A' Design Award opens 2026 entries for car and land vehicle awards

A' Design Award & Competition has opened entries for its 2026 International Car and Land Based Motor Vehicles Design Awards, with a September 30, 2026 deadline and results due May 1, 2027. The program targets automotive designers, manufacturers and mobility innovators worldwide, offering winners promotional tools, an awards package and global exposure.

Why it matters: - The awards give automotive designers and vehicle makers a global platform to showcase passenger vehicles, concepts and mobility ideas. - Winners get promotional support that can help new designs reach media, industry partners and potential customers. - The program highlights vehicles judged on innovation, engineering quality, functionality, sustainability and design excellence.

What happened: - A' Design Award & Competition announced the call for entries for the A' International Car and Land Based Motor Vehicles Design Awards 2026. - The competition is open worldwide to car designers, automobile designers, industrial designers, motor vehicle companies, car brands, car manufacturers, automotive engineers, mechanical engineers, automotive stylists, vehicle dynamics engineers, automotive safety engineers, car detailing professionals, automotive lighting designers, car interior designers, car audio designers, car innovation firms, consultancy firms and research and development companies. - Eligible work includes passenger vehicles, automotive concepts and land-based motor vehicles developed within the last 10 years. - The entry deadline is September 30, 2026. - Results will be announced on May 1, 2027.

The details: - The competition uses a two-phase process that starts with a complimentary preliminary evaluation. - Applicants can register at A' Design Awards to submit work and receive a preliminary score. - Projects that pass the preliminaries may move to nomination, which carries a nominal fee. - Eligible entries include sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, convertibles, coupes, minivans, sports cars, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, concept cars, vehicle interiors and mobility platforms. - Sub-category descriptions are available at car and land vehicle categories. - Entries are reviewed anonymously by an international jury of more than 300 academics, automotive designers, engineers, mobility experts and transportation professionals. - The jury evaluates submissions on innovation, engineering quality, functionality, sustainability and design excellence. - Professional-edition laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes a design excellence certificate, a lifetime license to use the winner logo, a yearbook of best designs, exhibitions in Italy, an exclusive trophy, an invitation to the gala night, translation of awarded works into foreign languages, entry to Prime Clubs, and inclusion in World Design Rankings, Designer Rankings, Car Design Classifications and Design Legends platforms. - Winners also receive an exclusive interview, a press release, a press kit with design images and photographs, and distribution to accredited press members. - The competition says dozens of press partners have already agreed to publish a selection of winning projects. - Additional details are available at competition details. - Past winners are listed at past car award winners.

Between the lines: - The awards are designed as both a judging program and a marketing channel. - The prize package is built to help winners turn recognition into visibility through media distribution, rankings and exhibition opportunities. - The anonymous jury structure is meant to keep the focus on the work rather than the entrant.

What's next: - Designers and companies can submit entries now before the September 30, 2026 deadline. - Award announcements are set for May 1, 2027. - Winning projects will be rolled into the competition’s promotional and press distribution efforts after results are released.

The bottom line: - A' Design Award is using its 2026 car awards to attract global vehicle innovators with a judged competition, a promotional prize package and a broad media push.