Most airport design awards go to the usual suspects — Singapore, Dubai, Tokyo. This year, two Indian airports just changed that.
Guwahati’s Terminal 2 at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and Terminal 1 at the newly opened Navi Mumbai International Airport have both been named on the Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airports 2026 list. They are among seven airports recognized globally this year alongside terminals in China, Germany, Cambodia, and United States.
Both airports rank among the world’s most admired aviation facilities. That means airport design has stopped being invisible infrastructure and started mattering to travellers.
Guwahati Gets Its First Global Architecture Award
Guwahati’s Terminal 2 began serving passengers in February 2026. Its architectural language is guided by the Bamboo Orchid — a symbol of Northeast India’s biodiversity — woven through the terminal’s design via indigenous art, local craftsmanship, and nature-inspired elements.
The Prix Versailles jury put it plainly: “There are few airports that embrace a land so magnificently. At Guwahati Airport, the international Terminal 2 delivers a spectacular arrival experience that reflects the living spirit of Northeast India.”
That’s not the kind of language usually associated with a regional Indian airport. Northeast India has long been underserved by aviation infrastructure. A terminal that earns this level of international recognition signals something shifting in how the region is being developed and connected.
Navi Mumbai Opens to International Recognition
Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced commercial operations in December 2025. Terminal 1 was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects — one of the most celebrated architecture firms in the world.
The design is unmistakable. The terminal’s roof takes inspiration from the lotus, a symbol deeply rooted in Indian heritage and natural beauty. The Prix Versailles jury said the Airport’s story extends far beyond its design. The project involved overcoming engineering and environmental challenges, including modifying the surrounding landscape, relocating utility infrastructure, and developing reclaimed land for construction. Its design balances ambitious architectural concepts with the functional needs of daily airport activity.
For Mumbai travellers, the airport addresses a genuine gap. The existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has strained under capacity pressure for years. Once fully operational, Navi Mumbai should ease that congestion significantly.
The Award That Matters in Airport Design
Presented each year at UNESCO headquarters in Paris since 2015, the Prix Versailles honours projects that combine outstanding architecture with cultural value and environmental responsibility. The award highlights what it describes as “intelligent sustainability.”
This year’s jury framed the award around a broader idea: that airports are no longer just transit points. Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, described the winners as “innovative, inescapable hallmarks of their regions and their eras.”
Both Indian airports are operated by Adani Airport Holdings, India’s largest private airport operator. Getting two airports on the same global list in the same year is a notable achievement for any operator, let alone one still expanding its portfolio.
Two Airports Worth Knowing About
Awards don’t speed up check-in lines. But they do tell you something about what an airport experience is going to feel like before you arrive.
Guwahati Terminal 2 means travellers flying into Northeast India for the hills of Meghalaya, the wildlife of Assam, or connections to Arunachal Pradesh now arrive through a terminal designed with genuine care for where they’ve landed.
Navi Mumbai means Mumbai’s notorious capacity crunch has a release valve. A world-class terminal designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, open since late 2025, is now an option for travellers flying into one of India’s busiest cities.
Three airports featured in the 2026 rankings are also in contention for separate World Titles recognizing excellence in architecture, interior spaces, and overall design. The winners will be announced later this year. Whether either Indian airport makes that shortlist remains to be seen.
