under Rimu – Pac Studio
- Waka Huia – Pac Studio
Single Residential Exterior
- Casterton Cottage Exterior – Chris Young Architectural
- Crescent House – Studio Bright
- Headland House – Richards Stanisich
- Joy Haus – Studio Shields
- Lane Cove House – Lachlan Seegers Architect
- Nithsdale – Studio Prineas
- Rocket’s House – Pac Studio
- Sundrift – Max Pritchard Gunner Architects
- Terracotta House – Lande Architects
Temporary or Installation Design
- AGSA Dangerously Modern Exhibition – Grieve Gillett Architects
- Big Power Energy – Youssofzay Hart
- Lynda Draper: Glimmer – Youssofzay Hart
Student Australia
- 402 Telopea — Ordinary Luxury – Jasmine Duong and Minji Kwon, The University of Sydney
- Echo Conceptual Cafe – Harley Wallace, Sydney Design School
- Klosh – Manini Handa, RMIT University
- Nice to meet you! – Kangyun Kim, University of Sydney
- Sydney Architecture Museum – Ivy Chen, The University of Sydney
Student New Zealand
- hot & cold – Hudson Ross, Otago Polytechnic
- Lighthouse Entertainment Precinct – Ryno von Wielligh, Otago Polytechnic
- Palaui Agricultural Living System – Charlize Cleere, Auckland University of Technology
Source: Architecture - architectureau
