With judging for the HNA Awards now underway, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the 2026 competition by the numbers.
This year, 135 projects were submitted from across North America, representing 25 different U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.
Collectively, these submitted projects cover an incredible 2,244,844 square feet of hardscaping, from the largest project at 300,000 square feet to the smallest at 220 square feet.
At the HNA Awards, excellence isn’t limited to a particular project size. Whether it’s an intimate backyard space or a massive commercial installation, great hardscape work comes down thoughtful design, quality construction, craftsmanship, and achieving the goals of the project.
One of the most exciting numbers this year comes from a category where age is an advantage.
The Vintage Installation category received its highest number of entries since the category was introduced to the annual awards program.
A well-designed and expertly installed hardscape can remain beautiful, functional, and relevant for decades. The Vintage category gives us an opportunity to celebrate that enduring quality and this year’s record participation shows that contractors and designers have plenty of long-lasting work worth bringing back into the spotlight.
This year also marks a first for the Adhered Thin Veneers – Commercial category. The category was introduced two years ago, but this is the first year we’ve had enough entries to recognize a winner. It reflects the continued growth and evolution of adhered thin veneer applications in commercial projects and the creativity happening in this area of the industry. We’re excited to see where this category goes from here.
Some categories are particularly competitive this year. The two categories that received the most entries are Combination of Hardscape Products – Residential – Size Less than 3,000 SF and Outdoor Living Features – Residential/Commercial.
We’ve assembled a panel of 40 judges who are now reviewing each submission. These judges bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the process and we can’t wait to see which projects rise to the top.
The winners and honorable mentions will be announced at the HNA Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 22 during the 2026 Hardscape North America in Louisville, KY.
Register for HNA today and join us to find out which of this year’s incredible submissions will take home the top honors!
