Dulux Colour Awards
Spanning an impressive four decades, Dulux is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its annual Dulux Colour Awards. The Dulux Colour Awards recognises creative and innovative use of Dulux Colour within the built environment, across a diverse range of interior and exterior spaces, including residential, public, and commercial environments. With entries now officially open for 2026, Dulux invites architects, interior designers, specifiers, and students from Australia and New Zealand to submit their most innovative and inspiring projects.
Meet the Judges
Buster Caldwell
Buster Caldwell is the director of Wonder, a design practice based in Auckland, where he leads a punchy team across workplace, retail, and hospitality projects in New Zealand.
The 2026 Dulux Colour Awards are accepting entries until Friday, 20 February 2026
Entries open
Dulux encourages entries from individuals, groups, partnerships and those working in larger practices, no matter the scale or scope of work.
The 2026 Dulux Colour Awards are accepting entries across the following categories
1. COMMERCIAL INTERIOR - WORKPLACE AND RETAIL
Interior Dulux Paint finishes of any commercial or industrial building e.g. offices, studios, factories, retail outlets, shopping centres.
2. COMMERCIAL INTERIOR - PUBLIC AND HOSPITALITY
Interior Dulux Paint finishes of any commercial or industrial building e.g. community centres, museums, theatres, places of worship, cafes, restaurants, fitness centres, hotels, event spaces, education and healthcare facilities.
3. COMMERCIAL AND MULTI-RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR
Exterior Dulux Paint finishes of any commercial, industrial, educational facility, multi-residential development and/ or apartment building.
4. RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR
Interior Dulux Paint finishes of a private residence, including single and multi-residential.
5. SINGLE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR
Exterior Dulux Paint finishes of a private single residence.
6. TEMPORARY OR INSTALLATION DESIGN
Interior and or Exterior Dulux paint finishes of any temporary, installation, exhibition and brand promotion experience.
7. STUDENT (YEARS 1-6) (AU AND NZ)
Paint specification by architecture or interior design students who are currently undertaking or have recently completed (within the past 12 months) a course by a recognised university or college.
Finalists will have the opportunity to be judged for the coveted New Zealand Grand Prix and Australian Grand Prix titles.
New Zealand Grand Prix: Celebrating the best-in-show, the New Zealand Grand Prix title will be selected from the New Zealand finalists, excluding the Student category, and receive NZD$5,000
Australian Grand Prix: Celebrating the best-in-show, the coveted Australian Grand Prix award will be chosen from the Australian category winners, excluding the Student category, and receive AUD$5,000.
All New Zealand finalists receive $1,000 travel vouchers to use towards travel to the Dulux Colour Awards Gala event in Sydney.
The finalists will be revealed on April 9, 2026 and winners will be announced on May 27, 2026.
Previous winners and finalists
Revisit the projects that captured the attention of our judges.
Judging criteria and process
Use of colour
The rationale behind the choice and use of colour is a key determining factor in the judging process. All colours and shades will be considered from the Dulux range, including black and white. Dulux colour must comprise a minimum of 51 per cent of the colour used in the project. Dulux paints or coatings must have been used extensively within the project.
Key determining factors:
• Up to 10 high resolution digital images can be submitted to illustrate how colour enhanced the project (please include landscape and portrait if possible)
• The project description and rationale behind the choice and use of colour in the design.
Image credits
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.
