The Light Middle East Awards is the region’s largest and most influential recognition platform for the lighting industry. Its 12th edition took place on 14 January 2026, celebrating exceptional individuals, products, projects, and companies for their outstanding achievements, visionary contributions, and exemplary performance across the global lighting sector. Winners were selected through a meticulous evaluation process conducted by an independent panel of distinguished local and international industry experts.
Stay tuned for the upcoming edition and important submission dates.
Why participate at the Light Middle East Awards?
Global Recognition
Winners receive unparalleled recognition and popularity across the industry, marking their achievements on an international stage.
Innovation Showcase
The most reputed platform in the region to showcase your breakthroughs in lighting design and technology.
Networking Galore
Mingle with the who's who of the lighting world, from industry veterans to budding innovators, and expand your professional network.
Expert Judging Panel
Our awards are judged by a panel of esteemed experts, ensuring that innovation, sustainability, and design excellence are at the forefront of each decision.
Award Categories
Project of the Year
- Project of the Year - MEA
This category recognizes the best architectural lighting design for a completed project within the MEA region. Entrants must be designers and awards will be granted only to the team or teams that created the detailed design of the architectural lighting for the project that was submitted. The project must be a permanent architectural lighting design solution for which construction was completed after 1 July 2024.
- Project of the Year: International
This category recognizes the best in architectural lighting design for an iconic completed project outside of the MEA region. Entrants must be designers and awards will be granted only to the team or teams that created the detailed design of the architectural lighting for the project that was submitted. The project must be a permanent architectural lighting design solution for which construction was completed after 1 July 2024.
- Light Middle East Project of the Year
This category celebrates the best project of the year and one which has achieved the overall highest score from the judging panel, the Ultimate Award for 2026.
Product of the Year
- Indoor Lighting Product of the Year
This category recognizes products that utilize innovative technology to produce high-value, high-performance indoor lighting solutions with outstanding design principles.
- Outdoor Lighting Product of the Year
This category recognizes products that utilize innovative technology to produce high-value, high-performance outdoor lighting solutions with outstanding design principles.
- Decorative Lighting Product of the Year
This category recognizes products that utilize specific designs to add ambient lighting in a variety of spaces and also turn a surface into something decorative. Products entered could be anything from Chandelier / Table Lamp / Wall Lamp / Bespoke etc..
- Intelligent Lighting Solution of the Year
This category recognizes innovation that includes all visible light communication, IoT, Li-fi, controls, IP-based systems, data management, guest room management systems, and smart city technologies.
- Peer Award
This is a public voting category and all shortlisted product entries are eligible to win. Voting is undertaken by the community online and also live at the exhibition until 12 January 2026 at 5 PM. Vote now.
Partner of the Year
- This category to be reviewed by the local judges recognizes manufacturers / suppliers / distributors, based across MEA who have demonstrated excellence in lighting, innovation and collaboration between project & design teams leading to successful lighting projects.
2026 Judging Chair
Martin Lupton
Co-founder, Light Collective UK
Sharon Stammers
Co-founder, Light Collective UK
2026 Judges
Product Category
Alexia Gkika
Senior Associate Project Manager, Coen + Partners
Amy Semple
Partner and Design Director, SOMA Studio
Ahmed Bayashout
Founder & Design Director, Studio A Lighting
Ayla Aledavood
Senior Lighting Designer, Light. Func
Christopher Lowe
Design Associate Director, Dirriyah
Carolina Florian
Director of Lighting, Qiddiya
Courtney Mark
Principal, Light Directions MENA
Catalina Casas-Cordero
Senior Lighting Manager, Red Sea Global
Erin Denkovska
Senior Associate, Delta Lighting Design
Faraz Izhar
Lead Lighting Designer, AE7
Giovanni Zambri
Managing Director, SMITH TAIT
Iliana Zotou
Senior Lighting Designer, Nulty
Jamie R Watt
Director, Light Alliance
Jelena Lazarevic
Associate, Foundry Studio
Louise Santiago
Associate, dpa lighting consultants
Maša Šuica
Senior Lighting Manager, Umaya Lighting
Maria Dautant
Senior Associate, HLB Lighting
Nonita Sabin
Associate Director, neolight global
Paula Fernanda Cortes
Head of Lighting Design Studio - Technical Director, WSP in the Middle East
Regina Santos
Founder & Design Director, Light Fusion
Ricardo Alvial Soler
Project Director, LIGHT DIRECTIONS
Sky Bembury
Associate Principal, Optimum Lighting Design
Teresa Enroth
Associate Lighting Designer, Light Touch PLD
Vinod Pillai
Partner + Design Director, Studio Lumen
Walaa Ahmed
Intermediate Lighting Designer, Light.Func
Project Category
Amy Rennie
Head of UK Lighting, Buro Happold
Carla Jardim
Associate, The Flaming Beacon
Daniel Hodierne
Senior Lighting Designer, Light Bureau
Dane Sanders
President, Clanton & Associates
Kaori Hiroki
Senior Associate, Loop Lighting
Michael Grubb
Founder, Michael Grubb Studio
Nivedita Sehrawat
Partner, Design Matrix
Tom Niven
Director - Lighting, BDP
Yah Li Toh
Principal, Light Collab
2026 Awards Sponsors
Join as a Sponsor
The Light Middle East Awards 2027 is more than just an awards programme, it’s where the industry’s brightest minds come together to celebrate achievement and ignite future innovation in sustainable, creative lighting.
Contact us today to explore sponsorship opportunities and maximise your brand’s visibility at the Light Middle East Awards.
