Entries are open to projects within the built environment of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, including but not limited to:

• New buildings
• Extensions and alterations
• Public realm projects
• Designed landscapes
• Works to protected buildings and monuments
• Infrastructure works
• Restoration projects
• Lighting schemes
• Public art projects
• Conversion and refurbishment

Conceptual or unbuilt projects cannot be accepted. Phased developments may submit individual completed elements.

Projects must have been completed between 28 November 2024 and 8 June 2026.

Entries are limited to projects in the Bailiwick of Guernsey and those submitted to the 2026 Guernsey Design Awards will not be eligible for entry in subsequent Guernsey Design Awards.

Entrants may submit projects into one category per entry:

• Small Projects (up to £500k)
  Built projects with a total construction cost of up to £500,000, including extensions, refurbishments and new build.
• Commercial
  Non-residential projects including offices, retail, hospitality, industrial and mixed-use schemes where commercial use is the primary function.
• Single Residential New Build
  A newly constructed, single dwelling designed as a standalone residential project.
• Heritage
  Projects involving listed buildings or sites of recognised heritage value, including sensitive restoration, adaptation or extension.
• Single Residential Renovation / Extension
  Alterations, refurbishments or extensions to an existing single dwelling.
• Multiple Residential Development
  Developments comprising two or more dwellings, including apartments, terraces or housing schemes.

Additional Awards
All entries will automatically be considered for two additional sponsored awards:

• Sustainable Design & Energy Innovation Award (sponsored by C8)
  Recognises projects demonstrating exemplary environmental performance, energy efficiency or innovative low-carbon design strategies.
  
• Natural Light & Glazing Design Award (sponsored by Mumford & Wood)
  Celebrates projects where daylight, glazing and the relationship between inside and outside are integral to the architectural concept.

In addition to these, two further awards recognise excellence from both public and industry perspectives:

• People’s Choice Award
  Voted for by the public, helping to raise awareness of the industry and its contribution to Guernsey’s built environment and everyday surroundings.
• Mitch Sneddon Award
  Voted for by attendees on the evening of the Awards and represents the professionals’ choice, recognising projects that resonate strongly within the industry.

Category Allocation
Entrants are invited to submit each project into the single category they feel best reflects its primary characteristics.

To ensure a fair and balanced assessment across all entries, the judging panel may review and, where appropriate, adjust category groupings.

This allows the Awards to respond to the nature and volume of submissions in any given year. For example, where a strong number of similar projects are entered within a broad category, the judges may create a more defined grouping to allow like-for-like comparison.

Equally, where a project sits across category boundaries, it may be moved to a category where it can be more fairly assessed alongside comparable schemes.

Any such adjustments are made solely in the interest of fairness and consistency, and will always be carried out in consultation with the entrant.

The judges will assess each entry against the criteria below, as applicable to the project type and category entered. Not all criteria will apply to every project, and entries will not be disadvantaged where certain elements are not relevant.

Design & Construction

• How the project demonstrates design excellence
• How it is an exemplar of its type, demonstrates innovation and is likely to remain a fine work of architecture throughout its life
• Response to site constraints and opportunitie
• Quality of finishes, detail and workmanship
• Outperforms statutory minimum standards, where possible

Character

• Retention and integration of existing site features such as trees, landscape, topography or archaeology
• Relationship to the surroundings, including movement, landscape and existing buildings and structures

Health & Wellbeing

• Internal space standards and layout
• Flexibility of internal layout to adapt to the changing needs of the occupier
• Safety and security
• Accessibility for people of all ages and abilities
• Internal daylight standards and potential to receive direct sunlight
• Provision of private or communal gardens, terraces or balconies
• Satisfaction of end users

Environment

• Minimising energy and water consumption, surface water run-off and waste pollution, and selection of materials with a low environmental impact
• Recycling and waste management
• Protecting or enhancing the ecological value of the site

You can enter as many projects as you like.

• Complete the online entry form (one form per project).
• Upload supporting materials via the Dropbox link provided after submission.
• There will be an entry fee of £50 per entry, which will be invoiced after application.

Each entry may include:

• Up to 10 photographs
• One ‘before’ image
• Up to five plans
• Up to five minutes of video or drone footage

All images and plans must be supplied in JPEG format at a minimum of 300dpi.

Deadline for entries: 5pm on Friday 15 May 2026.

• Written permission from the building owner is required.
• Permission must also be obtained for all photography and video content.
• The organisers reserve the right to exhibit entries in full or in part for promotional purposes.
• All entries to the Design Awards are non-returnable.