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 Awards also celebrate 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 current jury panel includes Jill Tomandl, West Coast Brands Head of Product Development and Innovation at Estée Lauder Companies; Fay Murphy, Footwear Design Consultant at CHAPTER 2; Rosy Sukkar, Freelance Footwear Designer; Luis Valenzuela, Founder, Director, and Chief Curator of the MIAMI Shoe Museum; Havva Mustafa, Founder and Designer at HAVVA and Footwear Design Lecturer; Caroline de Baere, Footwear Industry Expert and Educator; Felipe Fiallo, Founder and Creative Director at Felipe Fiallo S.R.L.S; Sissi Johnson, President of the Berlin Fashion Film Festival; Robbie Fuller, Creative Director at Fila; Sean Williams, Co-Founder of OSD and SOLEcial Studies; Ann Williams, Co-Founder and Footwear Design Director at Schwilliamz Creative Consultants; Oronzo De Matteis, CEO, Founder, and Creative Director at OROORO Brand Luxury; Mary Norton, Luxury Accessories Design Director at Savannah College of Art; Mathew Kurien, Head of Department at MIT Institute of Design; Marta Andreassi, Freelance Footwear Designer and former Dolce & Gabbana designer; Robert Quach, Expert Designer at Nike; Matteo Fermani, Product Development Coordinator at Hugo Boss; Eelko Moorer, Course Leader MA Footwear at London College of Fashion; Arshiya Kapoor, Head of Department at MIT Institute of Design; Monica Mei, Footwear Designer and Product Manager at Vera Wang; Yael Joyce Vantu, Chief Product Officer and Head of Design at Balena; and Sara Paiva, Director of The 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 Awards 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% Early Bird 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.
