A' Design Awards opens 2026 entries for performing arts design competition

A' Design Award & Competition has opened entries for its 2026 Performing Arts, Stage, Style and Scenery Design Awards, with a September 30 deadline and results set for May 1, 2027. The program targets designers and theatre professionals worldwide and offers winners a prize package that includes publicity, exhibitions and design rankings exposure.

Why it matters: - The competition spotlights stagecraft and performance design that shape how audiences experience live shows. - Winners can gain publicity, exhibition exposure in Italy and placement across design-ranking platforms. - The awards are open to a broad range of professionals, which makes the contest relevant to theatre, dance, concert and immersive-performance sectors.

What happened: - A' Design Award & Competition announced the call for entries for the A' International Performing Arts, Stage, Style and Scenery Design Awards 2026. - Entries are open to performing arts designers, set designers, theater architects, costume designers, lighting designers, stage directors, scenic artists, prop makers, choreographers, stage managers, sound designers, multimedia installers, performance artists, special effects coordinators, makeup artists, pyrotechnic designers, performing arts brands, performing arts professionals and theatre companies worldwide. - Projects created within the last 10 years are eligible. - The entry deadline is Sept. 30, 2026. - Winners will be announced on May 1, 2027.

The details: - The competition uses a two-phase process. - Applicants begin with a complimentary preliminary evaluation of their projects. - Projects that pass the preliminary review can proceed to nomination. - A nominal fee applies for nomination consideration. - Eligible submissions include choreography, dance moves, theatrical sets, dance costumes, stage lighting, opera props, concert stages, ballet scenery, puppetry designs and performance installations. - Sub-category descriptions are available in the competition listing: Sub-category details. - Entries are judged anonymously by an international jury of performing arts professionals, stage designers, architects, costume designers, lighting specialists, scenic artists, directors and academics. - The jury evaluates creativity, originality, visual impact, functionality, technical execution, audience experience and design excellence.

Between the lines: - The awards package is designed to turn recognition into promotion, not just a trophy. - Professional-edition laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes a design excellence certificate, a lifetime winner-logo license, yearbook inclusion, exhibitions in Italy, an award trophy, gala-night access, translation services, and access to ranking and classification platforms. - Winners also receive an interview published on the Designer Interviews website and included in press kits. - A' Design Awards says it prepares press releases, design images, photographs, logos and portfolio materials for winners. - Press kits are distributed to thousands of accredited press members, with dozens of press partners already lined up to feature selected winners.

What's next: - Designers and companies can register and submit work through the competition portal: Registration page. - Past winners are available for review at Winning projects. - Additional competition information is available at Competition details. - A' Design Awards points readers to designaward.com for more information about the broader program.

The bottom line: - A' Design Awards is using its 2026 performing arts contest to funnel stage and performance design projects into an international awards platform with built-in media promotion and industry visibility.