Brickworld Awards Nominees and Winners
Chicago 2026
Best Mechanical
Award for a creation with mechanical function that displays complex mechanics in motion or in moving an object. Looks of the creation are a minor consideration; this category is about mechanical imagination.
Winner
Tyler Lowis
alvin hill
Bender Builds & John Myrda
Cameron
Joseph Cherwink
Best GBC Module
Award for the most innovative, imaginative, and original Great Ball Contraption module. Reliability and overall appeal are key factors.
Winner
Hubert Rabago
Max Gibson
LEGO48
Daniel Schmidt
Jeremy Moody
Best Special Effects
Award for a creation incorporating lights, sound, or other effects that enhance presentation or concept.
Winner
Andrew Payne
Kim and Shawn McMahon
Tyler Lowis
Arthur Algmin
Best Movement
Award for a creation with added movement, regardless of scale or theme.
Winner
Joseph Cherwink
Brendan Tull
Paul Hetherington
Bethany Wright
Sean Sullivan ~parts 1400
Best Constraction
Award for the best creation using the Character and Creature Building System (CCBS), such as Bionicle or Hero Factory.
Winner
Kevin Huxhold
Hans Giesfeldt
Abby Lilliebridge
Daniel Olvera
Mina Eto-Guilford
Best Train - Original
Award for best original train engine or car design. This can be in any scale and does not have to be operational.
Winner
Brad Elrod
DOMINICK PLOECKELMAN
Zac Rawls
Markus Rollbühler
JEFFERY VIENS
Best Train - Replica
Award for best replica of a train engine or car. This can be in any scale and does not have to be operational.
Winner
Dan Lachcik
Jeffery Fonda
Kees van Liere
Tony Sava
Keegan Singleton
Best Youth Creation
Award for best creation built by a youth fan 12 years old or younger. Any theme is allowed.
Winner
Fiona
Jacob
Luna
Chloe
Navarre
Best Teen Creation - Large
Award for best large creation built by a teenage fan 18 years old or younger. Any theme is allowed.
Winner
Charlotte
Alexander
Katie, Faith
Hunter
Benjamin
Best Teen Creation - Small
Award for best small creation built by a teenage fan 18 years old or younger. Any theme is allowed.
Winner
Katie
Case
Eliana
Arthur
Caleb
Best Land Vehicle
Award for best land traversing vehicle creation, this can be in any scale and excludes trains.
Winner
Markus Rollbühler
Conner A Dalisa
Justin Liu
Jack Edison
Luke Derden
Best Sea Vessel
Award for best water traversing vehicle creation, this can be in any scale and does not need to float.
Winner
Colin Kalisz
Isaiah Durand
Markus Rollbühler
Richard A Bettencourt
Nicholas Kramer
Best Spacecraft
Award for best outer space vehicle creation, this can be in any scale.
Winner
Scott Wilhelm
Blake Foster
Ryan McBryde
Duncan Lindbo
Roldan Grace
Best Air Ship
Award for best flying vehicle creation, this can be in any scale and does not need to actually fly.
Winner
Nicholas Kramer
Kevin Wagner
Carl Knable
Ted Andes
Josiah Durand
Best Creature
Award for best (non-constraction) creature creation. Can include busts or full creatures and humanoids in any scale.
Winner
Scott Wilhelm
Khaled Saeed
Alysa Kirkpatrick
Roldan Grace
Zane Houston
Best Building - Large
Award for best large building. Size classification is determined based on scale at the event.
Winner
Zak Luthin
Chelsy Chesterman Julian Chesterman
Jackson Sandler
Nathan Near
Owen Pioch
Best Building - Medium
Award for best medium building. Size classification is determined based on scale at the event.
Winner
Carter Witzenburg
Daniel Barwegen
Eli Willsea and Grant Davis
Joseph Zawada
Nolan Quinn, Drew Babigian
Best Building - Small
Award for best small building. Size classification is determined based on scale at the event.
Winner
Andrew
Ethan Lenning, Brandon Kim
Eann McCurdy
Evan Johnson
Kristen Grayson
Best Micro-scale
Award for best creation in micro scale. Includes buildings and other creations smaller than minifig scale.
Winner
Jack Edison
Jared Oswald
Case P.
Markus Rollbühler
Nels Foslien
Best Vignette
Award for best vignette — a creation that captures a small scene or moment, smaller than a baseplate.
Winner
Matticus Bricks
Meredith Najewicz @_pinkwheels_
David Duperre
Eli Willsea
Marc Montbel
Best Mecha
Award for best mecha creation. Does not need to feature a pilot or character.
Winner
Martin Hulth martythelegoparty
Owen Harry
Dan Lachcik
Hans Giesfeldt
Zane Houston
Best Artwork - 2D
Award for best two-dimensional artwork. Includes mosaics. Judged on both technique and content.
Winner
James Stark
Melissa Boverhof
Jackson Sandler
Donna Cartia
Dave Schefcik
Best Artwork - 3D
Award for best three-dimensional artwork. Judged on both building technique and overall artistic expression.
Winner
David Duperre
Elijah Bormann
Zane Houston
WindyCityLUG
Babu’s Bricks
Best Use of Color
Award for the creation that best utilizes color in a meaningful and visually striking way.
Winner
Heather Davis
Chris Roberts
Nannan Zhang
Geneva Durand
Eli Willsea
Best Humor
Award for the most humorous creation — builds that make viewers laugh or smile through clever design or theme.
Winner
David Manfred
Charles Cartia
Joe Schlaf @brickbuiltlabs
Greg Scherrer
Tim Woods
Best Replica - Scaled
Award for best replica creation in a scale other than life-sized. Accuracy and detail are key.
Winner
Mark Lorah
Jacob Egan Tall Guy Bricks
Ryan Jackson and Christopher Jackson
Elijah Bormann
Anna Bundy
Best Replica - Life-sized
Award for best 1:1 scale replica of a real-world or fictional object. Color and proportional accuracy are judged.
Winner
Megan Groves
Simon Liu (Si_MOCs)
Nick Jensen
Casey McCoy
Jevin Sannes
Best Pop Culture
Award for the creation that best replicates something from pop culture (non-life-sized).
Winner
Jeff Chapman
Samme Van Kollenburg Chris Rozek
Daniel Di Traglia
Christopher Doyle
Daniel Church
Best Star Wars
Award for best Star Wars creation in any scale. Star Wars MOCs may be eligible for other categories too.
Winner
Jennifer and Scott Vandeleest
Boden Cumming (@arc_br1cks)
Josiah Kantola @jk_bricks_
Cole Stokes, Henry Heath
Joshua Harrison
Best Individual Display - Large
Award for best display built by an individual person. Can be a singular large build or a series forming one cohesive display.
Winner
Matthew De Lanoy
Brick Hucker
Wilvincent Go-Terrazas
Kris Nelson
Ryan McBryde
Best Individual Display - Small
Award for best smaller display built by an individual person. Can be a singular build or a series forming one cohesive display.
Winner
Moto
Mina Eto-Guilford
Vim Distract Ainza Builds
Isaiah Kepner
Bennett Holzworth
Best Medieval Display - Large
Award for best large medieval display. Can be a singular build or a series forming one cohesive display. This can be in any scale and any size, and includes castle and fantasy genres.
Winner
Pete Strege
Meredith Najewicz @_pinkwheels_
Nekoliah Gaines
Angel Ortiz
Ben Hauger
Best Medieval Display - Small
Award for best smaller medieval display. Can be a singular large build or a series forming one cohesive display. This can be in any scale and any size, and includes castle and fantasy genres.
Winner
Caleb Huet
Nannan Zhang
Caleb Schilling
Grant Thompson
Joseph Minieri
Best Mega
Awards for best creation with a large footprint. Any theme is allowed.
Winner
Justin Boverhof
Jessee Holmes Jennifer Hanzal
Jim Beute
Adrian Drake
Quinn Roberts
Best Train Display
Award for best train display with operational track, built by an individual or group. Eligible even if shown before.
Winner
Daniel Marko
Zac Rawls
Monty Smith
Michelle Mitchell
Amber Tipton
Best Group Display - Large
Award for best group display of a large size. Judged on impact, cohesion, and creativity.
Winner
Ben, Peter, Tanner, Simon, Sam EclipseGrafx // BrickWarriors
Dan Lachcik Windy City LUG
Eurobricks
Stuart Kahler
The Boyo Collaborations
Brixcelsior Big Kid Brix
Best Group Display - Medium
Award for best group display of a medium size. Judged on impact, cohesion, and creativity.
Winner
Travis Schelhaas Rachel Schelhaas
Geneva, Isaiah, Josiah, Anna, Sarah, Katie, and Faith Durand
NOVA-LUG Ozians James Walther
Jenn Williams, Paul Williams Maksim Mitiakin
JET Builds-Fueled By Bricks Justin, Ethan, Titus
Best Group Display - Small
Award for best group display of a small size. Judged on impact, cohesion, and creativity.
Winner
Jarren and Kayla Harkema
Dawn Sloboda and Chris Meeker
The Cheat
James Stark Karen Englekenjohn
Maclean Miller Andrew Tamer, Matthew Vohs
Brickworld Master
Awarded to an individual that represents excellence in building and community contribution. Can only be awarded once per person.
Judges' Award
Awarded to two creations deemed outstanding by judges that didn’t fit into other categories. Determined after nominations.
Winner
Mark Lorah
Winner
Nathan VanderWeele Logan VanderWeele
Winner
The Boyo Collaborations
Theme Incorporation
Award for the creation that best incorporates the annual theme.
Winner
Ryan Appleson Karen Engelkenjohn
World of Lights Award
Awarded for best lighting use during the World of Lights. Sponsored and judged by Lifelites.
Winner
Ben, Peter, Tanner, Simon, Sam EclipseGrafx // BrickWarriors
Display Accessibility
Award for the person/group that makes a display most accessible (e.g., for wheelchairs, children, visually impaired).
Winner
Kim and Shawn McMahon
Inclusivity Award
Awards given to displays which are decided to best show elements of inclusivity. This includes groups seldom represented in builds (i.e. race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, disability, mental health, etc.). Award winners are invited to become a judge in following years. Winners and nominees can be selected multiple years.
Winner
Jarren and Kayla Harkema
