On Saturday, November 7, the global watchmaking community will turn its eyes toward Geneva as the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) returns for its milestone 26th edition. Regarded by many as the "Oscars" of the watch industry, the annual event brings together the finest creations, master artisans, industry leaders, and passionate collectors to celebrate the pinnacle of horological artistry and mechanical innovation. This year’s ceremony promises to be particularly momentous, featuring 84 nominated timepieces competing fiercely across 19 distinct prize categories, all vying for the ultimate recognition: the coveted Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix, widely recognized throughout the industry as the "Best in Show" prize.
As the final countdown to the ceremony begins, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. This year’s event marks a significant first for the GPHG organization: the entire awards ceremony will be conducted strictly in English. This strategic shift reflects the event’s continuously growing, truly global audience, as well as a modern push toward broader public accessibility, welcoming international enthusiasts who have increasingly tuned in to follow the world of haute horlogerie over recent years.
The official winners will be announced live from Geneva’s prestigious Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, with the gala proceedings kicking off promptly at 6:30 PM Central European Time, which translates to 12:30 PM Eastern Time. For enthusiasts around the world who cannot make it to Switzerland in person, the ceremony will be broadcast globally. Viewers can catch the complete livestream directly here at Hodinkee or by visiting the official GPHG website at gphg.org, ensuring that no watch lover misses out on the dramatic reveals.
Before arriving in Geneva for the final, high-stakes stage of the competition, the 84 carefully curated finalists embarked on an extensive international exhibition tour. These exceptional timepieces made notable stops in cultural and economic hubs like Mumbai and Bangkok, allowing international collectors, local enthusiasts, and regional press a rare opportunity to experience the nominated watches up close. This traveling exhibition format has become a cornerstone of the GPHG’s mission, bringing museum-grade contemporary watchmaking directly to global audiences who might otherwise only see these masterpieces in photographs.
The journey of the finalists does not end with the trophy presentations in Geneva. Following the conclusion of the awards ceremony, the prestigious retailer Watches of Switzerland will host another exclusive exhibition at its prominent Knightsbridge showroom in London. This upcoming British showcase will commence with an invite-only preview evening on November 18, followed by public access running from November 19 through November 23. It offers yet another fleeting window for the public to inspect the newly crowned winners and the broader collection of finalists under one roof.
Beyond the geographical and logistical updates, the 26th edition of the GPHG also introduces a thoughtful evolution in how the competition is structured. In a notable departure from traditional formats, the organization has chosen to reorganize the award categories entirely. Rather than dividing watches into conventional men’s and women’s categories—a framework that has increasingly felt outdated in contemporary fashion and collecting circles—the GPHG has restructured the competition around the intrinsic characteristics, mechanical complications, and functional types of the watches themselves. These structural changes are part of a broader, ongoing evolution within the awards, ensuring that the GPHG accurately reflects the shifting tastes, fluid design languages, and incredible diversity defining modern contemporary watchmaking today.
The weight of choosing these finalists and eventual winners rests on the shoulders of an exceptionally knowledgeable and diverse panel. Hodinkee’s very own Senior Editor, Mark Kauzlarich, is proudly serving on this year’s dedicated jury, sitting alongside 23 other industry experts, esteemed journalists, specialized collectors, and respected figures from across the watchmaking landscape. Prior to the ceremony, the jury convenes in Geneva for intensive, hands-on evaluation sessions. During these closed-door meetings, members closely examine every nominated timepiece, debate their merits and finishing, and cast their official votes.
The mechanics of the voting process are designed to balance expert scrutiny with broader industry consensus. The specialized jury’s collective vote accounts for two-thirds of the final tabulated result, while the carefully ranked choices submitted by the wider GPHG Academy make up the remaining one-third. For a deeper dive into the contenders, watch enthusiasts can explore Mark Kauzlarich’s detailed preview of the 2026 finalists, which breaks down the standout pieces and anticipated frontrunners across the various categories.
With just days remaining before the envelopes are opened and the highest honors in modern watchmaking are handed out, the atmosphere across the global watch community remains electric. The event serves not only as a celebration of technical achievement and artistic expression, but also as a vital barometer for where the industry stands and where it is heading next. Be sure to tune in to the live webcast right here on Hodinkee on November 7 to witness history unfold as the 2026 GPHG winners are crowned live from Geneva.
