Light Justice NOW 2026!

Presented by designing lighting (dl) magazine and Light Justice

An award that celebrates beneficial lighting design for underserved communities.

Light Justice NOW recognizes exceptional achievement in lighting design and implementation that positively benefits and measurably impacts the visual environment for an underserved, marginalized community and/or its occupants. The program, started in 2025, is collaboratively administered by designing lighting (dl) magazine and Light Justice.

Beyond exhibiting lighting design creativity and quality, award-winning projects and initiatives demonstrate meaningful stakeholder engagement and responsiveness. The results exemplify and promote quality lighting investments for exterior and/or interior spaces that are typically overlooked and underfunded, such as public parks, public housing, schools, and community centers that serve historically under-resourced, underserved, and vulnerable communities.

SCHEDULE

  • 2 February 2026 - 20 March 2026: Application portal open for submissions

  • 1 - 30 April 2026: Judging 

  • 11 - 16 May 2026: Awardees notified

  • 13 - 15 August 2026: Awards presented at IES26 THE LIGHTING CONFERENCE in Denver, CO, USA

Project Award

This is for a built lighting installation completed within the last three years. The project may be for exterior and/or interior lighting.

Submitted by a practicing lighting professional (lighting designer, sales representative, lighting contractors, or others).

The electronic submission to the Light Justice NOW application portal must include:

A PDF file (10 MB max) created using our downloadable PPT template (available February 2) that must contain:

    • at least 5 but no more than 10 images with short captions.

    • a project narrative with minimum 500 words to maximum 1,000 words, addressing:

      • Project objectives and challenges

      • Methods for engaging stakeholders

      • Strategies for optimizing visual comfort, daylighting, and views

      • Tactics for handling budgetary and other constraints

      • Techniques for addressing safety, security, affordability, and maintainability concerns

      • Outcomes that demonstrate the achievement of project goals and community benefits.

Criteria and Submission Requirements

Initiative Award

This is for a lighting improvement program or initiative begun within the last three years.

Submitted by a practicing lighting professional, community organizer, non-profit or governmental agency.

The electronic submission to the Light Justice NOW application portal must include:

A PDF file (10 MB max) created using this downloadable PPT template (available February 2) that must contain:

    • Optional images with short captions, no more than 10.

    • a project narrative with minimum 500 words to maximum 1,000 words, addressing:

      • Program objectives and challenges

      • Methods for engaging stakeholders

      • Tactics for handling budgetary and other constraints

      • Techniques for addressing safety, security, affordability, and maintainability concerns

      • Outcomes that demonstrate the achievement of project goals and community benefits.

Apply for Light Justice NOW 2026

Contact ljnow@lightjustice.org with questions.

APPLICATIONS OPEN ON

2 FEBRUARY 2026!

Judging Criteria

The judging committee will consist of 5 experienced, qualified judges selected by the program administrators. The committee will include at least one Light Justice advocate and at least one previous Light Justice NOW award winner.

Submissions will be judged for:

    1. Clarity of the narrative and graphics to communicate intent, methods, and outcomes.

    2. Evidence of stakeholder engagement and involvement. 

    3. Explanation of project challenges and constraints successfully addressed by the approach and results.

    4. Demonstration of investment in visual comfort, lighting quality, maintainability, access to daylight and views, prioritization of back-of-house spaces, and other aspects that improve the visual experience for under-served, under-resourced communities.

    5. Strength of stakeholder testimonials, community bulletins, local media articles, or other success indicators.

    6. Bonus consideration for:

      1. Using Light Justice strategies of engagement, co-education, empowerment, and deployment. 

      2. Boosting community economic value.

      3. Deploying a marketing strategy (placard, website, etc.) for the community to showcase this lighting improvement or project initiative as civic pride and placemaking, with the community participating in the design process.

Photo Permissions:

If recognized with an award, a photo release form will need to be provided that grants grant the EdisonReport Media Network and Light Justice its affiliates, representatives, and licensees, the non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual right to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, and publicly display the submitted images for promotional editorial, educational, and marketing purposes in connection with the Light Justice NOW Awards. This includes, but is not limited to: Digital and print publications, Websites and social media platforms, Press releases and media coverage, Event presentations and promotional materials