The deadline for the 2026 Cruise Ship Interiors Awards has been extended until Friday 11 September, giving cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters and suppliers additional time to submit their work.
Entries had originally been scheduled to close on Friday 28 August. The extension keeps the competition open to organisations and individuals working across cruise-ship interiors, onboard products, refurbishment projects and marine design.
The awards will be presented on Thursday 3 December 2026 at Hamburg Messe + Congress in Hamburg, Germany.
The ceremony takes place during the second and final day of Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe, which runs from 2–3 December at the same venue.
Fourteen awards across three areas
The 2026 programme contains 14 categories divided between spaces, products and people.
Eight awards cover onboard spaces and design projects:
- Best Cabin
- Best Dining Space
- Best Public Space
- Best Refurbished Space
- Best Entertainment Experience
- Best Wellness Space
- Concept of the Year
- Best Brand Original Project
Three product categories recognise innovations designed for use aboard passenger ships:
- Interior Product of the Year
- Galley Product of the Year
- Sustainable Product of the Year
The programme is completed by three industry awards:
- Shipyard of the Year
- Design Team of the Year
- Legend of Design
Entries are open to work connected with ocean, river and expedition ships. Depending on the category, submissions can come from cruise lines, designers, shipyards, outfitters and product manufacturers.
Companies can also nominate other organisations or individuals for appropriate categories, including Shipyard of the Year and Legend of Design.
Recognising the teams behind the ships
Unlike consumer cruise awards, which usually concentrate on complete ships, itineraries or passenger service, the Cruise Ship Interiors Awards focuses on the organisations and specialists responsible for creating onboard environments.
The categories encompass accommodation, restaurants, lounges, entertainment venues, spas, refurbishment projects, operational galley equipment and environmentally conscious products.
Concept of the Year also allows ideas that remain in development to compete alongside completed work, providing a route into the programme for emerging as well as established designers.
Previous winners include projects aboard ships operated by AIDA Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and NYK Cruises. The 2025 Design Team of the Year award went to SMC Design's AROYA project team, while Meyer Wismar was named Shipyard of the Year.
Awards return to Hamburg in December
The ceremony forms part of Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe, an industry exhibition connecting cruise lines and shipyards with architects, interior designers, outfitters and specialist suppliers.
The 2026 show will take place at Hamburg Messe + Congress on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December. Organisers say more than 300 exhibiting design studios, outfitters and interior suppliers will participate.
The awards ceremony is confirmed for 3 December, although a precise start time is not displayed on the current event page.
Businesses considering an entry now have until Friday 11 September 2026 to complete their submissions. Entrants should check the individual category requirements carefully and ensure that photography, project credits and supporting information are ready before submitting.
Organiser guidance indicates that entrants can save an unfinished submission and return to it later. Once an entry has been formally submitted, however, it cannot be edited.
At the time of publication, the official category page continued to display the former 28 August deadline. Prospective entrants should follow the newly announced 11 September extension and check the awards website for any subsequent update.