2026 Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition
2026 Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition is now open for entries!
Confindustria Ceramica and the Italian Trade Agency are proud to launch the the Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition, a program that aims to honor outstanding projects carried out using Italian ceramic and porcelain tiles covered by the Ceramics of Italy trademark.
Short description
Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics) and the Italian Trade Agency are proud to announce that the 2026 edition of the Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition.
The aim of the competition is to recognize and celebrate outstanding projects carried out by architects and interior designers worldwide that utilize ceramic and porcelain tiles covered by the Ceramics of Italy trademark (as defined in the call for entries) in the Residential, Commercial, Design and New Applications, and Outdoor categories.
The competition invites architects and designers to submit projects that showcase an expansive use of Italian tile and a keen understanding of the material’s practical, aesthetic, and sustainable qualities.
The competition is open to new build, building renovation and architectural renovation projects in the following categories:
➜ Residential (use of Italian tiles in interiors of houses, apartments, multi-occupancy buildings or other premises for private or residential use, etc.);
➜ Commercial (use of tiles in interiors of hotels and resorts, restaurants and bars, shopping centres, shops and boutiques, showrooms, schools, hospitals, offices, churches, theatres, cinemas, gyms, fitness centres and spas, etc.);
➜ Design and new applications (applications of ceramics in non-traditional contexts, indoors and outdoors, kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities and washbasins, furnishing accessories, design elements, etc.);
➜ Outdoor (facades, use of tiles in exteriors of houses, of hotels and resorts, schools, hospitals, offices, churches, theatres, ceramic street furniture or paving for pavements, squares, public spaces, green areas, etc.);
Eligible projects may include new construction, renovations, or architectural restorations completed between January 2021 and March 2026, and must feature Italian ceramic or porcelain tile produced and marketed by companies licensed to use the Ceramics of Italy trademark under their own brand names.
The international Jury, consisting of renowned architecture and design professionals, will evaluate the submitted projects based on their creativity, functionality, sustainable attributes and aesthetic appeal.
The selection criteria will cover:
➜ the overall design of the architectural project;
➜ the amount and use of Italian Ceramic Tiles in the project;
➜ attention to the environment through the use of Italian Ceramic Tiles;
➜ the sustainability of the architectural work and of the products used.
Winners will be notified in July and publicly announced during a VIP awards ceremony at Cersaie 2026, taking place in Bologna, Italy from 21–25 September, 2026.
Award recipients will receive cash prizes and attend the show alongside a delegation of leading design media, architects, and designers, and will present their projects before an audience of international design and trade press, manufacturers, and tile industry professionals.
Submission requirements
Submissions must include actual photographs of the project rather than computer-generated images. Documents proving the completion of the work may be attached. Attached images/documents should be in a high-resolution (300 dpi) .jpg, .jpeg, .tiff or .png format, with a minimum of 5 images and Compressed (.zip) files are permitted.
Eligibility
The competition is open to architecture and design professionals who have carried out projects worldwide using Italian ceramic tiles produced and marketed by companies licensed to use the Ceramics of Italy trademark under their own brand names (hereinafter also referred to as “Italian Ceramic Tiles”), completed between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2026.
Prize
Winners will receive a four-day, CEU-accredited trip to Bologna, Italy, to attend Cersaie 2026, the world’s largest exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings, alongside a delegation of leading architects, interior designers, and journalists from September 21-25, 2026. Winners will be honored during a special VIP ceremony during the show. Category winners will also receive cash prizes. Attendance at Cersaie and the award ceremony is required.
All winning projects will also receive robust marketing and promotional PR support across North American and international media.
Entry fees
The competition is free to enter.
