These Are Australia’s Best-Designed Spaces of 2026, According to the Interior Design Awards

There’s no shortage of good design across the country. The Australian Interior Design Awards celebrate the best of it – spanning hospitality venues, retail spaces, homes, workplaces, hotels and beyond. Now in its 23rd year, a record-breaking 226 projects have been shortlisted.

In the hospitality category, 41 venues made the list. In Victoria, the nominees include Hugh Allen’s heirloom fine diner Yiaga (Wardle) in Fitzroy Gardens; the Tipo 00 team’s European bistro Harriot (Studio Esteta); konbini-inspired cafe Suupaa (IF Architecture); Potter Musuem of Art’s restaurant Residence (Studio Co and Co; Baker Bleu’s Cremorne spot; and the swish new Hannah St Hotel (Flack Studio).

New South Wales swept up 13 nominations, more than any other state. There’s Athens-style spot Homer Rogue Taverna (AP Design House), the Bentley duo’s Mediterranean spot Watermans (H and E Architects), waterfront piazza-style trattoria Cibaria (Luchetti Krelle), Spanish hotspot Epula and Flaminia (Studio Gram) by the Pilu team. 

In Brisbane, five spots made the cut, including two from J.AR Office: Anyday’s Middle Eastern fine diner Golden Avenue and Fanda Group’s Marlowe, set inside a heritage-listed art deco apartment block. Five Perth names make an appearance, including Light Years (Studio Plenty) and the Garde Hotel (Foolscap). Plus, three Adelaide spots – Honeydripper (Claire Markwick-Smith), Omada (Studio Fram) and Reno's Bistro (Rads).

On the retail side, standouts include Henne’s Armadale boutique (AP Design House), Song for the Mute’s first Melbourne store (Foolscap), Lune’s mega Melbourne CBD spot (In Addition), St Agni and Deiji’s Sydney stores and Melbourne’s Above the Clouds (all three by Pattern Studio).

Other categories include awards for design in residential buildings, public spaces and workplaces. This year’s jury panel includes Mardi Doherty (Studio Doherty), Brahman Perera (from the firm of the same name), Iva Foschia (IF Architecture), Paul Foskett (Populous), Alessandra French (State of Kin), Tim Greer (Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects), Eva-Marie Prineas (Studio Prineas) and Kirsti Simpson (Woods Bagot).

Winners will be announced on June 12. See the full shortlist online.