The 7th annual Tesla Awards program will recognize excellence in lighting projects reflecting creative use of lighting systems and controls and demonstrate the value of lighting. For the second year, submitted projects will be eligible to receive a Special Citation Award for Innovative Lighting Controls, sponsored by the Lighting Controls Academy.
Anyone may enter a lighting design project for the Tesla Awards. Projects to submit should have been completed within the 2023, 2024, or 2025 calendar years. Submissions should be entered via the designated online submittal process found at NLB.org.
Judging criteria include innovation, application and energy effectiveness, universality (how readily the design applies to other applications), and sustainability.
New for 2026, submitted residential projects will be eligible for a Special Citation Award for Exemplary Residential Lighting, sponsored by the American Lighting Association.
Early Bird Deadline: January 19, 2026 | entry fee: $50
Final Submission Deadline: February 2, 2026 | Entry fee: $100
Winning projects will be announced at the 2026 LEDucation trade show at the New York Hilton Midtown in April 2026.
