Confindustria Ceramica, otherwise known as the Italian Association of Ceramics, and the Italian Trade Agency have announced that the 2026 edition of the Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition is now open for entries.
For the first time, Ceramics of Italy’s two long-standing competitions, the 30-year North American Design Competition and the 11-year La Ceramica e il Progetto based in Italy, are joining forces to recognize the best projects featuring Italian ceramic and porcelain tile on a global scale.
The program expands the competition to honour projects by architects and interior designers worldwide that utilize ceramic and porcelain tile from Ceramics of Italy member brands.
Selected by an international jury, winners will receive cash prizes and join a CEU-accredited trip to Bologna, Italy, where they will be honoured at a special VIP award ceremony during Cersaie 2026, an exhibition for ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings.
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 across four categories: Residential, Commercial, Design & New Applications, and Outdoor.
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 jury will be chaired by Steve Clem, principal at Atlanta-based firm TVS, and includes Alfonso Femia, founder and president of Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia; architect and journalist Donatella Bollani; and Filippo Manuzzi, chairman of the Promotional Activities and Exhibitions Commission of Confindustria Ceramica.
The jury will examine submitted projects based on overall design, the degree to which Italian tile enhances the setting, the amount of ceramic or porcelain tile from Ceramics of Italy member companies used throughout the project, and the project’s sustainable attributes.
“Italian tile has long been a catalyst for architectural creativity, offering designers a material that is as technically and sustainably advanced as it is expressive,” said Steve Clem, chair of the international jury. “Bringing these competitions together into a single international platform allows us to celebrate the remarkable ways architects and designers across the world are pushing the boundaries of how Italian tile can shape spaces, surfaces, and experiences.”
Winners will be notified in July and publicly announced during a VIP awards ceremony at Cersaie 2026, taking place in Bologna, Italy from September 21 to 25, 2026.
Award recipients will receive cash prizes and attend the show alongside a delegation of leading design media, architects, and designers. They will also present their projects before an audience of international design and trade press, manufacturers, and tile industry professionals. Attendance at Cersaie and the award ceremony is required.
The submission form, competition guidelines, and an archive of outstanding winning projects can be found here.
There is no fee to enter, and multiple submissions are welcome. The deadline for entries is June 5, 2026.