The race for the Aiguille d'Or has officially begun. The Fondation du Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève has announced the nominations for the 26th GPHG, outlining a selection that once again offers a particularly broad and compelling snapshot of contemporary watchmaking.
Over the summer, GPHG Academy members participated in the first round of voting, selecting 84 creations from the 320 models submitted by 194 watchmakers. The nominated watches are divided into 14 categories and will now progress towards the 19 Grand Prix awards, including the most coveted: the Aiguille d'Or Grand Prix.
A selection entrusted to the Academy
The selection process confirms the central role of the GPHG Academy, an international community of professionals and enthusiasts from various fields of the industry: watchmakers, designers, distributors, retailers, journalists, collectors, and experts.
After finalizing the nominations, the Academy will be asked to vote again digitally. Their vote will represent one-third of the final result, while the remainder will be determined by the 2026 jury, chaired by Wei Koh.
The jury will meet behind closed doors in Geneva a few days before the ceremony to physically evaluate the 84 timepieces. This is a crucial step: beyond images, technical specifications, and first impressions, direct comparison allows them to assess the build quality, finish, ergonomics, originality, and overall coherence of each creation.
Here is the 2026 selection:
The verdict on November 7 in Geneva
The winners will be announced on Saturday, November 7th during the official ceremony held at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva. The event will be livestreamed on the GPHG official website.
In addition to the Aiguille d'Or, the evening will award prizes dedicated to individual categories and special prizes which, taken together, celebrate both the great Maisons and independent brands, valorising different interpretations of creativity and watchmaking excellence.
It is precisely this plurality that makes the GPHG a privileged observatory of the sector: not an absolute ranking, but a comparison of very different languages, price ranges, complications and construction philosophies.
The nominations travel between Mumbai, Bangkok, Geneva and London
As per tradition, the watches featured at the GPHG will be presented to the public through an international tour. The 2026 roadshow will kick off in Mumbai, from September 28th to October 1st, in collaboration with Ethos Watches. This will be the Grand Prix's first stop in India's economic capital, following the shows held in New Delhi in 2015 and 2022.
From October 15th to 18th, 78 nominated wristwatches will travel to Bangkok, where they will be exhibited at The Forum cultural center, located within Gaysorn Amarin. The GPHG will return to Thailand after its first experience in 2019, once again in collaboration with PMT The Hour Glass.
The tour's most comprehensive event will be in Geneva. From October 29th to November 15th, the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire will bring together all 84 competing creations: 78 wristwatches and six mechanical clocks. The exhibition will be accompanied by a program of cultural activities aimed at both the public and schools.
After the ceremony, the journey will conclude in London, from November 18 to 23, where Watches of Switzerland will present the award-winning models of the 2026 edition.
Beyond the results, the GPHG nominations offer an opportunity to observe the direction the industry is taking each year. Traditional techniques, new mechanical solutions, materials research, and independent approaches coexist in a selection that brings together profoundly diverse realities.
