Finalists revealed for 2026 Dulux Colour Awards

Dulux has introduced the finalists of the 2026 Dulux Color Awards, on this its fortieth anniversary of this system that recognises modern, authentic and impressive use of color within the constructed surroundings.

The finalists had been chosen by a panel of esteemed designers and designers who culled the 540 entries all the way down to 94 finalists.

Within the Residential Inside class, darkish colors and attention-grabbing particulars caught the jury’s consideration. “Whereas heat whites are nonetheless reigning, there are some beautiful deeply hued remedies that stand out, significantly dark-toned ceilings, painted stairs and nuanced particulars on architraves and skirtings,” says choose Sarah-Jane Pyke, Principal of Arent&Pyke.

Dulux color and design supervisor Lauren Treloar says this yr’s finalists represents the expansion and calibre of the design business. “It’s becoming that on this landmark yr we’re celebrating such outstanding numbers, however it’s the expertise and experience of the area’s design and structure professionals that we’re actually applauding; they continually astound us with their completed mastery of color and it’s our privilege to recognise them in our program.”

Juror Alix Smith, principal of Hassell says that one dominant chromatic theme throughout this yr’s finalists was burgundy, and rust or brick reds with brown undertones. “We love the ability {that a} single hue has to create influence and fully change the angle,” says Smith, “These reds have a chameleon-like potential, capable of exude heat or drama in interiors, relying on the tone and utility, or to mix with a built-up city setting in addition to inside a pure surroundings.”

This system invitations architects, designers, specifiers and college students from Australia and New Zealand to submit initiatives that show an modern use of Dulux paints. The eight classes are: Industrial Inside – Public and Hospitality; Industrial Inside – Office and Retail; Industrial and Multi-Residential Exterior; Residential Inside; Single Residential Exterior; Momentary or Set up Design; Scholar AU and Scholar NZ; and the final word prize for the most effective general initiatives, the Australian and New Zealand Grand Prix awards.

The 2026 jury comprised Simone Haag, inside designer; Ben Peake, principal at Carter Williamson Architects; Buster Caldwell, director of Surprise Group; Sarah-Jane Pyke, principal of Arent&Pyke; and Alix Smith, principal of Hassell.

The winners shall be introduced on Might 27 at a gala occasion at Bennelong, inside the Sydney Opera Home.

On the shortlist are:

Industrial and Multi Residential Exterior

Bell Hill Residences Dunedin – New Heritage Ltd
Currambine Station Underpass—Currents – Sioux Tempestt
Harbour Early Studying, Gladesville – Danielle Brustman
Hellman Extension – JWA Architects Ltd
LIV Albert – Mirvac (Developer) & Fieldwork (Architect)
Transferring Color – Linewide Graphic Path – Transferring Color Studio
Surry Hills Village – Studio Prineas
Te Pākau Maru – Kāinga Maha

Industrial Inside – Public & Hospitality

ACC Farran Corridor at Trinity Faculty, College of Melbourne – Hayball
Bar Monte – Studio Loads
Barwon Heads Golf Membership – Nexus Designs and Demaine Partnership
Billy’s, Ayrburn – Alexander &CO. and SA Studio
Caness – Squillace Architects + Interiors
Champagne & Oyster Bar – Crown – ElvinTan Design
Cruise Bar & Restaurant – Luchetti Krelle
EF Auckland – Studio DB, EF Structure & Design Studio
Ember Bathtub Home – Studio Traces
Flaminia – studio gram
Glen Waverley South Major College – Sibling Structure
Hannah St Resort – Flack Studio
Harriot – Studio Esteta
Juni Cafe – Studio Traces
Gentle Years, Perth – Studio Loads & Sarah Ellison
Padre Brewing Co. – Studio Y
Pyrmont Bridge East Facilities Refurbishment – HDR
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar Library – WOWOWA Structure
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Psychological Well being Rehabilitation Service – Cheesman Architects
The Springs Nation Membership – Palm Lake Works Pty Ltd
Yiaga – Wardle

Industrial Inside – Office & Retail

Above The Clouds – Sample Studio
Atlassian Melbourne – Warren and Mahoney
Brackenbury & Austin – Studio Shand
Brisbane Physiotherapy and Podiatry – Loupe Structure
Cinderella – Geller Studio
Forbes Home – Swee Design & Studio Griffiths
Hill of Content material Bookshop – Session Structure and Tsai Design
HPX – Unispace
ImaginatioNation – Ateli Structure
Kat the Label, Armadale Flagship – Angus Edward, Inside Design Workplace
Kori Ice Cream Windsor – Air Design Studio
Misplaced Profile Gallery – Nickolas Gurtler Workplace
Lunetta Gelateria – Bastian Structure
Omnicom – Bates Sensible
RMIT Constructing 8 Wellness Hub – RMIT Constructing 8 Wellness Hub
Shade Pores and skin – State Twenty Eight Interiors
Studio Y HQ – Studio Y
Veneziano Espresso Perth – Trip Studio

Residential Inside

Magnificence Level Home – CO-AP (Architects)
Bellingen Residence – commonplace
Boa Vista – Licht Structure
Borland Crossman Home – WOWOWA Structure
Botanical Home – Mim Design
Bradford – Studio Co and Co
Coopers Shoot – Polly Harbison Design
Gordon Home – Greg Natale
Headland Home – Richards Stanisich
Home Gretchen – Lintel Studio for Structure
Pleasure Haus – Studio Shields
Lane Cove Home – Lachlan Seegers Architect
Merri Creek Home – Breathe Structure
Milanese Pied De Terre – Studio Tali Roth
Onward Home – Pop Structure
Paddington – Natalie Bradburn Studio
Level Nepean Home – SJB
Portsea Treetop Home – Studio Esteta
Ribbon Stair Home – Kaiko Design Interiors
Rocket’s Home – Pac Studio
Rosshire Street – Ali Kaddour Architects
Delicate Gentle Villa – Pac Studio
Sundown Home – Decus
Surgeons Haven – Studio Tali Roth
The View – Studio Shields
Underneath Rimu – Pac Studio
Waka Huia – Pac Studio

Single Residential Exterior

Casterton Cottage Exterior – Chris Younger Architectural
Crescent Home – Studio Brilliant
Headland Home – Richards Stanisich
Pleasure Haus – Studio Shields
Lane Cove Home – Lachlan Seegers Architect
Nithsdale – Studio Prineas
Rocket’s Home – Pac Studio
Sundrift – Max Pritchard Gunner Architects
Terracotta Home – Lande Architects

Momentary or Set up Design

AGSA Dangerously Fashionable Exhibition – Grieve Gillett Architects
Massive Energy Vitality – Youssofzay Hart
Lynda Draper: Glimmer – Youssofzay Hart

Scholar Australia

402 Telopea — Unusual Luxurious – Jasmine Duong and Minji Kwon, The College of Sydney
Echo Conceptual Cafe – Harley Wallace, Sydney Design College
Klosh – Manini Handa, RMIT College
Good to fulfill you! – Kangyun Kim, College of Sydney
Sydney Structure Museum – Ivy Chen, The College of Sydney

Scholar New Zealand

sizzling & chilly – Hudson Ross, Otago Polytechnic
Lighthouse Leisure Precinct – Ryno von Wielligh, Otago Polytechnic
Palaui Agricultural Residing System – Charlize Cleere, Auckland College of Know-how