The 2026 Planet Positive Awards
You are shaping the future of sustainable design. Now it is time to be recognized for it.
The METROPOLIS Planet Positive Awards are the leading awards program honoring sustainability, health, and wellbeing in the built environment.
With more than 50 categories spanning projects, innovation, products, and people, the 2026 Planet Positive Awards celebrate the meaningful progress you are making toward a better, more resilient future.
Read on to learn how to submit and have the best chance of winning!
Early Bird Deadline, April 30, 2026
Final Deadline: June 26, 2026
Simpler Application Process
Project award applications do not have to be certified in order to enter.
Innovation award applications can simply provide already existing documentation, like a press release, a report, or any write-up.
Be Evaluated by the Best
METROPOLIS Editors will review every application and ensure your application makes the best possible case to the jurors.
Expert jurors and noted client-side decisionmakers will evaluate your applications and select the winners.
Honoring Real Progress
We invite you to submit groundbreaking projects and the changemakers redefining what planet-positive design looks like today.
Click here to view the full list of categories for the 2026 Planet Positive Awards.
Product Awards
Product manufacturers can enter in 20+ categories and also be recognized for three special awards: Best Innovation in Material Use, Circularity Initiative, and Corporate Sustainability Initiative.
A National Stage for Your Work
2026 Planet Positive Award Winners will be announced on metropolismag.com, featured in print, and celebrated in-person at:
THE METROPOLIS PLANET POSITIVE AWARDS CEREMONY
September 30, 2026
The Center for Architecture and Design, San Francisco
Hosted by editor in chief, Avinash Rajagopal
Livestreamed to tens of thousands of digital viewers.
Click here for a full list of print, digital, and social benefits for winners.
HOK was awarded 2025 Planet Positive Firm of the Year for its efforts in pushing for excellence in sustainability portfolio-wide.
Interface‘s “All In” commitment won the 2025 Corporate Sustainability Initiative category.
2026 Planet Positive Awards Categories
PROJECTS
Workplace
K-12 Education
Higher Education
Hospitality
Cultural
Infrastructure
Civic
Mixed-Use
Single Family
Multifamily
Showroom and Retail
Unbuilt Project
Landscape
Pavilion or Installation
Retrofit or Repositioning
Workplace Interiors
Healthcare
INNOVATION
Community Engagement
Design for Resilience
Embodied Carbon Reduction
Impact on Health and Wellness
Social Impact
Overall Decarbonization
Unbuilt Project
Adaptive Reuse
Historical Preservation
Use of Biobased or Biogenic Materials
Research & Development
Innovation in Material Use in Products
Circularity Initiative in Products
Corporate Sustainability Initiative
PEOPLE
Firm of the Year
Sustainability Leader
Rising Star
Sustainability Educator
Sustainability Consultant
PRODUCTS
Acoustics
Architectural Lighting
Architectural Systems
Ceilings
Decorative Lighting
Facade Systems
Hard Flooring
Kitchen and Bath
Office Furniture
Other Furniture
Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor Lighting
Paint
Residential Furniture
Soft Flooring
Surfaces, Tiles, Materials
Technology
Textiles
Timber
Wallcoverings
Walls
Windows and Doors
Let Us Celebrate Your Achievements!
Planet Positive Award winners are feted across Metropolis’s channels and receive unparalleled editorial and event opportunities:
01: Winners will be published in the Nov/Dec 2026 Annual Sustainability Issue of Metropolis, reaching an engaged readership of over 52,000 readers.
02: Winners will be honored at an in-person awards ceremony hosted by Editor in Chief Avinash Rajagopal in San Francisco in September 2026.
03: The event will be broadcast nationally on DESIGNTV by SANDOW, delivering an estimated 110,000 impressions and 30,000 projected views.
04: Metropolis will spotlight winners across its digital ecosystem and social channels, extending your reach to more than 200,000 highly engaged followers.
05: Winners receive invitations to select Metropolis events across the United States, connecting you with influential peers, thought leaders, and future collaborators.
06: A custom Planet Positive Awards trophy recognizing your leadership in sustainable design and innovation.
In Partnership With:
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