WTM London 2026 Stand Awards: Winners Announced

Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi and Egypt were among the regional winners, while Andalucia received WTM London’s first award dedicated specifically to stand accessibility.

The WTM London 2026 Stand Awards have recognised destinations and travel companies for exhibition design, business functionality, visitor engagement and accessibility at this year’s event at ExCeL London.

Regional awards went to Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi and Egypt, while RateHawk took the Travel Solutions category and Mamma Mia! The Party won for Experiences. India was named Best Stand for Doing Business, Egypt received the Best Activation award, and Andalucia became the first recipient of WTM London’s new accessibility-focused stand award.

WTM London 2026 Stand Awards: Regional Winners

Competition was particularly close in the European section, where Uzbekistan was selected as the overall winner. Judges highlighted its use of regional materials, including local wood, alongside audiovisual displays and areas designed for meetings.

Spain and Morocco were both highly commended in the Europe category.

In Asia, Indonesia received the regional award. One of the stand’s defining elements was a textile installation combining hand-stitched fish with a knitted coral reef, created by local craftspeople over a period of more than four months. The design used craft alongside destination imagery and an open floor plan. India and China received highly commended recognition.

Abu Dhabi won the Middle East category. Judges pointed to the consistency of the design, its arrangement for meetings and entertainment, and the use of large screens to communicate destination content.

The Africa award went to Egypt, whose presentation combined references to the country’s archaeological heritage with contemporary digital displays. The judges also noted the layout, designed to make individual exhibitors easy for buyers to identify.

RateHawk and Mamma Mia! The Party Take Sector Awards

In the Travel Solutions category, covering technology, accommodation and transportation companies, RateHawk was selected as the winner.

Its angular stand architecture, digital components and use of the available footprint were among the features highlighted by the judging panel. Juniper Travel Technology was highly commended.

For Experiences, the award went to Mamma Mia! The Party, created by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. Its stand recreated elements of a Greek island setting, using physical design to communicate the concept of the entertainment production to visitors walking through the exhibition.

India Named Best Stand for Doing Business

The Best Stand for Doing Business award went to India.

Here, the judges focused less on visual spectacle and more on how the stand functioned as a working environment. Clearly differentiated meeting areas and the positioning of participating exhibitors made it easier for buyers to navigate the space and conduct scheduled conversations.

Spain and Greece received highly commended recognition in the category.

The award reflects an important consideration for large travel exhibitions: stand design has to support commercial activity as well as communicate a destination or company identity.

Egypt Wins Best Activation

Egypt received a second award of the 2026 event, taking Best Activation.

The stand incorporated a museum-style display, replica antiquities and a 360-degree room using floor-to-ceiling audiovisual content showing Egyptian landscapes and attractions.

Judges cited the relationship between physical objects and digital technology as a particular strength of the activation.

Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Italy and Fujairah were all highly commended in the same category.

Andalucia Wins WTM’s First Accessibility Stand Award

One of the most significant additions to the WTM London Stand Awards in 2026 was the inaugural Best Stand for Accessibility award.

The first winner was Andalucia, recognised for practical design decisions including flat access, different seating options, a ramp to the speaking stage and a sloped stand edge.

Guest judge Dr Shani Dhanda, an accessibility consultant, noted that these elements made the stand more inclusive for both visitors and people working within the space.

Abu Dhabi was highly commended in the accessibility category.

The award was introduced in the same year that Spain became WTM London’s first accessibility partner.

Jonathan Heastie, portfolio director for RX and head of the judging panel, said the new category was intended to encourage exhibitors to consider different access requirements as part of the initial design process rather than as an addition made later.

He also called on exhibitors to continue developing accessible stand environments ahead of the next edition of WTM London.

Stand Design Moves Beyond Visual Impact

The 2026 results show the range of criteria now applied to exhibition design.

Destination identity remained important, particularly in the regional awards, but the judges also considered how effectively stands accommodated meetings, helped visitors navigate participating organisations, incorporated local craftsmanship and addressed different accessibility requirements.

For exhibitors planning future editions of WTM London, this year’s winners provide several practical reference points: regional materials can establish a clear destination identity, digital installations work best when connected to physical design, and meeting areas need to function efficiently during a trade event.

The introduction of a dedicated accessibility category adds another consideration. Andalucia’s award was based on relatively direct interventions — level access, seating choice and an accessible route to the stage — demonstrating how inclusive planning can be incorporated into the stand itself rather than treated as a separate feature.