JD Institute of Fashion Technology has announced the return of the JD Design Awards 2026, its flagship pan-India platform celebrating emerging design talent and creative excellence. The nationwide edition will begin with a grand showcase in Mumbai before travelling across 16 other cities.
Positioned as a student-led design showcase, the JD Design Awards aims to connect academic learning with industry exposure by providing graduating students with a platform to present their final creative work before leading professionals from India’s design ecosystem.
Following the grand showcases in Mumbai and Bengaluru, the 2026 edition will travel to Vadodara, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, Berhampur, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kochi, Goa, Indore, Raipur, Siliguri, Pune, Tezpur and Gandhidham. Bhubaneswar will host two editions.
Together, the city showcases will highlight regional creative talent while supporting a unified national platform for the next generation of designers.
Showcasing Emerging Design Talent
The city-wise showcases will feature curated presentations across Fashion Design, Interior Design, Visual Communication, Jewellery Design and allied creative disciplines.
The grand Mumbai showcase will bring together a jury comprising designers and creative professionals from fashion, interiors and architecture. The jury includes Karan Desai of Karan Desai Home, Minnie Bhatt of Minnie Bhatt Design, Neha Changwani of INC Design, Tania Shah of TS Designworks, Annkur Khosla of Annkur Khosla Design, Shubham Patil of Surekh Décor, Jasmine Jhaveri of Jasmine Jhaveri Living, Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Sougat Paul of Soup by Sougat Paul, James Ferreira, Aarti Vijay Gupta, Saim Ghani, Dipti Advait of Nouria and Sherina of Label Nonita, among others.
Students across JD Institute campuses have expressed interest in the upcoming edition, viewing the platform as an opportunity to gain direct exposure to industry professionals, participate in jury interactions and present their work on a national stage.
Education Meets Industry
The JD Design Awards has evolved beyond a conventional graduation showcase, creating opportunities for mentorship, industry exposure and direct feedback from design practitioners.
Yogesh Dalal, Trustee at JD Institute of Fashion Technology, has continued to focus on creating opportunities for students, while Dr. Payal Dalal, Director at JD Institute of Fashion Technology, has maintained an academic focus on student development.
Speaking on the announcement, Rinesh Dalal, Director at JD Institute of Fashion Technology, said, “The JD Design Awards is more than an award—it is a legacy we have built over decades, and one that continues to evolve with every new generation of designers. It provides our students with a platform to showcase their creativity and talent before industry leaders, helping them gain valuable exposure as they begin their professional journeys. With this year’s pan-India edition, starting with the grand showcase in Mumbai, we are expanding that legacy and creating even more opportunities for emerging design talent.”
Spotlight on New Design Directions
The 2026 edition is expected to feature work spanning sustainable fashion, adaptive interiors, technology-driven design and socially conscious innovation. The showcased projects will reflect changing approaches to design while highlighting the creative potential of India’s emerging designers.
With participation across multiple cities and thousands of emerging designers, the JD Design Awards 2026 will further strengthen JD Institute of Fashion Technology’s platform for nurturing next-generation creative talent.
