SAPCA AWARDS 2026

A play project and a new product for playgrounds were among those recognised at this year’s prestigious SAPCA Awards

The winners of the SAPCA Awards 2026 (organised by the Sports and Play Construction Association) were announced at a gala dinner held at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in London, in February. Marking their 11th year, the awards celebrate the achievements of SAPCA, which include some of the leading UK play companies.

Boxing it up

Among this year’s finalists was an innovation from Jupiter Play and Leisure. BoxUp – voted runner-up in the SAPCA Product of the Year category – is an innovative, free-to-use equipment locker designed to transform public spaces into active play and sports environments. The modular, solar-powered equipment locker system removes financial and accessibility barriers to sport and play. It enables users to borrow a wide range of equipment for up to three hours – completely free to use. The solution aims to promote physical, sporting and leisure activities to help the wider public discover their passions.

Each unit connects to a cloud-based dashboard that provides real-time operational monitoring, usage insights and automated maintenance triggers. This transparency enables you to track participation, equipment wear, and user demographics whilst providing clear return on investment. Each locker features secure, transparent doors which can only be accessed through the app, making them perfect for photographing the equipment upon its return.

Adventure trail wins the day

The winner of this year’s SAPCA Award for Large Project of the Year was the expansion of Bluecoats Sports at Christ’s Hospital School. At the heart of the project was the “Get Active Adventure Trail”, which reimagines the world of wellness through playful, imaginative design, a compelling example of how thoughtful design can transform exercise from obligation into invitation.

Inspired by international ‘playful’ sports facilities, LK2 Architects – in partnership with SAPCA member, Smith Construction – created an engaging landscape shaped by an undulating landform, which enhances the natural environment while encouraging risk-taking, problem solving and imaginative exploration. Although technically a running track, its real achievement lies in something deeper: it redefines movement as something joyful rather than purely performance driven.

Unlike traditional tracks that measure success in speed or endurance, this trail encourages a variety of movement. Along the route, users encounter features that prompt them to jump, climb, balance and scramble, turning a simple lap into an engaging multi-dimensional physical experience. The goal is not competition, but curiosity: how many ways can your body move, and how good can it feel while doing so?