German Design Council announces ICONIC AWARDS 2026 winners

The German Design Council has announced the winners of the ICONIC AWARDS 2026, an international platform celebrating excellence in architecture, interior design, and product innovation. The competition received approximately 800 entries from more than 45 countries.

Out of the submissions, 45 projects were honored with the highest distinction, ‘Best of Best’. The awards emphasize how design responds to contemporary challenges, such as the transformation of existing buildings and the integration of products into infrastructure. The jury also presented five special awards to recognize individuals and firms contributing to international architectural discourse.

Among the special honors, Tiantian Xu and her firm, DnA_Design and Architecture, were named Architects of the Year. The firm was recognized for developing projects based on spatial, cultural, and social contexts rather than a singular formal signature, as demonstrated in works such as Quarry No. 9.