The 60th Japan Sign Design Award
Application Information
Please be sure to download and read the Application Information.
Deadline for Application
Friday, May 29, 2026 24:00 JST
Sponsor
Supporting Organizations (scheduled)
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Japan Institute of Design Promotion
The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Nikkei Inc.
Federation of Japan Out-door Advertising Associations
Japan Design Space Association
Nippon Display Federation
Japan Commercial Environmental Design Association
Japan Sign Association
Japanese Technical Organization for Commercial Spaces
Japan Promotional Marketing Institute Inc.
Japan Advertising Federation
Japan Advertisers Association Inc.
Japan Graphic Design Association Inc.
Japan Typography Association
Japan Industrial Design Association
Japan Typograhy Association
(In no particular order)
Annual schedule
*The following is the initial schedule.
Application Period
From Wed, April 1, 2026 to Fri, May 29, Midnight JST
Primary screening
From Fri, June 5, 2026 to Sun, 14 Online assessment
Secondary selection
Fri, June 19, 2026 Scheduled to be held in Tokyo
Preliminary Scoring for Final Judging
From Wed, June 24, 2026 to Wed, July 1 Online assessment
Final Selection, Selection of Special Awards
Sat, July 4, 2026 Scheduled to be held in Tokyo
Regional Design Award Selection
From Fri, July 10, 2026 to Sun, 19
Official announcement of the results
Early September, 2026
Award Ceremony
Fri, December 4, 2026 Scheduled to be held in Tokyo
Publication on the SDA website
Early December, 2026
Publication in the Yearbook and Panel Exhibition Tour
From December 2026
Eligibility for Application
Signs completed in the year from May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026.
Awards
Japan Sign Design Award Grand Prize – Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (Provisional): 1 winner (Certificate and trophy)
Japan Sign Design Award Gold Prize: 4 winners (Certificate and trophy)
Japan Sign Design Award Silver Prize: 15 winners (Certificate and trophy)
Japan Sign Design Award Bronze Prize: 30 winners (Certificate)
Japan Sign Design Award Finalists: 100 winners (Certificate)
Japan Sign Design Award Commissioned Jury Prize: One winner each selected by commissioned jury (Certificate and trophy)
Japan Sign Design Award SDA Jury Prize: One winner each selected by commissioned jury (Certificate and trophy)
Japan Sign Design Regional Design Award: Up to 5 entries per region (Certificate)
* Number of the Grand Prize, Gold Prize, Silver Prize, Bronze Prize and selected entries will be determined by the final judging panel.
Japan Sign Design Award Contribution Award – Chairman of Japan Institute of Design Promotion Award: maximum 2 winners (Certificate)
Japan Sign Design Award Contribution Platinum Award : a few winners (Certificate)
* The Special Award is presented to organisations or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion and awareness of sign design, following a selection process conducted by members of the Japan Sign Design Association.