2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the Dulux Colour Awards, the premier awards programme recognising innovative, original and ambitious use of colour in the built environment. Over four decades, the awards have played a defining role in championing the power of colour, helping to elevate its importance within design practice and professional discourse.

This year, the programme has reached a new milestone, receiving more than 540 entries from New Zealand and Australia. From these, 94 finalists have been selected by a panel of five leading design and architecture professionals.

The high number of entries prompted extensive deliberation by the judges to determine the shortlist across eight award categories: Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality; Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail; Commercial and Multi‑Residential Exterior; Residential Interior; Single Residential Exterior; Temporary or Installation Design; Student NZ and Student AU; and the New Zealand and Australian Grand Prix awards, recognising the best overall projects.

Davina Harper, Dulux Colour & Design Specialist, says “This year’s New Zealand entries demonstrate a growing confidence in the way colour is being used ‑ thoughtfully and cleverly alongside our landscapes and our strong affinity for natural materials. We’re seeing colour applied with real intention, enhancing timber, stone and texture, and working in harmony with the environments that continue to inspire local design.”

In the Residential Interior category, the number of short-listed projects represents nearly one third of the total number of finalists. “The calibre of the entries made it especially challenging to narrow the field,” says judge Sarah‑Jane Pyke, Principal of Arent&Pyke. “While warm whites are still reigning, there are some exquisite deeply hued treatments that stand out, particularly dark‑toned ceilings, painted stairs and nuanced details on architraves and skirtings.”

A highlight this year according to the judges has been the Residential Exterior category, where palettes demonstrate a strong sense of context ‑ from the reddish autumnal tones of rural New Zealand to the grey greens and cool blues of coastal Australia.“Colour has the ability to completely shift how a space is experienced, especially when it’s used with intent rather than added as an afterthought,” says Buster Caldwell, Director of Wonder Group. “The deeper reds we’re seeing this year ‑ iron‑rich, earthy tones carry a sense of weight and grounding, but can also adapt depending on how they’re applied. They can bring warmth and intimacy to interiors, or sit comfortably within the broader landscape, connecting a project back to its surroundings.”

Harper reflects on how far the programme has come with more entries and categories than ever. “Such mastery evident in these finalists’ projects demonstrates how the calibre of colour use has increased exponentially over the past forty years, to this point when we can confidently say that architects, designers, students and specifiers not only appreciate the potential of colour to transform the built environment, but are able to manipulate and innovate to enhance perspective, form, spatial understanding and user experience.”

The Commercial Interior categories reflect a broad range of project types, from hospitality and wellness spaces to education and retail, unified by a sophisticated and highly considered use of colour.

Rounding out the categories is a trio of refined exhibitions in Temporary or Installation Design and a suite of masterful student proposals. “Regardless of scale, scope or setting, the proficiency of colour use evident in this year’s finalists is testament to the exceptional calibre of architecture and design professionals practising in our region,” says Harper. “These finalists exemplify the goals and purpose of our awards programme, attesting to the quality and range of Dulux paints in the most remarkable projects and applications.”

Winners will be announced at the Dulux Colour Awards 40th anniversary Gala at Bennelong, within the Sydney Opera House, on May 27, 2026.