Header: Jason Lord & Lucas Vanderborght
The search for the next big name in shoe design has officially started. Based in Switzerland, the Global Footwear Awards (GFA) are now welcoming entries for their 2026 season. This competition gives designers from every corner of the map a chance to show their work to a panel of world-class experts. Whether you are an established brand, an independent maker, or a student just starting out, this is the place to prove your skills and get your designs noticed by the people who run the industry.
Celebrating innovation and modular craftsmanship
The awards look for high standards in how a shoe is built and how it works. Looking back at last year, the winners set a high bar for what the judges expect to see. David Solk took the top prize for Brand of the Year with his SOLK project, which featured a sneaker system made to be entirely biocircular. This means the materials can return to nature without leaving waste behind.
Another standout was Dominik Scherrer from FH JOANNEUM Industrial Design. His “Closed Loop Footwear” used a modular setup, allowing the shoe to be taken apart and recycled easily. These designs show that the industry is moving away from glue-heavy, disposable trainers and towards smart, circular builds that last longer and respect the planet.
Cultural stories and new technology
It isn’t just about eco-friendly materials; the GFA also celebrates shoes that tell a story. Joanah Lee Villanueva won praise for her Kaibahan project, which took traditional Filipino heritage and turned it into a modern footwear look. On the more technical side, Tomoki Scharber from the Savannah College of Art and Design developed “FUEL,” a shoe with a self-generating ventilation system. This design uses the movement of the wearer to pump air through the shoe, keeping the foot cool during heavy use.
A jury of industry heavyweights
Every entry is checked by a massive panel of experts who know exactly what makes a shoe successful. The jury includes leaders from huge brands like Nike, Hugo Boss, Fila, and Estée Lauder. It also features educators from the London College of Fashion and curators from the Miami Shoe Museum. Having these people look at your work is a rare opportunity to get your name in front of the individuals who decide what ends up on shop shelves and in galleries.
How to enter the 2026 awards
The GFA accepts any footwear project finished within the last five years. This includes shoes already being sold in shops, prototypes currently in development, or purely creative concepts that only exist as digital models or hand-built samples. The organisers have made the entry process a simple four-step online journey to encourage as many creators as possible to take part.
If you get your submission in early, there is a 20% discount on the entry fee available until 30 April. With over 150 entries from 35 different countries last year, the competition is growing fast, and the 2026 edition looks to be the biggest one yet.
The Global Footwear Awards 2026 offer a clear path for designers to move from the studio to the global stage. It is a vital moment for anyone who wants to challenge the current state of shoe design and show the world a better way to build footwear.
