2026 Design Award

About the event

Join Millinery Australia as we celebrate the 11th year of our Design Award competition.

The theme for this year’s Design Award is ‘ENCHANTED’

The 2026 Millinery Australia Design Award is open to all Fellow and Hall of Fame members.

Each year, the Award presents an opportunity to explore a new creative direction. This year’s theme explores the intersection of nature, imagination and emotion, where reality softens and beauty feels touched by magic.

Accordingly, entrants are invited to interpret the theme in their own unique way, expressing their individual vision, creativity and design aesthetic.

Each design entry must: 

  • be created exclusively for this competition
  • not have previously featured in any social media campaigns or print media
  • be the milliner’s own original design
  • be made entirely by the entrant
  • be sent without any label, tag or mark that identifies the entrant (grounds for disqualification)

DETAILS

Registration Open

  • Monday, March 9, 2026 at 9am

Registration Close

  • Friday, April 24, 2026 at 5pm

Entries Due

  • By close of business Friday, May 15, 2026 – late entries will not be accepted
  • All entries must be mailed – there is NO courier or local drop off option
  • Address will be provided to entrants upon registration

Judging

  • Last week of May…date TBA

Judges

  • TBA

Photoshoot

  • Thursday, May 28, 2026

Photographer

  • Richard Shaw

Model

  • TBA

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Top 10

  • Saturday, June 6, 2026 via Millinery Australia’s social pages and email

People’s Choice Voting

  • Monday, June 15 – Sunday, June 21, 2026

Winners

  • Announced at the Millinery Australia Gala Evening Friday, July 3, 2026
  • Results will be announced by static posts on Millinery Australia’s social pages
  • No ‘live’ feed from Gala

PRIZES

First Place

  • TBA

Second Place

  • TBA

Third Place

  • TBA

Patron’s Pick Award

  • TBA

Photographer’s Pic Award

  • TBA

People’s Choice Award

  • TBA

Cost of Entry: TBA

Register:

Hat Entry Form / Artist Statement:

Terms and Conditions: TBA

Details for Student Award can be found HERE

Details for Gala Evening can be found HERE

Millinery Australia memberships HERE

G O O D  L U C K !