2026 Moira Gemmill and MJ Long prizes announced by W Awards

The winners of the 2026 W Awards’ Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture and MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice have been announced at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. Formerly known as Women in Architecture, the W Awards are intended to raise the profile of women and non-binary people in architecture.

Pooja Khairnar, founder of PK Inception, received the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture, which recognizes architects under the age of 45 leading their own practices. Based in Nashik, India, PK Inception focuses primarily on projects in rural communities and underserved regions, with much of its work centered on lower-income and tribal populations.

“Pooja Khairnar is a very lucid architect who doesn’t compromise aesthetic, beauty or high-quality design in her architecture,” the jury noted. “Her practice is anchored in local realities and materialities, and driven by a responsibility to address the issues she sees around her.”

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