23 Oct 2026

[d]arc Awards 2027

Loved by the design industry since its inception in 2015, the [d]arc awards continue to celebrate global lighting design excellence from all around the world.

Organised by [d]arc media, publishers of arc magazine, the [d]arc awards are built on the publication’s long-standing reputation as the world’s most respected and widely read lighting design magazine.

Now, as the [d]arc awards enter their second decade, we’re introducing [d]arc awards 2.0. With new categories, a new venue and a more elevated feel, the [d]arc awards 2.0 mark an exciting new chapter - while keeping the same core values that have made the awards what they are today: peer-to-peer voting, inclusivity and celebrating great lighting design.

For more than a decade, the [d]arc awards have recognised outstanding lighting design across commercial, hospitality, residential, arts, public realm and other sectors. From high-profile, high-budget projects to smaller schemes, the awards are designed to give every entry a fair chance of being recognised.

At the heart of the [d]arc awards is the peer-to-peer voting system, with all entries voted for by fellow independent lighting designers and design industry professionals. It’s an approach that puts the industry at the centre of the awards, creating a platform that is open, engaging and, above all, fair.

The Categories

For the next chapter of the [d]arc awards we have revised our project categories, with the aim of offering even more opportunities for design studios to enter and projects to be judged on an even fairer platform. And for products, we have four categories covering all areas of design.

Projects

Hospitality, Leisure & Residential
Retail, Luxury, Commercial & Showrooms
Corporate, Workplace & Education
Cultural, Heritage & Worship
Civic Infrastructure, Transit & Hubs
Public Realm, Urban & Landscape
Architectural Facades & Meg Structures
Experiential Art & Temporary Events
Special Projects

Products

Best Interior Luminaire
Best Exterior Luminaire
Best Decorative Luminaire
Best Technology Product

Enter the Awards

To enter, projects must have completed / products must have launched between 1st January and 31st December 2026. Entries can be submitted by anyone involved in the project or product and must include a description and supporting images.

Entries cost £250 (early bird rate of £200 until 12 November)

The Awards Party

And it’s not just the awards themselves that have become a highlight of the design calendar. Working alongside creative consultants Light Collective, over the past decade we’ve created an awards night that is as much about bringing the industry together as it is about recognising its achievements - a night filled with inspiration, celebration, creativity and plenty of fun.

The 2027 [d]arc awards party will take place on Wednesday 24 March at the stunning Old Billingsgate in London, bringing a new level of glamour to the night.

From a sit-down three-course dinner and entertainment to the after-party, it’s an opportunity to celebrate in style, dress to impress, dust off your dancing shoes and enjoy one of the biggest nights in the lighting design calendar.

How to Attend

Suppliers - to attend the [d]arc awards you must buy a table (seats 10) or an individual ticket. Contact [d]arc media Managing Editor for more information: p.james@mondiale.co.uk

Designers - attend as a guest of a supplier or buy an individual ticket.

For information on buying a ticket email Paul James on p.james@mondiale.co.uk