The Daylight Award 2026

Daylight shapes the spaces we inhabit, guides design decisions and modulates life on Earth. The Daylight Award 2026 invites architects and researchers to nominate individuals and teams whose work with natural light is pushing the boundaries of design, science, and innovation.

In 2026, the Award will once again recognize excellence in two categories:

• The Daylight Award for Architecture• The Daylight Award for Research

Nominations close on 15 September 2025.

Why daylight?

Daylight not only shapes the spaces we inhabit, but also sustains ecosystems, impacts human health, and connects us to natural rhythms. By bridging the worlds of research and architecture, The Daylight Award underscores the importance of dialogue between disciplines — inspiring future collaborations that advance both knowledge and design.

Previous Laureates

Since its launch, the Award has recognized leading figures whose work with daylight has transformed architecture and science. Notable laureates include:

Architects: Jørn Utzon (1980), Henning Larsen (1987), Peter Zumthor (2006), Steven Holl (2016), Lacaton & Vassal (2011), Alberto Campo Baeza (2024), Grafton Architects (2022), among others.

Researchers: Till Roenneberg (2024), Russell Foster (2020), Anna Wirz-Justice (2022), Marilyne Andersen (2016), and many more.

Full list of laureates: https://thedaylightaward.com/laureates/

The Jury

The 2026 jury exemplifies cross-disciplinary dialogue, offering multidimensional perspectives that enrich the assessment of each nomination:

Dorte Mandrup (architect, Denmark), Annette Gigon (architect, Switzerland), Iwan Baan (architectural photographer, NL/US), Russell Foster (neuroscientist, UK), Yvonne De Kort (environmental psychologist, Netherlands), Michael J. Balick (ethnobotanist, US), and Gerd Folkers (pharmaceutical chemist, CH).

Nominate now

The Daylight Award invites the global community of architects, researchers, and institutions to nominate individuals or teams whose work with daylight deserves international recognition. Source: https://thedaylightaward.com/