The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council’s Awards Exhibition 2026 Lands at the Goldsmiths’ Centre

09 Jun 2026

The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council’s (GC&DC) 2026 Awards Exhibition opens at the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell, London, on July 2nd 2026, showcasing a curated selection of winning entries from this year’s GC&DC awards – the UK’s most prestigious accolades for jewellery, silversmithing, and the allied crafts.

Running from early July until September 10th 2026, this free-to-view exhibition is supported by The Goldsmiths' Foundation, and highlights, promotes and celebrates high-quality craft skills and creative design from across the UK. 

Visitors can discover an array of work from emerging and established designers, craftspeople, and innovators working in the UK trade.

For 2026, the GC&DC Awards comprised 46 categories in both 2D design and 3D craft and design categories. In total, there were 837 entries received for this edition of the awards, with a total of 67 Gold awards given. This year’s competition was generously supported by 60 patrons and sponsors.

Spanning both 2D and 3D disciplines, each submission was assessed by an independent panel of industry specialists, who judged the work for its originality, technical excellence, design flair and craftsmanship. The result is a compelling showcase of the skill and creativity thriving within the jewellery, silversmithing and allied trades.

Among the 60 works on show will be the Downy Feather Brooch by Janet Barber, recipient of the 2026 Goldsmiths’ Company Award for exceptional and outstanding design. Crafted from titanium, mother-of-pearl, and diamonds, the brooch won the award for its original design, combination of techniques and processes, and fine craftsmanship that left our judges ‘spellbound.’ 

Also on display will be Florid Scrolls, this year’s Junior Award-winning work by Annabel Hood - an elegant and highly complex hand-engraved piece crafted on steel, with a delicate silver-inlaid monogram. The piece was produced as part of Annabel’s gun engraving apprenticeship, and also won Gold in the Junior engravers section.

Other winning entries that visitors can discover include Caitlin Murphy’s Alpha Box, made with Niobium and rose gold, Dan Voaden’s Candy Cane Coral ring set with shimmering, sea-green opals, Jessica Jue and Angela Cork’s collaborative Emberstone Vessel, and Seongmin Kim’s carved pearl Harmony necklace. 

Elsewhere, visitors can get a closer look at 2D Award-winning work spanning several design briefs, including the 2D Hand Rendering Award-winning design, The King’s Assay Master’s Pyxis Jewel by Janet Weller FIPG. From our 2D Medals section, the Princeps design by Sally Costen; her homage to the late Ozzy Osbourne.

GC&DC Chair John Ball explains,

“Reflecting on the 2026 Awards, this year's exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the technical and creative innovation driving our industry forward. It has been incredibly rewarding to see the expanding reach of the competition, especially with so many brilliant new names entering the fold this year. Whether looking at inspirational apprentice submissions or the sophisticated craftsmanship of seasoned professionals, the sheer quality on display champions the GC&DC’s core mission: to encourage, stimulate, and promote excellence. We hope every visitor leaves inspired to channel these values into their own creative practice.”

The annual Craftsmanship and Design Awards are open to all in the jewellery, silversmithing and allied trades, including craftpersons and designers, apprentices, students and hobbyists. It is also completely free to enter.

The exhibition at the Goldsmiths’ Centre is open from 9am-6pm Monday – Friday, and will run from July 2nd to 10th September 2026. For more information, visit the Goldsmiths’ Centre website.

In addition to the exhibition, on the afternoon of July 7th, emerging makers are invited to book a slot to take part in our Jewellery Feedback Session: Refining Your Finish with GC&DC, hosted at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, where they can receive hands-on expert advice on their craft, presentation, and finishing of 3D work. 

On the evening of July 14th, the GC&DC, in partnership with the Goldsmiths’ Centre and The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, will host an online talk titled Techniques in Focus: Working with Wire. The session will feature goldsmith and award-winning jeweller Jean Scott-Moncrieff, who will share stories of her work and reveal the breadth of potential that wire offers to craftspersons.

View GC&DC

Source: GC&DC