Inside Shed of the Year at 20 – from Yorkshire winners to the UK’s most creative garden builds
A long-running celebration of garden creativity is returning for its landmark year, as the Shed of the Year competition marks its 20th anniversary.
The competition is now open for entries, inviting shed owners from Yorkshire and across the country to put forward their designs.
Founded in 2006, Shed of the Year has grown into a widely recognised showcase of creativity and craftsmanship, attracting thousands of entries over the years.
Submissions have ranged from traditional garden sheds to elaborate and unconventional structures, reflecting the changing role of sheds in British homes.
This year, the event is backed for the first time by Leeds-based garden building retailer Tiger, which organisers say signals a new phase for the contest.
To mark its 20th year, there are new categories and, for the first time, category sponsors. These include Horsforth Brewery and St Gemma’s Hospice, both based in Leeds, and Protek Products.
The competition has 12 categories that range from best community shed, budget champion to best pub or entertainment.
The complete list for 2026 includes: Eco Haven, Workshop or Studio, Cabin or Summerhouse, Pub or Entertainment and Garden Sanctuary. Other awards will recognise the Most Colourful Shed, Budget Champion and Simple but Effective designs, alongside more unusual entries in the Unexpected or Unique category.
A Community Shed category, sponsored by St Gemma’s Hospice, has been added to showcase projects that support local groups, while a new Regional Winner award aims to reflect the nationwide appeal of the competition. A further category, Tiger in the Wild, is open exclusively to owners of Tiger buildings.
Judging and public voting will take place after entries close, with the overall winner set to be announced in July. Previous entrants who have not won are also encouraged to re-enter.
Andrew Wilcox, founder and head judge of Shed of the Year, says:
"As we celebrate 20 years of Shed of the Year, partnering with Tiger feels like a natural fit. Launching the competition in spring gives people the perfect opportunity to start thinking about their outdoor spaces as we head into the warmer months.
"Tiger shares my passion for quality craftsmanship and the important role that sheds play in people’s lives – whether that’s as a place to relax, create or escape.
We’re taking the competition to the next level this year, with new categories that reflect how the role of the humble garden shed has evolved. For instance, the Community shed category, sponsored by St Gemma's Hospice, highlights how a great shed can impact an entire community.”
Sam Jenkinson, head of marketing and chief sheddie at Tiger, adds: "Shed of the Year is an iconic competition that truly celebrates the creativity and individuality of shed owners across the UK.
"As a brand dedicated to providing high-quality garden buildings that help people find their perfect space, we’re proud to sponsor the competition as it celebrates its 20th year.
"This is an exciting moment to engage with the shed community, and we’ve introduced new categories such as Tiger In the Wild, to celebrate the best entry across all categories that uses a Tiger building, and our new Regional Winners reflect both the nationwide love of sheds and the growth of our own UK-wide showsite network.
"This milestone year is about championing the versatility and value of sheds while connecting with a community that shares our enthusiasm.”
Last year’s overall winner was Mike Robinson, an engineer from Plumstead, South-East London, whose space-saving structure, ‘The Tiny Workshop’, was crowned champion after coming top of the ‘Workshop/Studio’ category following public voting and selected as overall winner by a judging panel.
Previous Yorkshire winners include Joe Swift, from Bradford, who won the Young Sheddie of the Year category in 2024 for his superbly hand-crafted “The Handsome Devils Club”, a pub shed, which is enjoyed by friends and family.
The 28-year-old stonemason and builder went on to build a home for his parents in his back garden.
Meanwhile, thrifty Tom Dewhirst, who has designed and built no fewer than five sheds on his family’s allotment plot near Halifax, triumphed in 2024 for his Kitchen Cabin shed, which won Budget Shed of the Year and cost just £249 to construct and fit out.
The deadline to enter Shed of the year 2026 is May 31, 2026. For more details, including previous winners, visit readersheds.co.uk