Entries open for annual Dulux Colour Awards

Spanning an impressive four decades, Dulux is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its annual Dulux Colour Awards – a programme that has recognised creative and innovative use of colour across the built environment since its inception in Australia. New Zealand has proudly been part of this journey for the past 15 years, contributing its own distinct design perspective to the awards. With entries now officially open for 2026, Dulux invites architects, interior designers, specifiers and students from both New Zealand and Australia to submit their most inspiring and innovative projects.

On reaching this milestone moment, Davina Harper, Dulux Senior Brand Manager – Colour reflects on entrants, projects and judges of year’s past, acknowledging the profound impact their work has had on the design industry community.

 “The Dulux Colour Awards honours the hundreds of bold, thoughtful and transformative projects submitted throughout the years. In Aotearoa, we’ve seen colour used not just as decoration, but as a powerful design tool – shaping spaces, telling stories and reflecting our unique cultural and environmental context. It’s also a moment to acknowledge the many expert judges who’ve generously shared their time and expertise to champion creativity and innovation in our built environment.”

 “Now in its 40th year, we look forward to welcoming entrants for this exciting edition of the prestigious awards programme and bid a warm welcome to our talented judging panel for 2026.” Five of New Zealand and Australia’s most prolific architects and designers, who have been recognised and awarded for their own work, will judge the 2026 awards entrants’ based on innovation, expression and execution of colour. 

This year’s judging panel includes Buster Caldwell, Director of Wonder Group; Simone Haag, Design Director of Simone Haag Interior Decoration; Ben Peake, Principal at Carter Williamson Architects; Sarah-Jane Pyke, Principal of Arent&Pyke and Alix Smith, Principal of Hassell. On joining the judging panel for this milestone year, NZ judge Buster Caldwell says that the Dulux Colour Awards continue to be an inspiring showcase of creative expression and boundary pushing design across New Zealand and Australia.

 “Colour stirs feeling and attitude within a space, and with the right hand, it moves beyond the visual and into something very special” says Caldwell. “What a pivotal year to join the Dulux Colour Awards judging panel. Fifteen years for New Zealand, forty for Australia, and still the awards remain a defining voice.”

Dulux encourages entries from individuals, groups, partnerships and those working in larger practices, no matter the scale or scope of work. The 2026 Dulux Colour Awards are accepting entries until Friday, 20 February 2026 across the following categories:

1. Commercial interior – workplace and retail

 Interior paint finishes of any commercial or industrial building e.g. offices, studios, factories, retail outlets, shopping centres. 

2. Commercial interior – public and hospitality 

Interior paint finishes of any commercial or industrial 

building e.g. community centres, museums, theatres, 

places of worship, cafes, restaurants, fitness centres, 

hotels, event spaces, education and healthcare facilities. 

3. Commercial and multi-residential exterior

 Exterior paint finishes of any commercial, industrial, 

educational facility, multi-residential development and/

 or apartment building. 

4. Residential interior

 Interior paint finishes of a private residence, including 

single and multi-residential. 

5. Single residential exterior

 Exterior paint finishes of a private single residence. 

6. Temporary or installation design

 Interior and or exterior paint finishes of any temporary, 

installation, exhibition and brand promotion experience.  

7. Student (years 1-6) (NZ and Au)

 Paint specification by architecture or interior design students who are currently undertaking or have recently completed (within the past 12 months) a course by a recognised university or college. 

All New Zealand finalists (including students) will receive a $1,000 travel voucher to help them attend the Dulux Colour Awards Gala event in Sydney. Each major category winner will receive $1,000 in prize money.

Finalists will have the opportunity to be judged for the coveted New Zealand Grand Prix and Australian Grand Prixtitles.

 New Zealand Grand Prix

 • Celebrating the best-in-show, the New Zealand Grand Prix title 

will be selected from the New Zealand finalists, excluding the 

Student category, and receive NZD$5,000.

 Australian Grand Prix

 • Celebrating the best-in-show, the Australian Grand Prix award 

will be chosen from the Australian category winners, excluding 

the Student category, and receive AUD$5,000.

 Eligible projects must have been completed between 1 September 2024 to 31 December 2025 and may not have been previously entered into this awards programme. Projects will be assessed by a panel of industry leaders. The shortlist of finalists will be announced on Thursday, 9 April 2026 on the Dulux website. 

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

For more information on how to enter, judging criteria, and past winners, visit dulux.co.nz/colourawards

Forging an Interior Decorating mecca based on her rich life experiences, Simone Haag designs, sources for, and styles high end residential homes. Bringing considerable experience and a singular vision to every project, Simone defines new boundaries in interiors curation. Her experience lies in producing enduring interiors that overlay distinctive vintage pieces, contemporary design and her clients’ personal narratives, define her signature aesthetic. Most recently, her work appeared on the global stage where she curated a room for Artemest celebrating a Decade of Italian Craftsmanship and Design, the third edition of ‘L’Appartamento by Artemest’ at Milan Design Week 2025.