The Top 100 homes for the national 2026 Master Builders House of the Year Competition have been announced.
House of the Year shines a light on the country’s best residential builds, celebrating the craftsmanship of Master Builders members at its peak. This year, more than 250 projects ranging from small urban spaces to striking architectural homes were entered from seven regions.
Each home faced a rigorous, on-site evaluation by a panel of seasoned judges who drilled into every detail — workmanship, design integrity, aesthetic flair and overall liveability. The result is a perfect showcase of what New Zealand’s best builders can achieve, no matter the challenges.
Master Builders chief executive Ankit Sharma says the Top 100 homes showcase the exceptional craftsmanship, innovation and commitment to quality that define New Zealand’s best residential building.
“House of the Year has celebrated excellence in residential building for more than 30 years, and each year gives us the opportunity to recognise not only outstanding homes, but the talented teams behind them and the trust between homeowners and builders,” Sharma says.
“This year’s Top 100 homes reflect the confidence and care being demonstrated across a wide range of homes and price points. What stands out is the consistency of the work and the commitment our members bring to every build. These homes showcase the leadership of Master Builders across the sector and the role our members are playing in shaping the future of residential building in New Zealand.”
The Top 100 homes, representing the best entrants from this year’s regional competitions held throughout July and August, will undergo a second round of judging by the national judging panel. This process will determine the winners of the top awards at the 2026 National Awards Gala, on November 21 in Auckland.
The gala will honour the National Supreme House of the Year over $1 million, National Supreme Renovation of the Year, and National Supreme House of the Year under $1 million.
In addition to the three Supreme Awards and 15 national category winners, the event will also present the National Mitre 10 Trade Craftsmanship Award, and six National Lifestyle Awards, which include the Environmental and Sustainable Excellence Award, PDL Smart Home Award, Interior Design Excellence Award, Plumbing World Bathroom Excellence Award, Kitchen Excellence Award, and Outdoor Living Excellence Award.
Master Builders House of the Year is made possible thanks to the support of Altus Window Systems, Bunnings Trade, GIB, Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, Mitre 10 Trade, PDL by Schneider Electric, Plumbing World, Resene, and APL Window Solutions.
• View this year’s Top 100 Homes at https://houseoftheyear.co.nz/results/?year=2026.
