The 2026 DAME Design Awards has nominated 74 marine products, the largest shortlist in 23 years, after receiving a record 153 entries from 30 countries.
The winners will be announced at the Metstrade Official Opening on 17 November at RAI Amsterdam. All nominated products will be displayed in the DAME showcase in the Elicium, Hall 13.
An 11-member international jury assessed the submissions online before completing two days of hands-on evaluation in Amsterdam. The panel included guest juror Toby Hodges, Yachting World test editor, and student juror Leonie von Baeyer of Deggendorf Institute of Technology.
Jury chair Andre Hoek said the breadth and quality of entries made selection challenging.
“The level of design and development required to achieve nomination rose,” he said, adding that the products reflected priorities including sustainability, electrification, automation, artificial intelligence and connected systems.
Sustainability training
Hoek also highlighted entries that improved long-established items of marine equipment. “The hunger to improve the design of everything we rely on to ultimately create brilliant experiences afloat is vital for the marine industry today,” he said.
All nominated companies will be offered free fast-track sustainability training on 16 November through the Marine Impact Lab, co-hosted by The Sustainability Toolbox and MarineShift 360.
Metstrade exhibition manager Tessa Meijer said participation had risen again for the awards’ 35th anniversary. The event will also introduce a hall of fame featuring all 35 overall winners from 1991 to 2025.
Category winners will be considered for the overall award. The jury may also present Special Mentions and an Environmental Design Award. Entry fees will be donated to the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution.
A 35th-anniversary panel, ‘Great design is more than skin deep’, will take place at the Metstrade Theatre at 11am on 17 November.
