Twenty Compasso d’Oro winners, up to 50 Honourable Mentions and three International Career Awards. In May 2027, Belgrade will host the results of one of design’s oldest prizes, and the theme asks entrants to treat play as serious work.
The competition is organised by ADI, the Italian industrial design association, in collaboration with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). It is the fourth edition of the Compasso d’Oro International Award. ADI has run the Compasso d’Oro since 1954, and it launched the international editions in 2014.
A theme built around play
This edition takes its theme from Expo 2027 Belgrade, “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All.” The call frames it as “Design for Humanity at Play.” Organisers argue that play is not only a childhood activity. They describe it as a competence for the future, one that builds creativity, adaptability, collaboration and critical thinking.
Three sub-themes shape the brief. Power of Play treats play as a tool for wellbeing and sustainability. Play for Progress sees experimentation as a driver of innovation. Play Together focuses on sport and music as a shared language that crosses cultural and political lines.
The scope is broad. Entries fall into nine categories: living, lighting, mobility, work, individual goods, food, service and social design, communication, and exhibition design. A zero-emission transit system and a reconfigured communal bench can both qualify, provided each shows how design turns play into lasting social value.
For a closer look at how collectible design gets staged for the public, Patek Philippe’s Milan Exhibition Showcases 500 Masterpieces shows a Milan presentation of art and craft at scale.
Eligibility and timeline
Entries must be realised and placed on the market between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2026. They must also be available in countries taking part in Expo 2027 Belgrade. Organisers publish the list of participating countries on the Expo website.
Results will be unveiled live in Belgrade on May 24, 2027. The exhibition runs until August 15. Across nearly three months, a dedicated pavilion in Belgrade’s Best Practices district will host six thematic weeks of talks, workshops and public events. Winning projects will sit inside a working conversation with visitors from many countries, not in a static display.
A permanent record
Selection carries a longer reward than the event itself. Winning projects enter the ADI Compasso d’Oro Historical Collection. The ADI Design Museum in Milan holds and presents objects, systems and spaces that have shaped contemporary living, and it treats selection as a form of cultural permanence.
Compasso d’Oro International Award legacy
That permanence matters in a field where online attention fades quickly. A prize that places an object in a museum collection gives it a reference point that outlasts a single season of coverage.
For another design prize with a focus on sustainability, Seoul Design Award 2026 Sustainable Innovator Showcase highlights projects that address global challenges through practical, durable solutions.
The photographs in the source package offer a useful reminder of how design histories are written. They show a set of captioned images, alongside a yellow vintage television with a grey screen bezel and a Cassina Maralunga sofa. These are visual references, not confirmed entries. Each one shows how a single form can become a lasting reference.
Designers who want to join that record have a clear route through this design award. Eligible creators and brands can apply now.
Via designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
When will the Compasso d’Oro International Award results be announced in Belgrade?
Results will be unveiled live in Belgrade on May 24, 2027. The exhibition that follows runs until August 15.
What are the eligibility requirements for entering the Compasso d’Oro award?
Entries must be realised and placed on the market between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2026. They must also be available in countries taking part in Expo 2027 Belgrade.
What happens to winning projects after the Compasso d’Oro competition?
Winning projects are added to the ADI Compasso d’Oro Historical Collection. The ADI Design Museum in Milan holds and presents these objects, systems and spaces.
Who organises the Compasso d’Oro International Award?
The competition is organised by ADI, the Italian industrial design association, in collaboration with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
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