3 December 2026 Table bookings open

Car Design News People Awards 2026

Book a table

ENTRIES NOW CLOSED
SHORTLIST ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON
BOOK A TABLE

ENTRIES NOW CLOSED
SHORTLIST ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON
BOOK A TABLE

The CDN People Awards return in 2026, inviting the global car design community to come together for one of the most influential and talked-about events in the industry calendar. Whether you are a student, designer, supplier, OEM, or industry leader, there are multiple ways to get involved and be part of this standout celebration.

Recognised as Best New Awards Event of the Year by the Awards Awards 2025, the CDN People Awards are widely regarded as “the Oscars of the car design community”- an awards programme that champions the people, ideas, and creativity driving the future of car design. Supported by world-class judges and a rigorous, fair, and transparent judging process, the programme concludes with a black-tie awards ceremony each December, bringing together every corner of the car design industry for a truly memorable end-of-year celebration.

Key dates
Entries Open: 10 February 2026
Entry Deadline Extension: 7 August 2026
Shortlist Announced: September 2026
Awards Night: 3 December 2026

Got a question?
Please contact us at peopleawards@cardesignnews.com

Be part of the CDN People Awards

NOMINATE YOUR TEAMS

Apply for this years awards by submitting an application highlighting your team’s exceptional talent, innovation. There are a range of diverse categories - designed to be inclusive of the global car design community.

ALIGN YOUR BRAND

Align your brand with excellence, creativity, and the industry’s most respected names, while gaining high-profile visibility before, during, and after the awards. Find out more about the packages available.

CELEBRATE WITH THE INDUSTRY

Host clients and teams by securing a table at one of the most prestigious nights in the car design calendar. Enjoy an unforgettable evening of networking, inspiration, and celebration alongside OEMs, suppliers, and emerging talent.

Dr Chris Thorpe, Royal College of Art

head of programme, Intelligent Mobility Design Centre

Thank you for another excellent awards ceremony. It was as always a great opportunity to reconnect with our friends and colleagues in the industry.

Darren Day, Bentley Motors

head of interior design

Each year the event gets better and better. With very few motor shows being held there are fewer opportunities for us all working in the car design industry to catch up and network so thanks to you all at CDN for such a great evening

Klaus Zyciora, Changan Automobile

vice president, general manager of Changan global design center

Great to be part of this celebration of the greatest talents in automotive design!

Genevieve Boaler, Ultrafabrics

senior manager, marketing, branding

It has become one of the most anticipated events of the year

Gilles Vidal, Renault

design vice president

It's a very meaningful for us. It's judged by professionals of car design, so people who understand fully what it is about to design a car in the modern world.

Ed Welburn

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2023

I can’t thank you enough for this wonderful award. And the event was AMAZING! I am telling everyone that it is by far the most high energy, professional presented, celebration of car design in the world. . . PERIOD.

Ian Kettle, Tesla

senior vehicle design manager

It is nice that the years of pushing the boundaries that Tesla has done is recognised by our peers.

Edward Johnson, Royal College of Art

Student

It's hard to get your name out there, get your profile out. So this is just best possible thing I can think of to do that.

Jeff Hammoud, Rivian Automotive

chief design officer

It really is about highlighting the team and highlighting the people, which we don't often get to do, especially in the automotive industry, it's usually just the top design leader that's there speaking to the product.