Dulux Colour Awards 2026
2026 saw a record number of more than 540 entries from Australia and New Zealand this year. From these, 96 finalists have been selected by a panel of five esteemed design and architecture professionals.
Awards celebrate bold colour design brilliance
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the prestigious Dulux Colour Awards, the premier awards program recognising innovative, original and ambitious use of colour in the built environment. Widely regarded as an industry vanguard, the Dulux Colour Awards have elevated this intrinsic element of design and increased the appreciation of colour over forty years of competition.
This year’s prolific participation compelled the judges to deliberate extensively to determine the shortlist in the eight award categories: 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.
Winners will be announced at Dulux Colour Awards 27th May 2026 and published on 28th May 2026
96 finalists across 8 categories have been selected by a panel of five esteemed design and architecture professionals.
Meet the Judges
Previous winners and finalists
Revisit the projects that captured the attention of our judges.
Image credits
Anson Smart Billy's | Samuel Hartnett Lava House | Anson Smart Melbourne Place | Stephen Goodenough Seven Colourful Little Houses | Paul McCredie St James Theatre | David Straight Eden View | Tim Pierce Central Hotel by Naumi Hotels | Dennis Radermacher Social Housing Development Rangiora | Adam Madigan Giraffe Early Learning Centre | Peter Bennetts Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel.