Entries are now open for the 26th edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, with watch brands invited to submit 2026 candidates through the GPHG digital platform until 19 June 2026.
The Geneva awards remain one of watchmaking’s most visible annual stages, bringing together independent makers, major groups, specialist artisans and established maisons under a single competitive framework.
A 2026 entry window running until June
The process has already begun inside the GPHG Academy, whose roughly 1,000 members have proposed several hundred watches for consideration this year.
Brands may formally enter those Academy-proposed models, or they may choose other eligible timepieces from their current work.
The first major public milestone arrives on 1 September, when the 84 nominated watches will be announced following the Academy’s initial vote over the summer.
Gender categories make way for a new structure
The 2026 rules bring a notable change to the shape of the competition, with the former gender-based categories replaced by Essential Watch, Complication Watch and Gemset Watch categories.
It is a sensible adjustment for a contemporary awards platform, reflecting how collectors increasingly judge watches by design intent, technical content and craft rather than by labels such as men’s or women’s.
The Iconic Watch Prize has also been broadened and may now consider all eligible watches, including pieces not formally entered in the competition.
The Special Jury Prize has been expanded too, allowing recognition of a brand, whether entered or not, for a significant contribution to watchmaking, alongside the existing ability to honour individuals and institutions.
Jury evaluation under Wei Koh
The 84 shortlisted watches will be examined physically by the Jury in Geneva a few days before the ceremony, in a closed-door process conducted under notarial supervision.
This year’s Jury is chaired by Wei Koh, with the final results determined through a combination of Jury voting and the Academy’s second electronic ballot.
That dual voting structure gives the awards both expert handling and broad industry perspective, which is part of why a GPHG nomination can carry meaningful weight for a watch beyond the ceremony itself.
The November ceremony returns to Geneva
The 26th GPHG awards ceremony will take place on Saturday 7 November 2026 at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva.
One-of-a-kind creations are now accepted only in the Jewellery and Mechanical Clock categories, a detail that should make the main wristwatch categories easier to compare across production-oriented entries.
Founded in 2001 and overseen since 2011 by a public-interest foundation, the GPHG has spent more than 25 years positioning itself as a global showcase for watchmaking excellence.
For brands, the next few weeks are about choosing the watch that best represents the year; for collectors, the September shortlist will offer one of the clearest snapshots of where contemporary watchmaking is heading in 2026.
