The 2026 AZ Awards Gala is less than two weeks away, and the anticipation is building. We can’t wait to celebrate with you — so this year, for the first time, we’re kicking off the festivities early with a special pre-gala gathering at Montauk Sofa’s new Toronto showroom! Drop in on May 28 from 4–6 PM for refreshments, light bites and conversation as we raise a glass to this year’s finalists, winners and the industry at large. The pre-party is included with your gala ticket, making it an easy first stop before the celebration begins.

The setting — located just steps from St. Lawrence Market North, where the gala will take place later that evening — feels especially fitting. Known for its understated, meticulously crafted furniture, Montauk recently opened its new Toronto showroom in the King East Design District. The space offers guests an opportunity to explore the brand’s products up close, and to gather in an environment shaped by the same appreciation for materiality and craft that characterizes much of the work recognized by the AZ Awards. In other words, it’s a natural place to connect with fellow members of the architecture and design community.

Of course, the gala itself remains the main event. The evening will unfold against the backdrop of one of Toronto’s newest civic landmarks, animated by a series of design-led activations — from a site-specific installation by RAW Design that reimagines the market’s familiar fruit baskets as an architectural intervention, to a culinary installation by Forna Cultura inspired by The Garden of Earthly Delights. At the centre of it all is the awards ceremony, where this year’s winners will be revealed and the industry’s most compelling work across architecture, interiors, products and urban design will take the spotlight. Equal parts celebration and inspiration, the gala is one of the rare opportunities to connect with the global design community.

If you’ve been meaning to join us, now is the time to secure your ticket — the big night is fast approaching!

The AZ Awards 2026 is presented by Fisher & Paykel. Keilhauer is the EMERGING Category sponsor. Colombo Design America, Jeld-Wen, Scavolini, Vicostone and Landscape Forms are the Gala Sponsors.

Media Partners: ArchDaily, Archilovers, Archinect, Archiproducts, Designboom, The Architect’s Newspaper, Architonic, Bustler, Design Week Mexico, v2com newswire*, and World-Architects.

*v2com will provide one gift-certificate to all 31 winners of 2026 to distribute one Multi press kit (25 images) on v2com newswire; and a 50% Gift-Certificate to all 2026 AZ Award finalists.