Monument Builders of North America Announces
2026 Design Award Winners
The Monument Builders of North America (MBNA) has announced the recipients of its 2026 Design Awards, recognizing excellence in craftsmanship, creativity and memorial design across North America. More than 146 monuments were entered across multiple categories. Winners were selected through a juried process, with an additional People’s Choice Award determined by member voting. The first place winners will be featured in the April MBU recap issue of MBNews and the 2nd and 3rd place projects featured in the May design issue of MBNews.
The highest honor, the 2026 Excellence in Design Award, was presented to:
Harrison Monuments (Warsaw, IL) — “Hardisty Track Monument”
The People’s Choice Award, selected by MBNA members, was presented to:
Quincy Memorials (Quincy, MA) — “Alwyn Clergy”
2026 MBNA Design Award Winners
Conceptual
First Place
Loiselle Memorials, Inc. (Hudson Falls, NY) – “Crane Guarnier”
Second Place
Gaulden Monuments (Rock Hill, SC) – “Robert Smalls”
Third Place
Hunt Memorials Inc. (Nashville, TN) – “Edward Riggins”
Cremation
First Place
West Memorials (Memphis, TN) – “Brelsford”
Second Place
Johns-Carabelli (Cleveland, OH) – “Donnelly – Howe”
Third Place
Caldwell Monument Company (Kokomo, IN) – “Townsend Cremation Memorial”
Garden Art / Non-Cemetery Memorial
First Place
Sunburst Memorials (St. Cloud, MN) — “Cole Deiley Bullet”
Second Place
Allen Monument Company (Crawfordsville, IN) — “Crawfordsville, IN Star Ambulance – Business Sign”
Third Place
Hunt Memorials Inc. (Nashville, TN) — “John’s Birdbath”
Hand-Etched Monument
First Place
Gaulden Monuments (Rock Hill, SC) — “Forever Connected”
Second Place
Summit Memorials (Akron, OH) — “Final Destination”
Third Place
OM Stone (Hillsboro, OR) — “Dao Vang Memorial”
Machine-Etched Monument
First Place
South Boston Memorials (South Boston, VA) — “Thompson, Odell Etching”
Second Place
Loiselle Memorials Inc. (Hudson Falls, NY) — “Collins”
Third Place
Caldwell Monument Company (Kokomo, IN) — “Kirchner Etched Memorial”
Flat Marker
First Place
OM Stone (Hillsboro, OR) — “Gordon Memorial”
Second Place
Hunt Memorials Inc. (Nashville, TN) — “Finucane”
Third Place – tie
West Memorials (Memphis, TN) — “Eternal Melody – A Tribute to Kali Trotter” and Harrison Monuments (Warsaw, IL) – “Flesner”
Sculpture
First Place
Gaulden Monuments (Rock Hill, SC) — “One of One”
Second Place
South Boston Memorials (South Boston, VA) — “Molly Campbell Sculpture”
Third Place
Springfield Monument (Springfield, IL) — “Elliot’s Dino”
Public-Civic Monument
First Place
Gaulden Monuments (Rock Hill, SC) — “Blue Ridge Monuments Sign”
Second Place
West Memorials (Memphis, TN) — “Danbury”
Third Place
Hunt Memorials Inc. (Nashville, TN) — “Gabriel Field Renovation Project”
Small Monument
First Place
Longstreth Memorials (Galion, OH) — “Volk”
Second Place
Allen Monument Company (Crawfordsville, IN) — “X-Box Controller Monument”
Third Place
OM Stone (Hillsboro, OR) — “Dutton Dastrup Memorial”
Medium Monument
First Place
Hunt Memorials Inc. (Nashville, TN) — “John Malugani”
Second Place
La Crosse Memorials LLC (La Crosse, WI) — “Vision of Color”
Third Place
Loiselle Memorials Inc. (Hudson Falls, NY) — “Hogan”
Large Monument
First Place
Harrison Monuments (Warsaw, IL) — “Hardisty Track Monument”
Second Place
Lewin Monument (Fort Mitchell, KY) — “Jumping Into Eternity”
Third Place
Caldwell Monument Company (Kokomo, IN) — “Zimmerman Memorial”
MBNA’s annual Design Awards highlight the skill, artistry and evolving innovation within the monument industry. From hand-etched memorials and sculptural works to public monuments and contemporary conceptual designs, this year’s winners demonstrate the enduring craftsmanship and creative vision that define the profession. For more information about MBNA and its award-winning members, visit monumentbuilders.org.