May 20, 2026

Words: Carlene Olsen

Photography: Matthew Carasella

Inside The 2026 NYCxDESIGN Awards Ceremony

More than 400 architects and designers convened in Manhattan May 18 for the 11th annual NYCxDESIGN Awards, hosted by Interior Design Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen, showcasing stellar design throughout the Tri-State area. The lively ceremony, energized by DJ Tony Flow‘s beats, welcomed the well-heeled crowd of creatives to Lavan Midtown to honor the evening’s winners and honorees—selected from among 600 submissions across product, project, and student categories.

Kicking off the ceremony, Ilene Shaw, executive director of NYCxDESIGN, took to the stage to share insights into the evolution of the NYCxDESIGN Festival and its impact on design. “Last year, alone, the festival welcomed more than 163,000 unique attendees,” she shared, noting the power and economic impact of the design industry. “We are home to 188,000 creatives in the five boroughs alone,” she added. The NYCxDESIGN Awards—started by Allen 11 years ago—serve as a moment to give back to the industry, celebrating the region’s immense talent.

“Hello, hello,” Allen said, taking her position at the podium. “Tonight is about the city that we love so much,” she said. “And all of you!” Surrounded by expansive screens to showcase work by winners and honorees, the awards, complete with trophies designed by Turf, got underway. Up first, Allen announced Product winners, which included a favorite from the past, Iconic Product winner: Wolf-Gordon for Linework. From stylish outdoor seating by Living Divani to acoustic material made from fungal root systems by Impact Acoustic, there was no shortage of awe-inspiring designs.

A person with short hair and glasses stands behind rows of yellow, green, and pink X-shaped objects against a pink background with X patterns, evoking the creative spirit of the NYCxDESIGN Awards.
Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen with the NYCxDESIGN Awards trophies, designed by Turf.

Want to know who earned top honors in each category? See Interior Design‘s NYCxDESIGN Awards gallery.

Shaw joined Allen to announce the Emerging Product winner (Eittem for Lumen Alchema Collection), the People’s Choice winner (BằNG Europe won for Dreamy Lớp), and—perhaps the category that received the most applause—student winners. “We had about 70 student submissions, which was unbelievable,” Allen said, noting that there were 13 winners in the category. Schools represented include: Parsons School of Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, Savannah College of Art and Design, Pratt Institute x El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Cranbrook Academy of Art, and the School of Visual Arts.

Then, Allen turned to Project winners. Stunning spaces filled the room, from the Alice + Olivia Flagship Store by Sugarhouse, which is bursting with color, to a sleek office design for KPMG U.S. Headquarters by HOK—not to mention several Iconic Projects, which received well-earned cheers.

As the ceremony came to a close, attendees had a chance to connect over cocktails. This year’s NYCxDESIGN Awards, like those before it, succeed in championing established and emerging design talent across New York’s rich creative community, and the surrounding region.

Editor’s note: see this year’s NYCxDESIGN Awards winners in our gallery and catch the recap of the ceremony, courtesy of event partner DDC, on DESIGN TV.

Highlights From The 2026 NYCxDESIGN Awards

  • Three women pose for a photo at an indoor event, with seated attendees and "NYCxDESIGN Awards" projected on the wall in the background.
  • Three men stand together holding drinks, posing for a photo at an event with a large orange "X" and modern decor in the background, celebrating at the NYCxDESIGN Awards.
  • Three people stand together holding drinks at a lively indoor event, possibly celebrating the NYCxDESIGN Awards, as other attendees mingle in the background under colorful lighting.
  • Two women pose and smile at an indoor event with colorful lighting during the NYCxDesign Awards. Other attendees are visible socializing in the background.
  • Three people stand close together and smile at the camera, holding drinks at the nycxdesign awards, a formal indoor event with colorful lighting and a seated audience in the background.
  • Four people posing together at an indoor event with colorful lights and a crowd in the background; one person is holding a drink at the NYCxDesign Awards.
  • Three men stand together and pose for a photo at an indoor event, with the NYCxDESIGN Awards logo projected in the background and audience members seated nearby.
  • Two people smiling and posing together at an indoor event with a colorful, geometric-lit background and a seated audience behind them, celebrating the excitement of the NYCxDESIGN Awards.
  • Four women stand together and smile for a photo at an indoor event, with vibrant pink and purple geometric lighting in the background at the NYCxDesign Awards.
  • Two people stand together holding drinks at an indoor event, with a crowd seated in the background and pink lighting on the walls, capturing the vibrant atmosphere of the NYCxDESIGN Awards.
  • Three people stand close together and smile at the camera in a brightly lit room with a red and white color scheme during the NYCxDESIGN Awards, while others socialize in the background.
  • Three women standing together indoors at an event, holding orange popcorn containers and smiling at the camera during the NYCxDESIGN Awards, with other attendees and colorful lighting in the background.
  • Four people stand together at an event, posing and smiling for the camera, with drinks and snacks on the table in front of them at the brightly lit NYCxDESIGN Awards gathering.
  • Two people pose together and smile for a photo at an indoor event, likely the NYCxDesign Awards, with other attendees and geometric pink lighting in the background.
  • A speaker presents on stage at the NYCxDesign Awards in a modern, blue-lit event space with large screen projections and rows of colorful boxes in the foreground.
  • A group of people attends the NYCxDESIGN Awards event in a large, brightly lit room filled with geometric light displays and an eye-catching nycxdesign awards sponsor sign at the entrance.
  • A seated audience watches a presentation at the NYCxDESIGN Awards event, surrounded by colorful lighting and large projected NYCxDESIGN Awards logos illuminating the walls.
  • Three people stand indoors holding large, colorful X shapes, with a pink and orange background featuring repeated X patterns and a projected image—celebrating the creative spirit of the NYCxDESIGN Awards.
  • Two people pose together holding large red "X" props in front of a screen displaying the nycxdesign awards.
  • Three women stand in front of a NYCxDESIGN Awards backdrop, smiling and raising their orange NYCxDESIGN Awards in celebration.
  • Two people in business attire throw red airplane-shaped objects in front of a screen displaying "NYCxDESIGN Awards," celebrating the spirit of innovation at the NYCxDESIGN Awards event.
  • Two people stand in front of a large NYCXDESIGN awards display, holding colorful X-shaped props and smiling at the event.
  • Two women hold yellow awards in front of a large NYCxDESIGN Awards sign projected on a pink and purple wall, celebrating their achievements at the NYCxDESIGN Awards event.
  • Four people stand in front of an NYCxDESIGN awards backdrop, each proudly holding a large "X" trophy and smiling at the camera, celebrating their NYCxDESIGN awards achievement.
  • Colorful X-shaped awards are lined up on a table in front of a geometric backdrop, proudly displaying the “Interior Design” and “nycxdesign awards” logos.
  • A group of people socialize in a modern, NYCxDESIGN Awards-worthy bar with red ambient lighting and decorative plants on shelves behind the bar counter.
  • Several orange popcorn containers sit on a counter next to a magazine titled "Interior Design," celebrating the NYCxDESIGN Awards, with more popcorn containers and a yellow "X" on a shelf in the background.

A very special thank you to our event partners: DDC, Gold and Livestream partner, Turf, Gold and Awards sponsor, Teknion, Gold sponsor, and Material Bank, Gold sponsor.

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