UPA '26

Uni Design Awards: Honoring the Best Portfolios of 2026

UNI is a premier global platform dedicated to architectural discourse and design innovation. Since its inception in 2017, our community has grown to over 250,000 registered members, becoming a daily destination for architects seeking inspiration and opportunity. Renowned for curating high-impact design challenges, UNI connects the world's brightest creatives with global industry leaders.

The Uni Portfolio Awards (UPA '26) continues this legacy by turning the spotlight on the creators themselves. A portfolio is not merely a collection of work; it is a holistic visual narrative that defines a designer's professional identity. UPA '26 honours those who have mastered the art of curation, providing them with a global stage to showcase their skills, exchange knowledge, and set new benchmarks in presentation standards.

The UNI Design Awards are dedicated to identifying and honouring exceptional work across the entire spectrum of the built environment—from groundbreaking research and theoretical concepts to realised architectural marvels. Designed as a comprehensive global platform, the awards foster a dialogue between disciplines, offering a curated stage where students, emerging practitioners, and established professionals can showcase their contributions to the future of design.  

This registration for this competition is free. The submission will start from the date of registration and end on 1st Jul 2026. Entries can be submitted anytime before this deadline (Check Schedule) 

 

 

The awards and schedule details are provided in respective tabs and participants are required to take a look at these sections to find submission deadlines and prizes. Participants will be notified of any change in the schedule.  

All the entries coming in for UPA’ 2026 as an individual will be moderated/screened by the UNI - Curatorial and Awards Committee. 

• Presentation + Cover: The fundamental to a good entry is a good presentation.
• Diversity: The diverse range of projects selected for your portfolio.
• Sequence + Legibility: The order that you put your samples in your portfolio.
• Projects + Composition: The type of projects selected and the composition of sheets and overall portfolio.

The portfolios will be scrutinized by the Awards and Curatorial Committee based on the given judging criteria. Entries can be judged on criteria based on their internal discussions - which will be in line with the problem statement. Participants are advised to fulfil the above given criterions first in their design.  

 

What is the registration fee? 

Entry is free for this competition. 

Who all can participate in this competition? 

Students and professionals of all institutions, organizations and nationalities in the field of Architecture, Landscape, Planning, Interior Design, Product Design and Urban Design at large can participate in the competition. 

Can I submit a portfolio made a year ago with older projects? 

Yes, participants can submit portfolios with older projects. But the portfolios should be created anywhere in 2024, 2025 or 2026 before the submission.