The Institut du monde arabe (IMA) has revealed the nominees for the IMA Design Award 2026, selected following an open call for projects from both emerging and established designers from the Arab world.
Nominated by a team of experts including François Leblanc di Cicilia, Ismail Tazi and Frédérique Mehdi of the IMA, the shortlist of finalists recognises projects across four categories: the Emerging Talent Award, Contemporary Craftsmanship Award, Impact Award, Arab Bank Switzerland and the Grand Prize. The overall objective is to highlight creativity in the domain of design, with particular emphasis on initiatives showcasing expert craftsmanship as well as material innovation.
In the Emerging Talent category, nominees include Aseel Alamoudi with Playformation (2025); Ayah Alkhatib with Jaddelah (2025); Othmane Bengebara with Irtah! (2026); Ahmad Hamad with Charlize (2025); Ismail Hutet & Blanca Scully with Minara: Pillars of Light (2025–26); Alexis Sizar with MA’DAN (2025–26), Syn Architects (Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi) with SOKON (2024); and Djaffar Zizi with Afniq (2026).
The Contemporary Craftsmanship category sees projects put forward by Galyiah & Lolwa Almohannadi with Saraab (2025); Altin – Yasmine and Mehdi with Our AlUla Trilogy (2025); Atelier l’Inconnu with La Volupté (2025); Areen Hassan with Weaving the Land Back (2025); Imane Mellah with Bab (2026); NJM with Karnak (2026); and Studio Aya Moug – Papyri with Byblos (2023).
In the Impact Award, Arab Bank Switzerland category, nominees include 99+ X Architects (Alaa Halifi and El Yazid Boudraa) with What Remains: Atlas of a Disappearing Casablanca (2020); ADD Architects (Sherif Farag) with Reconstruction & Rehabilitation of Al-Nouri Complex (2021–24); Foukhair Studio (Christopher Ghoussoub) with Foukhar Beit Chabeb – Réactiver une économie artisanale villageoise (2026); Talin Hazbar with Sediments (2025–26); and Post Design Studio (Dia Mrad) with PSI (Power Supply Indicator) (2025).
Lastly, in the Grand Prize category, nominated projects span AlMusalla (2025) by East Architecture Studio; Omni (2026) by Rania Hamed; Les Portes du Mossoul (2025) by Louis-Cyprien Rials; Fontana Sofa (2025) by Roham Shamekh; Knightsbridge apartment (2025) by Tarek Shamma; and Tiznit heritage interpretation Centre (2013–24) by Studio Salima Naji.
Finalist projects are due to be recognised during a ceremony to be held in September at the IMA in partnership with Paris Design Week, as well as being the subject of an exhibition during the year. These will be selected by a jury presided over by Egyptian architect Shahira Fahmy and composed of Sheikha Reem Al-Thani, Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, Mette Degn-Christensen, Daniele Gerkens, Frédéric Imbert, Ali Y Khadra, Michèle Maria Chaya, Arnaud Morand, Aidan Imanova, Memia Taktak and Samer Yamani.
