Six Lighting Award Programs Now Accepting Submissions

The following lighting award programs are now accepting submissions:

IESNYC Student Lighting Competition

Entry deadline: March 15, 2026

The IESNYC invites students from New York City Art and Design schools to participate in a city-wide design competition, emphasizing the significance of lighting in shaping the built environment.

Apply here.

2026 Lumen Awards

Entry deadline: January 9, 2026

The New York City Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNYC) announces the call for submissions for the 2026 Lumen Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in lighting design. Projects must meet one of the following criteria:

• Designed by a New York City metropolitan area–based designer(s) for a project located anywhere in the world; or
• Located within the New York City metropolitan area, regardless of the designer’s location.

Apply here.

2026 IES Illumination Awards 

Entry deadline: February 12, 2026

The IES Illumination Awards (IA) program recognizes individuals for professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design based on the individual merit of each entry. Judges are selected from a broad professional spectrum representing knowledge of lighting and design excellence. The judging system is entirely based on how well the lighting design meets the program criteria.

Apply here.

NLB Tesla Awards

Entry deadline: February 2, 2026

Tesla Awards honor lighting projects which provide lighting that promotes human performance, health and wellness, safety and security, commerce, and reduction in light pollution. The winning projects showcase the value of lighting, but they also demonstrate best practices.

Apply here.

2026 DALI Alliance Lighting Awards

Entry deadline: December 19, 2025

The annual awards recognize excellence and innovation in DALI-based lighting control solutions from across the global lighting industry. Awards will be given for both Application and Innovation categories.

Apply here.

EC&M Product Of The Year

Entry deadline: January 26, 2026

The EC&M Product of the Year Competition, established in 2000, showcases the most innovative products of the past year and recognizes the talent and commitment of the people involved in development — from concept through sales and marketing.

Apply here.

Top image: Pixabay.com

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and President of Lighting Solution Development, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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