35th anniversary DAME Design Awards nominates 74 products 

The 2026 DAME Design Awards international jury comprises 11 leading design and user experts, offering a wide spectrum of knowledge and perspectives covering key leisure marine and superyacht activities. After initial scrutiny of online entries over three weeks, the jury gathered in a purpose-created facility at RAI Amsterdam for hands-on assessment and detailed discussions spanning two intensive days. This year we welcomed a new guest jury member, experienced sailor and Yachting World Test Editor, Toby Hodges. Our guest student jury member for the year is Leonie von Baeyer, who studies technical design at Deggendorf Institute of Technology in Germany.  

From the 153 entries received, the jury named 74 nominated products – the highest number of products shortlisted for 23 years. All 74 will be displayed in the DAME Design Awards showcase at Metstrade, located in the Elicium (Hall 13) right in the heart of the show. To view this year’s nominated products please visit https://www.damedesignawards.com/nominees

Nominee companies awarded access to Marine Impact Lab

New for this year, all DAME Design Awards nominated companies are being invited to free fast track sustainability training on the eve of Metstrade. Participants in the 16 November afternoon programme at RAI Amsterdam, run by the Marine Impact Lab and co-hosted by The Sustainability Toolbox and MarineShift 360, will learn how to better assess, strengthen, and communicate the sustainability value of their products. This invaluable session will include workshops, expert guidance and industry networking.

 Read about the Marine Impact Lab and apply for tickets to access this event yourself here 

Impressive breadth and quality of entries

Commenting on this year’s DAME Design Awards jury chair, Andre Hoek, says: 

“The breadth and quality of submitted products for this 35th anniversary edition provided a stimulating challenge to choose between many close entries. The level of design and development required to achieve nomination rose. Even so, when we counted the results after two long days, we realised it was the highest number of products passed through to the final stages of judging for more than two decades.  

“Due to the high level of entries, the jury room occupied more space than ever before. It was filled with evidence of several strong industry priorities for smart product development, including sustainability, electrification, automation, AI and the networking of all things. It was equally encouraging to see strong entries that had taken an item of equipment, accepted as a norm for many years, and turned it into something much better. The hunger to improve the design of everything we rely on to ultimately create brilliant experiences afloat is vital for the marine industry today. The jury congratulates all entrants for their efforts and thanks Metstrade for its support and organisation of this influential competition since 1991. We look forward to revealing the names of our winners in November.”

 

Metstrade Exhibition Manager, Tessa Meijer adds: 

“Just when we thought we had hit a milestone in terms of DAME participation last year, so we see the numbers rise again for our 35th anniversary. The active participation of so many Metstrade exhibitors in the DAME Design Awards is appreciated by our whole team and we’re very much looking forward to greeting nominees at our Metstrade’s Official Opening on 17 November. We’ll also reveal another first – our impressive DAME Design Awards hall of fame which will featuring all 35 overall winners from 1991-2025 in the main corridor that runs from entrance C up to Hall 13. A high percentage of those successful products, or their closely related replacements, are still exhibited at Metstrade to this day. A testament to the companies who created them and to the DAME in encouraging the whole industry to keep pushing its design efforts over the years.”  

DAME winners to be announced at Official Opening  

The winners of each of the DAME’s eight categories are selected from the nominated products. The overall DAME Design Award winner is then assessed from this exclusive group. The jury will also award a series of Special Mentions (highly commended entries) and, at its discretion, may name an Environmental Design Award winner.

All nominees and the much-anticipated names of the winners will be announced at the Metstrade Official Opening in the Harbour 8 dedicated events facility near entrance F, following a keynote speech by Bruno Thivoyon, Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Beneteau. This event is open to exhibitors, Metstrade Young Professionals, press, VIPs and speakers. Details of nominees and winners will be included within the Jury Report which you’ll find on the DAME Awards website following the announcements – damedesignawards.com.

This year’s DAME Design Awards entry fees will be donated to the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM), one of the world’s oldest and most respected voluntary rescue organisations.

At 11:00 on 17 November the Metstrade Theatre will host a DAME Design Awards 35th anniversary panel on the topic of ‘Great design is more than skin deep’, with participants including past DAME Chair and renowned designer Tony Castro, current jury member Arjen Jansen from TUDelft and the DAME non-voting secretary, Kim Hollamby. 

See metstrade.com/programme for more details.