Master Builders names Top 100 homes for 2026 awards
Thu, 20th Aug 2026 (Today)
Master Builders has announced the Top 100 homes in the 2026 House of the Year competition, selected from more than 250 entries across seven regions in New Zealand.
The homes advanced through regional competitions and will now move to a second round of judging by a national panel. The programme recognises residential building work by Master Builders members across a range of home types, from small urban projects to larger architectural houses.
Judges assessed each project through on-site inspections, examining workmanship, design integrity, aesthetic quality and liveability.
The competition has run for more than 30 years and remains one of the country's best-known residential building awards. It covers both new homes and renovation work, with top prizes split across homes above and below the AUD $1 million mark, as well as a national renovation award.
Master Builders Chief Executive Officer Ankit Sharma said the latest group of homes reflected the breadth of building work underway in the market.
"House of the Year has celebrated excellence in residential building for more than 30 years, and each year gives us the opportunity to recognise not only outstanding homes, but the talented teams behind them and the trust between homeowners and builders.
"This year's Top 100 homes reflect the confidence and care being demonstrated across a wide range of homes and price points. What stands out is the consistency of the work and the commitment our members bring to every build.
"These homes showcase the leadership of Master Builders across the sector and the role our members are playing in shaping the future of residential building in New Zealand," Sharma said.
Judging process
The Top 100 represent the strongest entrants from regional rounds held in July and August. National judges will now review the shortlisted homes to determine the main award winners.
The competition includes three supreme honours: National Supreme House of the Year over AUD $1 million, National Supreme Renovation of the Year, and National Supreme House of the Year under AUD $1 million. Alongside those prizes, 15 national category winners will be named.
Additional awards cover specialist areas of residential construction and design, including a national trade craftsmanship prize and six lifestyle awards spanning sustainability, smart home features, interior design, bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor living.
The spread of entries points to a broad national pipeline of residential work despite uneven conditions in the building sector in recent years. By drawing finalists from seven regions, the awards also offer a snapshot of how design preferences and construction standards are converging across the country.
For builders, inclusion in the Top 100 can carry commercial weight because the competition is closely watched by homeowners, subcontractors and suppliers. For the wider industry, the shortlist offers a public benchmark for workmanship and finish at a time when cost pressures and labour constraints remain central concerns in housing delivery.
That mix of market visibility and peer assessment helps explain why the programme attracts a large field each year. With more than 250 projects entered this time, judges compared homes across a wide span of scales, budgets and design approaches while applying the same on-site review process to each build.
The awards are supported by industry sponsors including Altus Window Systems, Bunnings Trade, GIB, Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, Mitre 10 Trade, PDL by Schneider Electric, Plumbing World, Resene and APL Window Solutions.
The final awards will determine which of the shortlisted homes sets the national benchmark in the main categories after the second round of judging.