Apple has revealed the winners of its 2026 Apple Design Awards, recognising 12 apps and games that showcase the best design, innovation and user experience across its platforms.
While the awards celebrate individual apps and games, they also offer a glimpse into the experiences Apple hopes developers will build across its ecosystem. This year's winners highlight several recurring themes, including accessibility, spatial computing and thoughtful user-focused design. Apple Vision Pro features heavily throughout the list, while several winners demonstrate that great software doesn't need to be complicated to stand out.
The awards are split across six categories, with one app and one game recognised in each:
- Delight and Fun – Celebrates apps and games that create memorable, enjoyable and engaging experiences.
- Inclusivity – Recognises software designed to be accessible and welcoming to people with a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and languages.
- Innovation – Highlights new ideas and creative uses of technology that push experiences forward.
- Interaction – Rewards intuitive interfaces and controls that feel natural on their chosen platform.
- Social Impact – Honours apps and games that address meaningful issues or make a positive difference in people's lives.
- Visuals and Graphics – Celebrates exceptional visual design, animation and technical artistry.
Apple announced the winners ahead of WWDC26, which runs from 8 to 12 June 2026. The conference keynote begins on 8 June at 10:00am PT (9 June at 3:00am AEST), where Apple is expected to unveil the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.
The winners were selected from 36 finalists representing development teams from around the world.
Delight and Fun
App Winner: grug
Dutch developer Ocho won the app category with grug, an affirmation app that delivers daily wisdom through intentionally simple "neolithic grunts". Despite its minimalist concept, the app turns daily reflection into a playful experience.
Game Winner: Is This Seat Taken?
Spanish studio Poti Poti Studio claimed the game award with Is This Seat Taken?, a puzzle game that challenges players to solve increasingly quirky public transport seating dilemmas.
Inclusivity
App Winner: Guitar Wiz
Developed by India's Bijoy Thangaraj, Guitar Wiz combines guitar lessons, tuning tools and accessibility features such as Dynamic Type, Increased Contrast and Differentiate Without Colour support.
Game Winner: Pine Hearts
UK developer Hyper Luminal Games was recognised for Pine Hearts, an adventure game featuring customisable controls, enhanced text legibility and adjustable sensory feedback settings.
Innovation
App Winner: NBA: Live Games & Scores
The NBA's Apple Vision Pro app offers an immersive viewing experience, allowing fans to watch multiple live games simultaneously while viewing real-time statistics and 3D court visualisations.
Game Winner: Blue Prince
Blue Prince blends exploration, puzzle-solving and environmental storytelling into a unique adventure experience that has become one of 2026's most acclaimed games.
Interaction
App Winner: Moonlitt: Moon Phase Tracker
Italian developer Flipping Hues was recognised for Moonlitt, a beautifully designed moon-tracking app that combines celestial information with an elegant and intuitive interface.
Game Winner: Sago Mini Jinja's Garden
Designed for younger players, Sago Mini Jinja's Garden was recognised for its simple touch controls and approachable gameplay that encourages exploration.
Social Impact
App Winner: Primary: News in Depth
Built for Apple Vision Pro, Primary presents news stories within a spatial interface designed to encourage deeper engagement with current events.
Game Winner: Consume Me
Consume Me uses interactive storytelling to explore deeply personal themes, earning recognition for its thoughtful and emotionally impactful design.
Visuals and Graphics
App Winner: Tide Guide: Charts & Tables
Tide Guide combines detailed tide and weather forecasting with polished animations and a cohesive visual style inspired by the natural environment.
Game Winner: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
CD Projekt's Cyberpunk 2077 was recognised for its technical achievement on Apple silicon Macs, delivering detailed environments, advanced lighting and impressive visual fidelity.
The full list of finalists and winners can be viewed on Apple's Apple Design Awards page.
