Terms & Conditions for applicants
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
H&M Design Awards 2026 (the “Competition”)
1. Organizer
1.1. The Competition is organized by H & M Hennes & Mauritz GBC AB, reg. no. 556070-1715, SE-106 38 Stockholm, Sweden (the “H&M”, “we”, “us”).
2. Acceptance of Terms
2.1. By submitting an entry to the Competition, the participant (“Entrant”, “you”) agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) and confirms that all information provided is accurate and complete.
3. Eligibility
3.1. The Competition is open to individuals who:
a) are 18 years or older at the time of entry; and
b) have completed, or are completing, a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in fashion design or equivalent education within a year of the date of application, in one of the participating schools on the list of schools presented in a drop down menu where you submit your application.
3.2. H&M may, at its discretion, accept a limited number of wild card entries from exceptional talents outside formal fashion education.
3.3. Employees of H&M Group and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.
3.4. H&M reserves the right to verify eligibility and to disqualify any Entrant who does not meet the requirements or breaches these Terms.
4. Competition Entry and Submission Requirements
4.1. To enter the Competition, Entrants must submit a digital portfolio via the official Competition platform, including:
a) images of the graduate or final collection;
b) optional videos or animations;
c) a written concept description;
d) any additional materials specified on the Competition website.
5. What the Pictures May Include
5.1. The submitted images (“Pictures”) may include, without limitation:
a) garments, accessories, textiles, prints, or details designed by the Entrant;
b) styled looks, fittings, runway presentations, or editorial imagery;
c) models wearing the garments (provided the Entrant has obtained all necessary permissions);
d) sketches, technical drawings, or process imagery.
5.2. The Pictures must not include:
a) third-party copyrighted works without permission;
b) offensive, unlawful, or infringing content.
6. Ownership and Responsibility
6.1. The Entrant warrants that:
a) they own or control all rights in the submitted materials; and
b) any identifiable persons appearing in the Pictures have provided consent for use.
7. Judging and Selection
7.1. All valid entries will be evaluated by a professional jury appointed by H&M (the “Jury”).
7.2. Entries will be judged based on:
a) creativity and originality;
b) innovation;
c) craftsmanship;
d) attention to detail;
e) sustainability and circular thinking.
7.3. The Jury’s decisions are final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome.
8. Prizes and Opportunities
8.1. Grand Prize (Winner)
8.1.1. One (1) Entrant will be selected as the winner of the Competition (the “Winner”). The Winner will receive:
a) Monetary Award
A cash prize of one hundred fifty thousand euro (EUR 150,000) before applicable taxes.[AA9] [WD10] [AC11]
b) Mentorship Programme
A year-long, tailored mentorship program provided by or on behalf of H&M, covering key professional areas including, but not limited to: sustainability and circularity; production and supply chain processes; marketing and brand development; and public relations and industry engagement.
8.1.2. The mentorship is intended to provide practical tools, professional guidance, and industry access to support the Winner’s career development. The exact structure, scope, and scheduling of the mentorship shall be determined by H&M at its sole discretion.
8.1.3. The Winner may be offered the possibility to enter into discussions with H&M regarding:
a) the potential production of the winning collection or selected pieces; and
b) potential sale in selected H&M stores and online.
8.1.4. This opportunity:
a) does not constitute a guarantee of production or sale;
b) is subject to further negotiations, commercial terms, feasibility assessments, and separate written agreements; and
c) remains entirely at the discretion of H&M.
8.1.5. The Winner’s collection may be produced and offered for sale in selected H&M stores worldwide and online, subject to:
a) commercial feasibility;
b) sustainability, quality, and production requirements; and
c) the execution of one or more separate written agreements governing production, intellectual property, remuneration, and other commercial terms.
8.1.6. Participation in the Competition or receipt of the Grand Prize does not, in itself, create an automatic right to production or commercialisation beyond what is expressly agreed in writing.
8.2. Finalists
8.2.1. Up to eight (8) Entrants may be selected as finalists (the “Finalists”), excluding the Winner, who shall only be entitled to the Grand Prize.
8.2.2. Each Finalist, excluding the Winner, will receive a monetary award of ten thousand euro (EUR 10,000) [AA12] [WD13] [AC14] before applicable taxes, in recognition of their talent and potential.
9. Taxes and Payment
9.1. All monetary prizes, renumeration, such as prize rewards, travel costs and other expenses are paid gross, and each recipient is solely responsible for any taxes, social charges, or other levies arising from receipt of the prize under applicable law.
9.2. Payment shall be made in accordance with instructions and timelines determined by H&M.
9.3. No Entrant shall acquire any right, claim, or expectation to production or commercialization solely by winning or participating in the Competition.
10. Intellectual Property Rights
10.1. Ownership of the submitted designs remains with the Entrant.
10.2. This licence does not transfer ownership and does not limit the Entrant’s right to use their work elsewhere.
11. Data Protection
11.1. Personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws and H&M’s H&M Group Privacy Notice - H&M Group, solely for purposes related to the Competition.
12. Liability
12.1. H&M is not responsible for technical failures, lost submissions, or events beyond its reasonable control.
12.2. To the fullest extent permitted by law, H&M shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses arising from participation in the Competition.
13. Modification and Termination
13.1. H&M reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Competition or these Terms at any time, provided such changes are communicated through the Competition website.
14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
14.1. The Competition and Rules will be governed by Swedish law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Sweden. If you access the Competition outside of Sweden, you are responsible for compliance with all local laws.