BIA Opens Entries for 2026 Brick in Architecture Awards

RESTON, Va. — The Brick Industry Association (BIA) has opened entries for the 2026 Brick in Architecture Awards, the leading international design competition featuring fired-clay brick. 

Project entries in nine categories will compete for a Best in Class, Gold, Silver or Bronze award and an overall Craftsmanship Award. The winners will be judged by peers in October. Entries are due by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Winning projects and teams will be honored live at the Brick Excellence Gala on April 8, 2027 during the National Clay Brick Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. As with this year’s debut event, architects, designers and masonry professionals will celebrate outstanding brick design and craftsmanship.

“These global projects showcase brick’s virtually unlimited flexibility to achieve any aesthetic with exceptional durability for sustainable design,” said BIA President and CEO Tricia Mauer.

Per the competition rules, all submissions must feature new clay brick products as the primary exterior building or paving material comprising over 50% of the visible surface. Entrants must be architects or designers employed by an architectural, design-build or landscape architecture firm. Projects must have been completed on or after January 1, 2020.

Entries must be submitted through the awards website in one or more of these categories:

1. Commercial*

2. Education – K-12

3. Education – Colleges & Universities (Higher Education) **

4. Residential – Single Family

5. Residential – Multifamily

6. Thin Brick

7. Paving & Landscape Projects***

8. Historic Renovation****

9. International (Projects outside of the US, Canada or a U.S. territory must be entered in this category)

* If a Commercial subcategory receives fewer than 10 entries, submissions will be combined and judged within a General Commercial category

** Includes residence halls and academic/administrative buildings

***At least 50% of the project must include clay pavers

****Does not need to meet the 50% or more new brick requirement but project must have 50% or more renovated brick

 Entries due by September 25; Winners to be Honored Next April in Nashville. Winning projects will be featured through BIA’s website, press releases, the media and social media campaigns.  

For questions, contact Megan Pace at mpace@bia.org or 703-674-1542.