A' Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design Awards 2026 opens for entries

A' Design Award & Competition has opened submissions for its 2026 footwear design contest, with entries due Sept. 30, 2026 and results set for May 1, 2027. The competition targets designers, brands and manufacturers worldwide and will recognize footwear innovation across style, comfort, performance and materials.

Why it matters: - The awards create a global showcase for footwear design focused on aesthetics, comfort, ergonomics, functionality and material performance. - Winners get promotional tools that can help extend visibility beyond the competition, including press distribution and industry rankings. - The contest is open to a wide range of footwear professionals, brands and manufacturers, which broadens the field for entries from concept work to commercial products.

What happened: - A' Design Award & Competition opened the call for entries for the A' International Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design Awards 2026. - The competition is open worldwide to footwear designers, shoe designers, boot designers, fashion designers, ergonomics experts, footwear brands, shoe manufacturers, boot manufacturers, leather craftsmen, textile designers, industrial design studios, material science specialists, fashion brands, design consultants and R&D companies. - Footwear designs developed within the last 10 years are eligible. - The entry deadline is Sept. 30, 2026. - Results will be announced May 1, 2027.

The details: - The competition uses a two-phase process that starts with a complimentary preliminary evaluation. - Participants can register at A' Design Awards entry page to submit work and receive a preliminary score. - Projects that pass the preliminaries can move to nomination, which carries a nominal fee. - Entries are judged anonymously by an international jury of designers, fashion professionals, footwear specialists, ergonomics experts, material researchers and industry professionals. - Evaluation is based on innovation, functionality, wearability, material performance, aesthetics and design excellence. - Eligible categories include sneakers, sports shoes, sandals, boots, heels, loafers, moccasins, wedges, ballet flats and innovative footwear concepts. - Sub-category details are available at the category page. - Past winners are listed at the winners page.

Between the lines: - The awards are designed to position footwear as both a design discipline and a technical product category. - The anonymous judging format aims to reduce bias and keep the focus on measurable design qualities. - The broad eligibility list suggests A' Design Award & Competition wants submissions from both creative and industrial sides of the footwear market. - The mix of publicity, exhibition and ranking benefits shows the competition is as much about exposure as recognition.

What's next: - Designers and brands can continue submitting entries until the September deadline. - Laureates will receive the A' Design Prize, which includes a Design Excellence Certificate, lifetime winner logo license, yearbook inclusion, exhibitions in Italy, an award trophy, gala-night invitation, translations of awarded works, Prime Club access and placement in World Design Rankings, Designer Rankings, Footwear Design Classifications and Design Legends platforms. - Winners will also receive an exclusive interview, a prepared press release and a press kit with design images, photographs, logos and high-resolution project materials. - Press kits will be distributed to thousands of accredited press members, and dozens of press partners have already agreed to feature selected winners. - More information is available at designaward.com.

The bottom line: - A' Design Award & Competition is betting that footwear designers want more than a trophy — they want global visibility, industry validation and media reach.