Celebrating Design Excellence: MIFF 2026 Awards Honour Malaysia’s Finest Furniture Innovators

7 March 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) 2026 has once again showcased Malaysia’s emerging talent and innovative spirit at Southeast Asia’s premier furniture trade event.

Held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the MIFF Awards celebrated outstanding design achievements across various categories, highlighting the creativity and craftsmanship that position Malaysia on the global furniture stage.

The awards ceremony, attended by industry leaders, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and international media, was officiated by Dato’ Razali Mohamad, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Plantations and Commodities.

The event featured MIFF’s flagship Furniture Design Competition (FDC) alongside the Best Presentation Award (BPA) and Furniture Excellence Award (FEA), recognising creative excellence among exhibitors and emerging designers alike.

Since its inception in 2010, the MIFF FDC has become an essential platform for young designers seeking to make their mark and shape the future of Malaysia’s furniture design landscape. The 2026 edition continued this tradition, fostering collaboration and showcasing the inventive spirit of the industry.

The main MIFF FDC 2026 award was presented to Jessica Antonius of Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) for her innovative design, ROEL, earning her RM5,000. The second prize of RM3,000 was awarded to Doo Jade Qi of the Malaysian Institute of Art for GLORB, while Teh Jian Yin of The One Academy Penang received RM2,000 for her REKA REKA SERIES. A Special Mention was also awarded to Prathiin Saravanamuthu of Universiti Sains Malaysia for his project STACKABLOCK.

This year’s FDC challenged designers under 40 to create bedroom furniture for children aged 5 to 9 years, themed ‘Playful. Practical. Purposeful: Furniture for Generation Alpha’. The winning designs demonstrated a clever balance of imagination and practicality, appealing to both children and their Millennial parents. Out of twenty initial entries, ten finalists were selected by a regional panel led by Dr. Eric Leong. Public votes via social media, a first for the event, further influenced the final results, with criteria including creativity, functionality, ergonomics, safety, sustainability, and presentation.

In addition to cash prizes, winners received trophies and certificates, while all finalists were awarded certificates of participation. A total of 138 entries from 37 design institutions and private firms underscored the event’s competitive spirit and diversity.

The Best Mentor Award of RM2,000 was bestowed upon Ooi Aik Khong from APU, who has previously received this accolade in 2021. APU also secured the prestigious Best Institution Award for the second consecutive year.

In the category of booth presentation, the Best Presentation Award went to Chuanheng Furniture Products Sdn Bhd, with Foshan Linsy Home Co., Ltd. and Zhin Sheng Furniture Sdn Bhd taking second and third places, respectively. ELK-Desa Furniture Products Sdn Bhd received the Informa Better Stands accolade, while xOrdinary earned a Special Mention Award. Chief judge Enrico Cleva of EC & CO, Italy, praised all winners and entries for their excellence.

The top Furniture Excellence Awards, including the Platinum Award, were awarded to Eastern Decorator Sdn Bhd. Luxury Sleep Products Sdn Bhd received the Gold Award, and Instyle Sofa Sdn Bhd was honoured with the Silver Award. The Judges' Commendation in the Household and Office categories went to Best-Beteck Furniture Sdn Bhd and Heshan Zonman Furniture Limited, respectively. These awards, recognising visionary and aesthetically striking designs, were judged by a panel led by Zilahi Imre of Fast Forward Editorial SRL, Romania.

Commenting on the event, MIFF General Manager Kelie Lim expressed her congratulations, “My heartfelt congratulations to all our winners for their outstanding concepts and execution. It is encouraging to see such inspired designers committed to excellence and innovation, reinforcing MIFF’s reputation as a platform for creativity. With over 30 years of dedicated support for the Malaysian furniture industry, MIFF remains committed to nurturing emerging talent and ensuring a bright future for the industry.”

As MIFF enters its 32nd edition, the 2026 event, held from 4-7 March at both MITEC and the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), continues to be a hub of innovation. Its signature ‘1 Fair, 2 Venues, 17 Halls’ concept spans 100,000 square metres, hosting nearly 700 exhibitors and attracting 20,000 buyers from 140 countries and regions.

The MIFF 2026 Awards underscore Malaysia’s position as a creative and competitive force in the global furniture industry, celebrating local talent that promotes a distinctive Malaysian identity while meeting the demands of an evolving international market.