Creative Retail Awards 2026
The Creative Retail Awards 2026 were presented on Thursday 15 October 2026 at The Clapham Grand, London, the new home of the Awards. Twenty-five awards across 21 categories and four special awards, with winning projects in the UK, France, Denmark, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and South Africa.
Trailblazer of the Year
An award with no entry process and no shortlist, for a retailer whose work and approach to physical retail made an exceptional impression on the judges. Fortnum & Mason also won Window Display and Sustainable Display.
Store Design of the Year
With Hotel Creative. Highly commended: Nespresso, Covent Garden Flagship. Dr. Martens also won the public vote, the SDD Spotlight Award.
Design Agency of the Year
Strategy, design, production, logistics and installation all in-house. Highly commended: Etch. B_RD also won Leisure, Visitor or Exhibition Attraction, for Pandora.
Judges’ Choice
With SYN. Chosen by the judges from all the entries, as a project that deserved recognition beyond its own category.
Six Winners Awards and nine Highly Commended Awards for SDEA member companies.
In category order, then the four special awards: the SDD Spotlight Award (decided by public vote with Shop Drop Daily), Judges’ Choice, Design Agency of the Year and Trailblazer of the Year.
Creative Collaboration
Highly commended
Creative Lighting
Foundry
Highly commended
Festive Display
Highly commended
Graphics
Highly commended
Hospitality
Highly commended
Independent Store (UK)
Highly commended
In-Store VM Scheme
Highly commended
Leisure, Visitor or Exhibition Attraction
Highly commended
Multi-Site Rollout
Whiteroom
Highly commended
Omni-Channel Experience
we.are.sdi
Highly commended
POP/POS
Print & Display Ltd
Highly commended
Pop-Up or Temporary
StudioXAG
Highly commended
Retail Experience
Highly commended
Retail Technology Innovation
d&b solutions
Highly commended
Shopfitting
PMI Global Studio
Highly commended
Shop-in-Shop or Concession
we.are.sdi
Highly commended
Supermarket or Grocery
Design Theory Collective
Highly commended
Surfaces, Materials & Finishes
Highly commended
Sustainable Display
Highly commended
Window Display
Highly commended
Store Design of the Year
Hotel Creative
Highly commended
SDD Spotlight Award (public vote)
Judges’ Choice
SYN
Trailblazer of the Year
Every winning, highly commended and shortlisted entry.
Aidan Sadler hosted, and once the last trophy had been handed out the band and DJ carried the celebrations on into the night.
“What stands out about this year’s winners is the range. A retailer with more than 300 years behind it, a boot brand’s flagship in Soho, an agency that builds what it designs, and winning work from Seoul to Singapore. The common thread is a clear idea that someone has seen through properly.”
Every result was decided by an independent panel of industry judges, who met face to face in London.
The 2026 awards were supported by headline partner Kesslers London; premier partners Northbanks Design and Pardgroup; and category partners Arken POP, Antalis, B_RD, Candee.bio, Genesis Mannequins, Graphica Display, Hammerson, H.O.L Group, ISI Global, Mega Creative, Morplan, Proportion London, roomly and VAST.
Entries are open now, and the awards return to The Clapham Grand in September 2027. SDEA members enter free, with up to five entries per category.
More winners: 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2019 · 2018
