The 17th edition of the AZ Awards 2027 will be the largest competition in its history, tripling the number of categories from previous years. The annual design and architecture showcase has long attracted submissions from top firms, manufacturers, and rising talents across the globe. For 2027, the organizers have restructured the awards to better showcase the breadth of design work, replacing broad categories with a tiered system of sub-categories and sub-sub-categories. This allows projects of varying scales and specializations to compete on equal terms.
The Architecture section now divides Residential projects into four distinct groups: Urban Houses, Non-urban Houses, Multi-Unit Residential, and Affordable Housing. This breakdown aims to highlight specialized approaches within residential design. Additional new groupings include a Building Envelope category for projects focused on distinctive cladding or street-facing elements, and a Transformation section that distinguishes between Adaptive Reuse and Architectural Renovation.
Student submissions will now be categorized separately, with thesis projects eligible for the A+ Award and design-build efforts competing in their own section. The Social Good and Environmental Leadership awards have also been split, creating dedicated Product and Project sub-groups. A new Outstanding Firm Award will honor companies with a proven history of excellence in architecture, environment, or interiors. Entrants may also choose to participate in the People’s Choice recognition, which requires a fee and allows public voting to influence the results.
Recognized projects will receive widespread exposure, including coverage in the Summer 2027 issue of AZURE Magazine, digital features on azuremagazine.com, and promotion through the organization’s global media network. Finalists and winners will be promoted year-round on social media, while top honorees will be celebrated at the annual gala in Toronto, which typically draws over 500 industry professionals.
Submissions will open on November 9, 2026, with an early-bird deadline of December 11, 2026, and a final cutoff on February 26, 2027. Finalists will be announced in April 2027, while public voting for the People’s Choice award runs from March 22 to April 2, 2027. The gala is planned for late June, though the exact date has not yet been confirmed.
New Recognition and Expanded Voting Options
The competition now includes a new Outstanding Firm Award to highlight firms with a record of high-quality work in architecture, environment, or interiors. This honor recognizes long-term excellence rather than individual projects.
