The “ADCV Awards 2026” exhibition, which showcases the projects recognized at the eighth edition of our awards for the best design in the Valencian Community, is open to the public free of charge through August 31 at the Las Naves building in Valencia Innovation Capital.

Curated by the creative team of Tapas Duras and Ana García Segura, the exhibition offers an interpretation of contemporary design in the region based on the concept “Design as Resistance,” the central theme of the 2026 ADCV Awards. From this perspective, the exhibition goes beyond simply showcasing projects to invite reflection on the role of design as a practice committed to critical thinking, culture, sustainability, and the search for solutions that have a positive impact on society.

The ADCV Awards 2026 catalog features all the finalist and winning projects from the 8th edition of the awards

The exhibition offers an overview of the current state of design in the Valencian Community, featuring a journey through various disciplines: graphic and digital design, product design, spatial design, and other areas of design. It reflects how the discipline is constantly expanding its scope and establishing itself as a strategic tool for businesses, public administrations, and organizations of all kinds.

The designers responsible for the exhibition layout explain that their concept “allows us to draw connections between projects that are seemingly very different and to discover that they share the same approach to design. The ‘resistance’ referred to by the awards is not opposition, but rather the determination to maintain a critical, conscious, and committed perspective in the face of the complexity of the present.”

In this vein, Ramón Arnau, president of the ADCV, emphasizes that the exhibition “invites us to pause and better understand the value that design brings to our daily lives. “We want everyone to be able to explore this exhibition and come away with a broader understanding of what design means today and the role it plays in our society.”

An Overview of Contemporary Valencian Design

The exhibition brings together the 76 design works recognized at the 2026 ADCV Awards, as well as a retrospective of the work and projects of the three recipients of the 2026 ADCV Honorary Awards: designer Nacho Lavernia, in the “Professional Career” category, to the company Viccarbe in “Innovation,” and to Recreo Valencia Art Book Fair in “Organizations.”

In the various design categories, 31 “Gold” awards were presented this year, of which 15 went to graphic and digital design; 11 to product design; four to spatial design; and one to other areas of design. In addition, 28 “Silver” awards were presented: 17 in graphic and digital design; seven in product design; three in spatial design; and one in other areas; and 17 “Positive Impact Awards,” which recognize projects that stand out for their social, cultural, economic, or environmental contributions (nine of these were for graphic and digital design, four for product design, one for spatial design, and three for other areas of design).

This collection of works provides a snapshot of the current state of design in the Valencian Community, characterized by professional excellence, a diversity of approaches, and the growing incorporation of principles such as sustainability, accessibility, the circular economy, social innovation, service design, and human-centered design.

The Catalog for the 2026 ADCV Awards

To coincide with the exhibition’s opening, the ADCV will present the official catalog for the 2026 ADCV Awards, a publication designed to serve as a reference resource on contemporary design in the Valencian Community.

The book brings together all of the finalist and award-winning projects, along with information about their authors, schools, companies, and sponsoring institutions. It documents the main trends currently shaping the discipline and serves as a tool for promoting Valencian creative talent both nationally and internationally.

An independent jury of national standing

The projects on display are the result of an evaluation process conducted by an independent jury composed of six highly respected professionals from various fields of design who are based outside the Valencian Community—an approach that the ADCV maintains to ensure the utmost rigor, objectivity, and independence in the selection of the winning entries.

The categories of graphic design, digital design, and other areas of design were judged by Roser Padrés, art director and graphic designer at Estudio Padrés; Julián Garnés, co-founder and creative director of Rubio y del Amo; and Isa Ludita, co-founder and CEO of La Nave Nodriza.

For their part, the entries in the product and spatial design categories were judged by Ester Pujol, founding partner of Nahtrang; Ander Lizaso, a product designer and founder of Ander Lizaso Studio; and Tomás Alía, founder of the Caramba studio, an interior designer and architect internationally recognized for his work promoting design and craftsmanship.

During its deliberations, the jury particularly highlighted the high quality of the entries and the growing trend that positions design as a key factor in addressing contemporary challenges, especially in areas such as sustainability, innovation, accessibility, and social impact.

A call to action built on partnerships

The 2026 ADCV Awards are supported by the Generalitat Valenciana, the Cultural Action Department of the Valencia City Council, and Valencia Innovation Capital, and are sponsored by the furniture company Inclass. Collaborating on this edition are the printing services firm Mundo Gráfico, as an “enthusiast partner”; Cerveza Turia, as the official beer; and the international packaging company DS Smith. The printing company Impresum assisted with the publication of the catalog.

On the international stage, the ADCV has strengthened its partnership with the iF Design Awards, ensuring that finalist and award-winning projects gain access to this leading competition under favorable terms, thereby promoting the international visibility of design from the Valencian Community.

In addition, the 2026 ADCV Awards have been supported by the Spanish Network of Design Associations (READ); the Association of Interior Designers of the Valencian Community (CDICV); the Association of Valencian Illustration Professionals (APIV); the Official Association of Advertising and Public Relations Professionals of the Valencian Community; the Association of Advertising Communication Companies of the Valencian Community (ComunitAD); the Association of Designers and Creatives of Castellón, La Exprimidora; CulturPlaza (Valencia Plaza); DXI Magazine; Noticias CV; and Valencia Extra.