16 May 2026
On this wonderful UNESCO International Day of Light, we are delighted and honoured to announce The Daylight Award 2026 laureates in the categories “Daylight in Architecture” and “Daylight Research”:
The Daylight Award for Daylight Research is awarded to microbiologists Brittany N. Zepernick, Steven W. Wilhelm and R. Michael McKay for their key insights into the role of daylight in photosynthetic algae in a changing climate.
According to The Daylight Award jury, the research of Zepernick, Wilhelm and McKay makes a changing underwater light world visible. It also invites for broader public narratives about daylight. Winter is not a dormant season in the lake, microbes have daily rhythms and their work suggests more than one way to use daylight.
Discover the Research laureates and step into their world through the dedicated feature on The Daylight Award website and our portrait film:
The Daylight Award for Daylight in Architecture is awarded to Momoyo Kaijima and Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, founders of the architectural firm Atelier Bow-Wow, which they run together with their partner Yoichi Tamai.
The Daylight Award jury found their work to be a careful discovery of daylight under constraint. In dense cities, they show that good daylight may arrive indirectly, through reflection, borrowed sky, filtered eaves, narrow gaps, seasonal courtyards and windows that respond to their surroundings. The essential factor is the use of buildings, their vital relationship with daylight and weather, and their connection with inhabitants.
Discover the Architecture laureates and step into their world through the dedicated feature on The Daylight Award website and our portrait film:
The Daylight Award honors and supports research in the scientific understanding of daylight and its significance for health, wellbeing and a balanced ecosystem, as well as its experiential and mental value in architectural design. The intention is to underline the collaboration of disciplines that are usually considered as separate professional realms of expertise. The award strives to raise an integrated understanding of daylight in human life and the wider ecosystem, and to strengthen its positive impact.
The Daylight Award is presented by the Daylight Academy, an international membership organisation initiated by the Velux Stiftung, which brings together scientists from all backgrounds, as well as architects, engineers and other professionals who are involved in daylight research or have a strong interest in daylight related topics.
Read the full press release here.