2026 Chapter Awards Now Open: Celebrating Excellence in Learning Environments
08 Jul 2026
Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) is excited to announce that entries are now open for the 2026 Chapter Awards, celebrating excellence in the planning, design and delivery of innovative learning environments across our Australasian community.
The Chapter Awards recognise outstanding projects at a local level, providing an opportunity to showcase inspiring learning spaces that positively impact learners, educators and communities. The awards celebrate the collaboration between educators, designers, architects, students, organisations and communities in creating environments that support contemporary approaches to teaching and learning.
The core purpose of the Chapter Awards is to highlight the important connection between educational philosophy, learning and the spaces that support them, recognising projects where innovative design ideas successfully respond to the needs of learners and communities.
This year’s program includes participating Chapters from:
- Aotearoa New Zealand
- Queensland
- South Australia + Northern Territory
- Tasmania + Victoria
- Western Australia
Each participating Chapter will run its own awards program, with categories and key dates varying slightly between Chapters.
A chance to celebrate your project locally
If you have previously submitted a project to the Learning Environments Australasia Design (LEAD) Awards and were unsuccessful in receiving a commendation or award, we strongly encourage you to consider entering the Chapter Awards.
A project’s outcome in the LEAD Awards does not determine its success at Chapter level. Many outstanding learning environments deserve recognition within their local community, and the Chapter Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the impact and innovation of projects across our regions.
All eligible projects are encouraged to enter and join LEA in recognising the remarkable work being undertaken across Australasia.
Award categories
While categories may differ between Chapters, awards commonly recognise a broad range of learning environments, including:
- Innovative education initiatives
- New campuses and educational facilities
- New buildings and facilities (large and small)
- Modernisation and refurbishment projects (large and small)
- Small learning environment projects
- Landscape and outdoor learning areas
These categories provide opportunities to celebrate projects of all scales, from major new developments to smaller initiatives that have created meaningful improvements for learners and communities. We look forward to celebrating the exceptional projects and people shaping the future of learning across Australasia.
