ENR Selected 32 Construction Projects for Global Awards
Construction firms can benchmark their safety and innovation against these international award winners.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Construction
Live Poll
Should governments prioritize infrastructure projects based primarily on innovation and safety performance?
Engineering News-Record chose 32 infrastructure and building projects as Global Best Projects winners from a pool of 111 international submissions. These projects were completed between January 2025 and May 2026 across 21 countries.
Why it matters
The competition highlights high-performing design and construction standards, offering operators a practical look at successful safety protocols and innovation in complex international markets.
The competition identified 32 winning projects from 111 entries across 21 countries. All selected projects were completed between January 2025 and May 2026, with the field representing every continent except Antarctica.
The players
Engineering News-Record
An industry publication that provides news, data, and analysis for the global construction and engineering sector.
The details
Industry veterans evaluated project entries based on innovation, teamwork, and overall construction excellence. Projects were disqualified from consideration if they reported any construction-related fatalities, establishing safety performance as a mandatory baseline. The judges further distinguished top selections by naming them either Global Best Projects or Award of Merit winners.
Timeline
January 2025 to May 2026: Window for project completion eligibility.
December 14, 2026: Special ENR issue to announce the Global Project of the Year.
December 17, 2026: Date of the virtual awards ceremony.
Market Landscape
This selection follows the established pattern of the ENR Global Best Projects awards, which serves as a recurring benchmark for excellence in international infrastructure. The inclusion of projects from 21 countries reflects a broader trend of cross-border collaborative engineering.
Operators should review the upcoming list of winners to identify new innovations and safety management techniques used in major international projects. Benchmarking your own firm against these standards can provide actionable insights for your next bidding cycle.
The takeaway
Recognized projects underscore the necessity of safety-first operations, as any fatal incident automatically disqualified entries from consideration. Monitor the December 14 publication for the Global Project of the Year announcement to evaluate industry-leading design and execution strategies.
What happens next
ENR will name the Global Project of the Year in its December 14, 2026, issue and host a virtual awards ceremony on December 17, 2026.
Further reading
For broader insights into industry standards, visit the Construction section.
More information
View the complete list of honorees and event details on the Global Best Projects awards presentation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine.
Live Poll
Should governments prioritize infrastructure projects based primarily on innovation and safety performance?
