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Light Middle East Awards 2026

The Light Middle East Awards is the region’s largest and most influential recognition platform for the lighting industry. Now in its 12th edition, the awards will celebrate exceptional individuals, products, projects, and companies for their outstanding achievements, visionary contributions, and exemplary performance in the global lighting sector. Winners will be selected through a meticulous evaluation process conducted by an independent panel of distinguished local and international industry experts.

Important dates: 

  • Awards Open: 28 May 2025
  • Early Bird Deadline: 18 July 2025
  • Final Entry Deadline: 19 September 2025
  • Round 1 Jury Assessment and Voting (Online): 29 September – 12 October 2025
  • Shortlists Announcement: 20 October 2025
  • Round 2 - Projects Shortlist Q&A: 11 January 2026 (Dubai World Trade Centre)
  • Round 2 - Product Shortlist Q&A: 12 January 2026 (Dubai World Trade Centre)
  • Awards Ceremony & Winners Announcement: 14 January 2026

Why participate at the Light Middle East Awards?

Award Categories

  • 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.

  • 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 Jan 2026.

 

  • 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

The full panel of judges will be announced soon.

2025 Awards Sponsors

Light Middle East - 2025 Sponsors

Join as a Sponsor

The Light Middle East Awards 2026 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.

Liam Murphy

Portfolio Sponsorship Manager

LIam

Joanna Diaz

Sponsor Sales Executive

Joanna

Watch the 2025 Light Middle East Awards Highlights

FAQs

The project must be a permanent architectural lighting design solution for which construction was completed after 1st July 2024

The Light Middle East Awards 2025 submission deadline is 19th September 2025.

 Please ensure to register on the awards platform and choose the selected categories by the early bird rate deadline, i.e. 18th July 2025 to take advantage of the early bird rate. The payment can be made at submission, before the final entry deadline, i.e. 19th September 2025.

The entries are evaluated by a panel of industry experts based on criteria outlined for each category. The process includes a review of the submitted materials.

Submit your nomination through our official awards portal – Evalato.

Entries can be edited only when in drafts mode. Once submitted, modifications cannot be made.

You will need to buy a ticket to attend the awards ceremony. Please contact the team at lightmeawards@uae.messefrankfurt.com

 Yes, sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact the team at lightmeawards@uae.messefrankfurt.com