What’s Up? Media’s 2026 Home Excellence Awards program will honor elite home builders, architects, designers, and professionals serving the greater Chesapeake Bay region. Home industry professionals and firms may submit their completed projects for evaluation and vetting in 11 award categories. Entries—consisting of a project description and accompanying photographs—will be accepted through the October 31st deadline. There is no limit to the amount of project entries each professional/firm may submit. You will be asked to sign up before submitting.
There are 11 award categories to consider when submitting your project(s). Please choose one category for each entry/project submitted. Each entry will require your name and a written description of the project, introducing our judges and readers to the scope of the project, structural/aesthetic intent, design/build concepts, materials used, special features, permitting, and overall thoughts. We request each entry include a minimum of 4 photographs (maximum 10), of the highest resolution/quality possible, showcasing the project. Please keep the project summary under 200 words. Editors may contact entrant for additional project information. Award winners will be notified shortly after the entry submission period ends.
The Home Excellence Awards will be revealed in the February 2026 issues of What’s Up? Annapolis, What’s Up? Eastern Shore, and March 2026 issue of What’s Up? Central Maryland.
