What is the Royal Gold Medal?
The Royal Gold Medal is given to a person or group of people who have significantly influenced, either directly or indirectly, architecture's advancement. Established in the mid nineteenth century, it is awarded annually by RIBA on behalf of His Majesty, King Charles III, and is one of the most prestigious and respected honours of its kind.
The original and formal condition of the honour is:
"The Royal Gold Medal for the promotion of architecture, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1848, is conferred annually by the Sovereign on some distinguished architect or group of architects for work of high merit, or on some distinguished person or group whose work has promoted, either directly or indirectly, the advancement of Architecture."
Find out more about the Royal Gold Medal's fascinating history.
Who can make a nomination?
Provided you are a RIBA Chartered Member, Fellow, or Student, you can make a nomination.
Who can you nominate?
Although the vast majority of recipients have been architects, it is not a requirement, and a number of educators, engineers, theorists, and urbanists have received the Royal Gold Medal.
Nominees may be individuals, partners, or whole practices or groups. They may be practicing, active, or retired, but the individual or more than one partner member of the practice or group must be living at the when the nomination is submitted.
We believe in the strength that diversity brings to the profession of architecture, and we encourage nominations of people from all backgrounds, especially those from communities who have previously been underrepresented in our honours.
You are not required to know the person you are nominating. You can nominate anyone you feel has made an impact and deserves to be honoured with this prestigious lifetime award.
Take a look at our historical list of Royal Gold Medallists for inspiration.
How is the Royal Gold Medal recipient decided?
The RIBA Honours Jury will review each nomination on behalf of His Majesty, King Charles III who will then approve their selected winner. RIBA Honours Jury, is made up of a leading architects, an academic, and a lay person, chaired by the RIBA President.
How to nominate
Using our online form below you will need to provide:
- 300-500 word citation, outlining and evidencing the key reasons why you think your nominee should be honoured
- a list of their works, projects, achievements, and any supporting materials you feel demonstrates their excellence
The deadline for completing a nomination is 11.45pm (BST) on Monday 30 June 2025. If you need an alternative format to make a nomination, there are any adjustments we can make to ensure the process is accessible, or you have any additional questions, please email awards@riba.org.
