ELIGIBILITY AND CATEGORIES
The 5th Cycle of ADAA 2026-27 eligibility criterion are:
- The ADA Award is open to all Pakistanis located geographically anywhere in the world.
- Architects, interior designers, engineers, landscape architects, conservationist and design studios/firm are eligible to submit.
- Designers and design firms from all disciplines are eligible to apply.
- Artists / cultural practitioners from all disciplines are eligible to submit their works.
- NIC or NICOP of the individual submitting their work is required.
- NTN of the firm submitting their works is required.
- All Projects must have been completed by December 31, 2025.
- Products must be prototyped or in production since the last five years.
- Winning projects of all previous cycle are NOT ELIGIBLE for submission in ANY corresponding cycle.
- Any query regarding categories, timeline of project(s); email awards@adapk.com
- Any queries regarding submission process and payment method; email secretariat@adapk.com
- The submission format has to be followed, failing which the entry to any category will be discredited.
- There will be a single winner (not including Honorary mentions) in each category of all disciplines, regardless of the sub-categories mentioned in the overarching category
- The jury decision on the winners of each category in all disciplines is binding and final and is revealed in the ADA Awards night celebration.
- It is for the ADA Awards jury to decide if any category of any discipline has no exemplary submissions worthy of the ADA Awards
- ADA Awards reserves the right of excluding any entry in moving forward to the final jury on the grounds of false information submitted and or any copyright discretion and in conflicting interests.
- Every submission in each category in all disciplines should be marked as a separate submission
20.06.26 | Submissions Open
17.08.26 | Submissions Close
00.00.27 | Awards Gala Night
Registration Fee
Applicable to any category in Architecture, Design, and Art
Individual R/s: 18,000/
Firm R/s: 30,000/
CATEGORIES
Launched by ADA in 2018, the ADA Awards has grown in size, scope and momentum and is recognised for its influence in the regional design art and architecture spheres in the global south. It now stands as a significant benchmark for excellence in creativity, innovation and at times in collaboration within the interdisciplinarity of architecture, design and art.
As we navigate the ever-shifting terrain of our surroundings, the imperative for collaborative endeavors, spanning various disciplines, grows more pronounced. It is within this context that ADA, in its current cycle, encourages submissions from visionary collaborative teams confident to push the boundaries of conventional disciplines. These teams strive to chart new territories in design, offering comprehensive solutions resonant with both stakeholders and our contemporary ecological landscape. ADA invites you to submit works that centers on the transformative influence of interdisciplinary and collaborative design methodologies. Let us collectively celebrate the impact of innovative approaches that transcend traditional silos.
Architecture
ALL WORK COMPLETED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2000 – DECEMBER 31, 2025
- Below 500 sq yards plots
- From 500 to 2000 sq yards plots
- Larger than 2000sq yards plots
- Speciality residences Hut, Farm House Beach house or Vacation Homes
Multifamily housing design, both high- and low-density projects for public and private clients and mixed-use projects.
- Vertical Housing Developments
- Row Houses
- Townhouses
- Gated Communities, Modular Developments
Any building that serves the public such as:
- Educational Institutions – Schools, Universities and Religious Schools (madrassas, etc.)
- Medical Facilities – Hospitals and Clinics
- Community Centres
- Sports Centres
- City/ Town Halls
- Police stations/ Academies
- Court Houses
- Embassies
- Government Buildings
- Transportation Facilities (bus stations, rail stations, airports, etc.)
- Any building in the best interest of the public.
Any public or public-private project that serves the community such as
- Places of Worship (mosque, churches, temples, etc)
- Libraries
- Museums
- Art Galleries/ Institutes
- Auditoriums / Culture Spaces
Any private and or public-private commercial building serving as
- Workspaces / Head Offices / Office Environs
- Banks & Financial Institutions
- Shopping Centres / Shopping Malls
- Health & Leisure Facilities / Hotels / Resorts / Motels
- Free Standing Eateries & Retails Outlets / Mercantile Spaces
- Any project submitted for a competition entry globally or locally.
- Any project that was not constructed.
Any private and or public-private building serving as a
- Factories
- Industrial Buildings
- Warehouses, Hangars & Storage Areas
- Laboratory Facilities
Any government, private and or public-private building and or space; restored as per ICOMOS Guidelines for its actual purpose or repurposed for adaptive reuse.
Any refurbishment, and or extension of a project of an existing building/structure repurposed or reused (not applicable to residential refurbishment/extension).
Any landscape architecture or urban design project, public or private, that involves the design of public spaces
- Community Parks / Play Grounds
- Public Spaces /Green Spaces/ Urban Nodes
- Grounds of Educational/ Hospitals/Institutional Buildings
- Monuments / / Commemorative Spaces
- Hospitality Interiors
- Workspace Interiors
- Wellness and Leisure Interiors
- Retail Interiors
A site-specific spatial art form in which materials and media are arranged to create an immersive or conceptual experience in an urban setting. Can be permanent or temporary.
Any project however small or conceptual which meets the above categories are welcome. Open only to ages 35 and under.
Design
ALL WORK COMPLETED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2015 – DECEMBER 31, 2025
– Advertising Design
– Digital Advertising Design
- Print Publication Design
- Identity, Branding and Packaging
- Information Graphics (Dynamic/Static)
- Illustrations / Animation
- Font Design
- Environmental Graphics / Exhibition Design
- Mobile App, Web App
- Websites
- Games (Digital and Non Digital)
- Virtual Reality (VR) projects
- Augmented Reality (AR) projects
- Mixed Reality (MR) projects
- Print Design
- Surface Design & Ornamentation
- Weave
- Fibre Art
- Furniture
- Lighting
- Home Accessories
Any project however small or conceptual which meets the above categories are welcome. Open only to ages 35 and under.
For more details please click here
Art
ALL WORK COMPLETED BY – DECEMBER 31, 2025
Role of contestant in the creation to be declared with each entry. Max of TWO awards given to entries demonstrating innovation and excellence in:
- Drawing
- Mixed Media
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Photography (not including fashion, wedding and portrait)
- Digital Image
Role of contestant in the creation to be declared with each entry. Max of TWO awards given to entries demonstrating innovation and excellence in:
- Sculpture
- Ceramics
- Light Based works
- Site Specific
- Installation
Role of contestant in the creation to be declared with each entry. Max of TWO awardS given to entries demonstrating innovation and excellence in:
- Sound
- Video / Film
- Interactive works
- Performance
- Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality
Any project however small or conceptual which meets the above categories are welcome. Open only to ages 35 and under.
Socially Responsive Award & Environment Leadership Award
The two esteemed Awards are rooted in the ADA charter objectives: ‘To maximise the contribution by architects, designers and artist in a broad range in the pursuit of excellence to- the well-being of society and help create a better world for tomorrow, today!
The 2024 ADA Award Programm will recognise the work of architects, designers, artists, interior designers, graphic designers, tech designers, photographers, media specialist that engage with contemporary challenges such as climate change and rapid urbanisation together with associated increases in vulnerability, inequality, and biodiversity loss.
All entrants can be considered for the SRA & ELA prestigious position at the jury discretion. A single winner in each of these categories will be selected from the disciplines of Architecture, Design & Art by a super jury
The Socially Responsive Award will recognize individuals or organizations for their achievements that emphasize their commitment to advancing social equity and making a positive impact on the community and society as a whole through their work. The key components that the award encompasses is to effectively promote social responsibility and equity:and must display advance social equity that augments a positive impact on the community and society.
The Environment Leadership Award will recognize individuals or organizations for their efforts in environmental conservation that emphasize the importance of empathy and respect towards the management of natural resources throughout their entire life cycles. This includes careful consideration of materials and energy consumption from extraction or production to disposal or recycling and is in consonance with SDG’s.
Entries in these two categories will be judged on the extent to which they can demonstrate having made a significant impact in one of the areas referred to, together with aesthetics, performance and impact by a super jury
Emerging Creatives
Any project however small or conceptual which meets the above categories are welcome. Open only to ages 35 and under.
Guidelines
Entries must be submitted and received via the online entry system by 11:59 PM PST on Sunday, August 08, 2026.
Full payment must be received by the submission deadline. Entries submitted without the appropriate submission fee will not be eligible for judging. Payments are only accepted online.
All entries must be in the form of a SINGLE PDF document not exceeding 25MB. All images must be jpg format, at least 300 dpi. Project descriptions and images must NOT contain the name or logo of the designer, architect, firm, company, artist, client or manufacturer.
Registration Fee
Early bird from 20.06.2026 to 14.07.2026
Individual R/s: 18,000/
Firm R/s: 30,000/
Applicable to any category in architecture, design, and art
(if paying from outside Pakistan, PKR will be converted to your local currency)
Submission Requirements
A single PDF document is the only submission that will be allowed. This project details (images) must NOT contain the name or logo of the designer, architect, artist, firm, company, client or manufacturer (except in the case the client name is part of the design, for example, logo design). The firm/individual name and details will appear ONLY at the END of the PDFdocument and NO WHERE ELSE.
The PDF document must not exceed 25 MB
Bank Details
Bank Name: United Bank Limited (UBL)
Account Title: ADA
Account #: 251601072
IBAN: PK52UNIL0109000251601072
Terms & Conditions
- All information and requested materials must be provided or the submission will be disqualified without notice or return of payment.
- Works are excluded from the competition if their presentation would infringe any right(s).
- The entrant authorizes ADA to publish the submission in the print edition of ADA Magazine, on adapk.com, and any websites affiliated with the ADA Awards competition. The submission may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for editorial and promotional purposes.
- No refunds will be issued under any circumstances. Submissions become the property of ADA.
Submission Specifications
Marked categories are required.
Project Description: Write a narrative for the project (not exceeding 500 words) including objectives and how they were met, design challenges, technological and/or material innovations, social and environmental impact. Project descriptions must NOT contain the name or logo of the designer, architect, firm, company, client or manufacturer. Project description should be included at the END of the PDF document. The PDF document must not exceed 25 MB.
Short resume/ bio/ introduction: Write a short description of the firm/ individual (max 300 words) at the END of the PDF document. This text should be included ONLY on the LAST PAGE of the PDF document.
Images: You may submit up to 20 images and/or drawings/renderings (at least 300 dpi) in the document. All images must be placed in a single PDF document not exceeding 25MB.
Video: Entrants are encouraged to share videos of their work that help to communicate the project. Videos should be uploaded to Vimeo/YouTube and links to the videos should be mentioned in the PDF document.
One single category upload MUST NOT EXCEED 25 MB.
