The IES Illumination Awards (IA) program recognizes individuals for professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design based on the individual merit of each entry, including the Lighting Control Innovation Award sponsored by the Lighting Controls Academy.
Judges are selected from a broad professional spectrum representing knowledge of lighting and design excellence. The judging system is entirely based on how well the lighting design meets the program criteria.
NEW Submission Dates
Early Bird Submission: December 1–21, 2025
Regular Submission: December 21, 2025 – January 30, 2026
(Both deadlines are at 11:59pm US Eastern)
Submission Pricing
Early Bird Submission: IES Member $265 / Non-Member $365
Regular Submission: IES Member $320 / Non-Member $420
Registration fees are non-refundable
Eligibility & Entry Rules
1. Anyone may enter a project for an Illumination Award, including IES members, non-members, and agents, with the exclusion of IES staff, IES Board of Directors, and manufacturers.
2. Submitters should submit their project to the Section of the lead designer. If there is no active Section, the project should be submitted to the Section closest to the location of the lead designer. Your project will still be accepted and entered for judging.
3. Any permanent lighting installation can be submitted to the Illumination Awards. There is an exemption for the Experiential Lighting Design award, which allows for temporary, permanent, or seasonal displays.
4. The installation must have been completed during the 24 months preceding the January program date listed.
5. Projects may be entered only once using the IA submission portal. The nominator must check with all parties to eliminate duplicate entries.
6. Different areas of the same project may be submitted as separate lighting or controls project entries. Each of these entries must have its own distinguishable title and additional entry fee. Each of these entries will be judged separately.
7. All entries previously judged in prior Illumination Awards will be rejected.
8. The Lead Lighting Designer must inform the owner and all others involved or associated in the project design, of participation in the program and that the entry may be published in LD+A. The owner’s name and location may be withheld for privacy reasons.
Click here to submit a project. If you have a project that demonstrates exemplary use of lighting controls, be sure to submit for the Lighting Control Innovation Award, sponsored by the Lighting Controls Academy. All award-winners, including Awards of Merit, are published on the LCA website in addition to other recognition provided by the IES.
