IMA Design Award 2026 Nominees Announced Across Four Categories
The Institut du monde arabe (IMA) has announced the finalists for its 2026 Design Award, celebrating both emerging and established designers from the Arab region. The shortlisted candidates are recognized in four categories: Emerging Talent Award, Contemporary Craftsmanship Award, Impact Award (sponsored by Arab Bank Switzerland), and the Grand Prize. This initiative seeks to showcase innovative design, focusing on craftsmanship and material creativity. A ceremony to honor the finalists will take place in September at IMA, in collaboration with Paris Design Week, followed by an exhibition. The jury, led by Egyptian architect Shahira Fahmy, includes members such as Sheikha Reem Al-Thani and Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte. Experts like François Leblanc di Cicilia contributed to the selection process.
Key facts
- Institut du monde arabe (IMA) announced nominees for IMA Design Award 2026.
- Four categories: Emerging Talent, Contemporary Craftsmanship, Impact Award (Arab Bank Switzerland), Grand Prize.
- Emerging Talent nominees include Aseel Alamoudi, Ayah Alkhatib, Othmane Bengebara, Ahmad Hamad, Ismail Hutet & Blanca Scully, Alexis Sizar, Syn Architects, Djaffar Zizi.
- Contemporary Craftsmanship nominees: Galyiah & Lolwa Almohannadi, Altin – Yasmine and Mehdi, Atelier l’Inconnu, Areen Hassan, Imane Mellah, NJM, Studio Aya Moug – Papyri.
- Impact Award nominees: 99+ X Architects, ADD Architects, Foukhair Studio, Talin Hazbar, Post Design Studio.
- Grand Prize nominees: East Architecture Studio, Rania Hamed, Louis-Cyprien Rials, Roham Shamekh, Tarek Shamma, Studio Salima Naji.
- Ceremony in September at IMA in partnership with Paris Design Week.
- Jury chaired by Shahira Fahmy with 11 other members.
Entities
Artists
- Aseel Alamoudi
- Ayah Alkhatib
- Othmane Bengebara
- Ahmad Hamad
- Ismail Hutet
- Blanca Scully
- Alexis Sizar
- Sara Alissa
- Nojoud Alsudairi
- Djaffar Zizi
- Galyiah
- Lolwa Almohannadi
- Yasmine
- Mehdi
- Areen Hassan
- Imane Mellah
- NJM
- Aya Moug
- Alaa Halifi
- El Yazid Boudraa
- Sherif Farag
- Christopher Ghoussoub
- Talin Hazbar
- Dia Mrad
- Rania Hamed
- Louis-Cyprien Rials
- Roham Shamekh
- Tarek Shamma
- Salima Naji
- Shahira Fahmy
- Sheikha Reem Al-Thani
- Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte
- Mette Degn-Christensen
- Daniele Gerkens
- Ali Y Khadra
- Michèle Maria Chaya
- Arnaud Morand
- Aidan Imanova
- Memia Taktak
- Samer Yamani
- François Leblanc di Cicilia
- Ismail Tazi
- Frédérique Mehdi
Institutions
- Institut du monde arabe (IMA)
- Arab Bank Switzerland
- Paris Design Week
- East Architecture Studio
- Syn Architects
- 99+ X Architects
- ADD Architects
- Foukhair Studio
- Post Design Studio
- Studio Salima Naji
- Atelier l’Inconnu
- Studio Aya Moug – Papyri
- Canvas
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Arab world
- AlUla
- Casablanca
- Beit Chabeb
- Mossoul
- Tiznit
- Algeria
- Saudi Arabia
- Bahrain
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- United Arab Emirates
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Morocco
- Mauritania
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- Yemen