True Zero Carbon Challenge 2026 Awards Night

Join the built environment sector for the True Zero Carbon Challenge 2026 Awards, an evening showcasing the next generation of carbon-conscious residential design in Australia.

The event brings together emerging and established professionals across design, sustainability, and building performance to explore how residential projects are responding to energy efficiency, embodied carbon, climate targets, and real-world delivery constraints.

Across the evening, participating teams will present their True Zero Carbon Challenge projects live, followed by the announcement of the 2026 winners.

What to Expect

Project Showcase Presentations

Hear directly from participating teams as they present innovative residential design responses focused on operational energy performance and embodied carbon reduction.

Industry Networking

Connect with designers, architects, assessors, consultants, sustainability professionals, educators, and emerging practitioners from across Australia.

Awards Presentation

Celebrate the leading projects and teams recognised in the True Zero Carbon Challenge 2026.

Three-Course Dinner with free-flowing drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic)

Enjoy a professionally catered evening with free-flowing drinks integrated throughout the formal program.

Program

6:00pm — Doors Open: View projects and networking

6:40pm — Formal Program Begins

7:05pm to 7:50pm — Project Showcase | Block 1

8:10pm to 8:55pm — Project Showcase | Block 2

8:55pm to 9:10pm — Intermission

9:15pm to 9:45pm — Awards Announcement

9:45pm to 11:00pm — Networking

Why Attend?

The True Zero Carbon Challenge provides a national snapshot of where residential design and performance thinking is heading in Australia.

The Awards Night offers a unique opportunity to:

Explore current approaches to true zero carbon residential design
Gain insight into emerging performance strategies and project outcomes
Connect with professionals across architecture, building design, sustainability, and assessment
See how teams are balancing design intent, performance requirements, and delivery realities
Engage with the broader conversation shaping low-carbon housing in Australia

Who Should Attend?

Building designers
Architects
Energy efficiency assessors
Sustainability consultants
Developers
Engineers
Students and emerging practitioners
Built environment professionals interested in low-carbon residential design

Dress code: Elevated evening wear (natural fibres encouraged where possible)

Presented by Design Matters National.

Contact the host of True Zero Carbon Challenge 2026 Awards