World Demolition Awards Honor Clifton Bridge Project
Armac Demolition took the top Best of the Best prize at the 18th edition of the awards held in Madrid.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Awards
The 18th World Demolition Awards presented trophies across 12 categories plus Best of the Best on 5 November 2026 in Madrid, Spain. Armac Demolition won Best of the Best for removing the 140-metre-long Clifton Bridge over the M6 motorway in Cumbria, UK.
Why it matters
The awards, organised by D&Ri magazine and KHL Group, spotlight demolition projects and products that set standards for the industry. Recognition at an international level highlights techniques used on complex structures near live infrastructure.
Despe won four awards at the 2026 event, up from three in 2025, while the gala dinner hosted by Matt Dawson MBE drew 400 guests. The source does not specify the full list of category winners or how judges scored entries.
The players
World Demolition Awards
An international awards programme recognising top demolition projects and products, organised by D&Ri magazine and KHL Group.
Armac Demolition
A UK demolition contractor that won Best of the Best for removing the Clifton Bridge.
Despe
A demolition firm that won four awards at the 2026 event, including for power station and refinery projects in Gela, Sicily.
The details
Armac Demolition removed the Clifton Bridge using a method that reused concrete and brick on site, avoiding an estimated 1,200 heavy vehicle movements. Other winning projects included the Coursington, Allan and Draffen Towers in Motherwell, Scotland, and a crane dismantling at the Port of Sete, France, where a 247-tonne section was lifted after stabilisation.
Timeline
5 November 2026: 18th World Demolition Awards gala held in Madrid, Spain.
2025: Despe won three awards at the previous year's event.
Industry Dynamics
The 2026 awards extend the 18-year run of the World Demolition Awards, which has become a benchmark for recognising complex projects such as bridge and chimney removals. The growing number of entrants from the UK, Spain and the United States reflects demolition work moving toward reuse of materials and digitally modelled engineering.
Demolition contractors and clients can use the recognised techniques, such as reusing concrete on site to cut heavy vehicle movements, in their own project planning. Readers following the industry can track which firms and methods win recognition in future editions.
The takeaway
Reusing materials on site and using digital modelling to stabilise large structures are methods that reduce disruption and transport demands on demolition projects. Industry professionals can review these approaches as they plan similar work.
Further reading
Explore more Awards coverage across the lifestyle section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Demolition & Recycling International.
