Steel Awards 2026

Steel Awards 2025

Reflecting on 2025. Browse through the innovations and excellence that defined last year’s awards.

Upcoming Events

Never Miss a Moment. Stay connected with the steel industry. Browse our complete event schedule and secure your spot at our next gathering.

Introduction

70 years of legacy still going strong.

In 2026, the SAISC celebrates 70 years of advancing steel construction in Southern Africa. This milestone will form the foundation of the Steel Awards 2026 — bringing together seven decades of industry history with the exceptional projects, people and companies shaping steel construction today and into the future.

The Steel Awards remains the SAISC’s flagship celebration of excellence in the use of steel. This year, the experience will place the nominated projects at its heart, showcasing the technical expertise, innovation, quality and collaboration behind some of the industry’s outstanding work.

Guests can expect an immersive celebration of the SAISC’s journey from 1956 to 2026, while looking ahead to the next generation of steel construction.

Event details

Date

Thursday, 29 October 2026

Time

17:30 – 22:00

Venue

Centre Court, Emperors Palace

Dress Code

Black Tie Through the Eras

In celebration of 70 years of the SAISC, we invite guests to interpret black-tie elegance through any era from 1956 to the present, or into the future.

Choose an era, incorporate a subtle period detail, or simply attend in timeless traditional black tie.
From classic 1950s glamour and sophisticated 1970s tailoring to contemporary formalwear or a steel-inspired vision of the future, guests are encouraged to make the interpretation their own.

Elegant interpretation is encouraged. Fancy dress is not required.

Traditional black tie is entirely appropriate, and guests are not expected to hire or purchase costumes. The interpretation can be as subtle or as bold as you choose.

Black, midnight blue, platinum, silver and metallic accents are encouraged in keeping with the Steel Awards 2026 aesthetic, although guests are welcome to select colours appropriate to their chosen era.

Join us as we recognise the legacy that built our industry, celebrate the excellence being achieved today, and look towards the future of steel construction.

Please note that nominations for 2026 are now closed. Project nominations for 2027 open

November 2026

Submit a Nomination

The SAISC Steel Awards 2026 celebrate excellence, innovation and technical achievement in the use of steel across the built environment. The Awards provide a prestigious platform to showcase outstanding projects, recognise collaboration across the value chain, and promote steel as the material of choice in construction.

Book a table or seat

The SAISC Steel Awards is the premier event for the steel construction industry, bringing together professionals from across Southern Africa on 29 October 2026 at Centre Court, Emperors Palace to celebrate excellence, recognise outstanding achievements and mark the SAISC’s 70th anniversary, while providing an opportunity to connect with the people and organisations shaping the future of the industry.

Meet the Judges

Judging for the Steel Awards is not ceremonial. It is a rigorous professional responsibility that shapes industry standards, recognises genuine achievement and reinforces a culture of technical and ethical excellence. Judges are respected practitioners who understand how steel performs in practice, within design environments, fabrication facilities, construction sites and complex project delivery contexts.

See all Sponsors

The Steel Awards is the premier event on the Southern African steel construction calendar, celebrating excellence, innovation and technical achievement across the industry. As a sponsor, your brand is showcased to a highly targeted audience of industry leaders, decision-makers and project teams, with sustained visibility before, during and after the Awards.

FAQ section

Do I need to be a SAISC member to enter?

No. Both SAISC members and non-members may enter the Steel Awards. However, SAISC members qualify for a discounted entry fee.

Projects must have been completed between 2024 and 2025 and should demonstrate excellence in steel design, fabrication, construction, innovation, sustainability, or architectural expression.

Any authorised project stakeholder may nominate a project, including fabricators, engineers, architects, developers, contractors, or clients, provided they have approval from the project team.
Only one nominator per project is permitted, although a nominator may submit multiple projects.

The nominator is responsible for coordinating and submitting all required project information, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to deadlines.

The quality of the information submitted directly affects how the project is judged and whether it progresses. Judges rely solely on the submitted material to make a fair assessment.

Yes. All nominated projects must participate in a recorded project team interview (Phase 2).
These interviews form part of the judging process and are also used for marketing and publication purposes.

Yes. Selected shortlisted or finalist projects may be chosen for site visits and close-up inspections. The nominator is responsible for coordinating the site visit with the SAISC team, including:

  • Site access and permissions
  • A project representative on site
  • Access to inspect steelwork
  • Permission to capture video and photographic footage

Incomplete, poor-quality, or late submissions may negatively affect the project’s evaluation or result in disqualification. It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure all information and payments are received by the published deadlines.

Yes. No nomination will be judged unless full payment has been received by the due date.
Invoices are issued after submission, and EFT payment is preferred. Proof of payment must be submitted to the SAISC team. Payment & invoicing queries: elrika@saisc.co.za

Nomination process & submissions:
Liezel Weber – steelawards@saisc.co.za

Sponsorship opportunities:
Liezel Weber – liezel@saisc.co.za

Event queries, bookings:
Liezel Weber – liezel@saisc.co.za

Invoice / payments:
Elrika Boshoff – elrika@saisc.co.za