Home & Decor Awards 2026: Celebrating the people and ideas shaping India’s spaces

What makes a house feel like home? Is it the architecture, the interiors, the furniture or the lighting? Or all these combined? As India’s homes and urban landscapes evolve, design is increasingly becoming about more than aesthetics, it is about functionality, innovation, sustainability and the way people experience the spaces around them.Times of IndiaHome & Decor Awards 2026Against this backdrop, the Times of India Home & Decor Awards 2026 brings together architects, interior designers, real estate professionals, home brands and creative voices to recognise excellence across the evolving world of homes and living spaces.Positioned by the organisers as a recognition platform celebrating design excellence across homes, spaces and modern living, the awards span 40 award categories and multiple special recognitions, covering everything from home automation and modular kitchens to architecture, real estate, luxury residences, furniture, art, lighting and sustainable homes.The juryThe jury brings together professionals from architecture, design, real estate and creative fields, including Raseel Gujral Ansal (India’s Leading Voices in Luxury Design), Komal Sanghavi Vasa (Founder - Gesamt Design), Anshuman Magazine (Chairman & CEO for India, South-East Asia, Middle East, and Africa at CBRE), Aparna Kaushik (Founder and Principal Architect), Ravi Kewalramani (Real Estate Entrepreneur and Digital Creator), Dr Gopalan Nair Shankar (People's Architect, Padmashree Awardee, Habitat Technology Group) and Sussanne Khan (Creative Director & Founder The Charcoal Project - Sussanne Khan House of Design).Where Art Meets DesignOne of the opening conversations, “Where Art Meets Design: Creating Spaces with Character,” will explore the relationship between art and interiors and how personal expression can give a space its identity.The award categories themselves reflect the breadth of India’s rapidly changing home and design ecosystem. Early categories include Baby Cot/Kids Living Solutions, Garden & Landscape Brand, Emerging Designer, Home Automation Brand, Best D2C Home Brand, Home Brand and Innovation in Living. Special recognitions will also acknowledge innovation in areas such as kitchen and wardrobe solutions, modular kitchens and bathware design.The Future of Real EstateReal estate and the built environment will form another important part of the evening. A conversation titled “The Future of Real Estate: Building for a New India”, featuring Anshuman Magazine and Ravi Kewalramani, will look at how the sector is responding to changing expectations around homes and urban development.Architecture takes centre stage in the first panel discussion, “The Future of Indian Architecture: Designing for People, Place & Progress.” The panel will discuss the relationship between architecture, people and the changing Indian context.The second half of the event moves into the details that complete a home, with awards recognising modular kitchens, kitchen appliances, sanitaryware, flooring, rugs and carpets, lighting, curtains and blinds, upholstery and furnishing fabrics. Another panel, “The Art of Choosing: Understanding Art for Your Space,” will explore how art can influence and complement residential interiors.The awardsThe final set of awards focuses on some of the most aspirational segments of the property and design landscape. These include Architect of the Year, Best Sustainable Home, Best Apartment Design, Best Themed Project of the Year, Real Estate Icon of the Year – Lifetime Achievement, Iconic Real Estate Project of the Year, Real Estate Entrepreneur of the Year, Interior Designer of the Year, Iconic Project of the Year, Best Luxury Residence, Luxury Villa Project of the Year and Ultra-Luxury Residential Project of the Year.Together, the categories offer a snapshot of how India's relationship with its homes is changing. From smart technology and sustainable construction to personalised interiors, luxury residences and innovative materials, the focus is increasingly on creating spaces that combine design with purpose.The Times of India Home & Decor Awards 2026 therefore aims to bring together multiple sides of the industry under one platform—recognising established names while also spotlighting emerging designers, innovative brands, distinctive projects and new approaches to modern living. With conversations, jury interactions and awards unfolding through the evening, the event is set to place the spotlight on the people and ideas influencing how India designs, builds and experiences its spaces.Ready to Make a Smarter Property Decision? Build Your Legacy with TOI Homes.