A Call to Enter
Ceramics of Italy has launched its International Tile Competition, celebrating the skill and creativity of architects and interior designers worldwide
Tucked away in the small town of Sassuolo, Confindustria Ceramica have been representing industrial-level manufacturers of ceramic tiles, tableware and products for almost two decades. Italian ceramics is a sizeable industry after all, with over 260 ceramic-focused companies located throughout the country, and another 16 operating outside the country but Italian-owned.
Representing a key segment of the country’s home design industry, the association hosts two long-standing annual competitions centred on ceramic craft: the 30-year North American Design Competition and the 11-year La Ceramica e il Progetto. But now, for the first time, these events are merging together to form the Ceramics of Italy International Tile Competition.
Italian tile has long been a catalyst for architectural creativity, offering designers a material that is as technically and sustainably advanced as it is expressive
Designed to recognise the best projects featuring Italian ceramic and porcelain tile on a global scale, architects are encouraged to push the boundaries of what the medium can do. Steve Clem, chair of the international jury, notes: “Italian tile has long been a catalyst for architectural creativity, offering designers a material that is as technically and sustainably advanced as it is expressive. Bringing these competitions together into a single international platform allows us to celebrate the remarkable ways architects and designers across the world are pushing the boundaries of how Italian tile can shape spaces, surfaces, and experiences.”
The competition will be split into four categories – residential, commercial, design and new applications, and outdoor – which participants can interpret in their own way. Though the judging process will place particular emphasis on the degree to which Italian tile enhances the project, the amount of ceramic or porcelain tile from Ceramics of Italy member companies used throughout the project, and the project’s sustainable attributes.
Winners will be notified in July and shall be invited to a VIP awards ceremony taking place in Bologna. The deadline for entries is June 5, 2026.
Cersaie, promoted by Confindustria Ceramica with the support of Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, ITA Italian Trade Agency and Opportunitaly business acceleration programme created by ITA
