The 2026 GC&DC Awards competition briefs are now live
You can submit your entries to the ‘Oscars of the jewellery world’ from November
By Amy Wakeham
‘Blue Moon’ Earrings by Roxanne Gilbert
Every year the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council (GC&DC) Awards recognise and reward outstanding craftsmanship across silversmithing, goldsmithing, jewellery and the allied crafts in the UK.
Briefs for the GC&DC Awards 2026 are now available to view. They include 32 categories across 2D design and 3D craft and design, plus seven special awards, four bursaries, three Major Awards and four Premier Awards, as well as the College Trophy.
The awards have 65 sponsors, including the Royal Mint, Boodles and Cartier.
The 2025 winners include Alexandra Raphael, who won the Jacques Cartier Memorial Award with her ‘Honest Bowl’, which, according to the GD&DC, demonstrated an “exceptional command of colour, composition, and artistry”.
‘Honest Bowl’ by Alexandra Raphael
The striking ‘Vase & Clock’ won gold in two categories: in the Silversmiths' Craft - Junior section, for Luke Potts, and in the Polishers - Senior section for Chris Longstaff.
And the ‘Sol’ ring by Yu Kwan Chin was awarded gold in the Polishers - Senior section. Roxanne Gilbert received a Bronze Award in the Mixed Metals & Patina section for her Blue Moon Earrings, made from 460 individually forged titanium petals. Alysha Strong, meanwhile, won the Silver Award in the Setters - Junior section for her beautiful Dragonfly Brooch.
‘Sol’ ring by Yu Kwan Chin
Entrants can be at any stage in their career, from hobbyist to student to working professional; the only criteria is that the work entered must have been completed between January 2025 and January 2026, and designed and/or made in the UK.
‘Dragonfly’ Brooch by Alysha Strong
“As we look ahead to 2026, the GC&DC remains steadfast in its mission to champion innovation, exceptional design and technical excellence,” says John Ball, chair of GC&DC.
“This competition provides a platform for outstanding craftsmanship — a space where creativity and precision unite to celebrate the very best in jewellery, silversmithing and the allied crafts.
‘Vase & Clock’ by Luke Potts and Chris Longstaff
“Whether you’re an emerging talent or an established maker, the GC&DC Awards offer a chance to showcase your skill, experiment with new techniques and push the boundaries of design and making. We can’t wait to see the extraordinary work that 2026 will bring.”
The GC&DC’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) 2026 is also now open for nominations. This prize recognises someone who has shown exceptional skill and dedication in their work, and who has helped to preserve, share, and champion the knowledge, techniques, and high standards of British craftsmanship and design.
The LAA was won in 2025 by Gay Penfold, the chair of the British Jewellery and Giftware Benevolent Society and the former manager of the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre at Birmingham City University.
LAA winners receive a medal, engraved with their name, that reflects their lasting legacy in the world of jewellery making, goldsmithing, silversmithing, or the allied trades. The medal is crafted by Thomas Fattorini, which also sponsors the award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 medal, received by Gay Penfold
Online entries for the GC&DC Awards 2026 will open in November 2025, while nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award are now open. The award ceremony will be held at The Merchant Taylor’s Hall on 9th March, 2026. You can enter the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards at craftanddesigncouncil.org.uk/competition-2026
GC&DC 2026 Key Dates
11th January - Online entry deadline for all entries
13th-14th January - Entry submission days at Goldsmiths’ Centre, London
9th March - Awards Ceremony at The Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London
23rd-27th March - Exhibition of winning designs at Birmingham Assay Office
1st July to 10th September - Exhibition at The Goldsmiths’ Centre, London