GPHG 2026: World Tour Begins in Mumbai with 84 Watches Vying for the Aiguille d'Or

The 26th edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève kicks off its world tour this weekend with a first stop in Mumbai, ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for November 7 in Geneva.

The countdown has begun. The 26th edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) officially opens its world tour on September 28, 2026, with a first stop in Mumbai hosted by Ethos Limited, India's leading retailer, at the St. Regis in the Indian financial capital. The exhibition runs until October 1 and marks the start of a tour that will then take the nominated timepieces to Bangkok, Geneva, and London, before the awards ceremony on November 7 at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices.

This year's edition features a selection of 84 watches and clocks shortlisted by the GPHG Academy following a first round of voting over the summer. These 84 pieces were selected from 320 entries submitted by 194 brands, making the 2026 edition one of the most open in the competition's history. Fifty-six brands share these 84 spots, spread across 14 categories, with 41 of them receiving just a single nomination.

Among the best-represented brands, Chopard leads the field with six nominated watches, with all of its entries shortlisted by the Academy. This achievement recalls its Aiguille d'Or victory in 2017. Audemars Piguet, Bvlgari, and Parmigiani Fleurier follow with four nominations each, while Bovet 1822, H. Moser & Cie, and Piaget have three apiece. The competition is also becoming notably more international, with brands from the United States, Japan, China, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom among the finalists alongside traditional Swiss manufactures.

Several absences and returns are worth noting. Blancpain, absent from the competition for twelve years, makes its return with the Grande Double Sonnerie, positioned as a serious contender in the Mechanical Exception category. Franck Muller, which returned to the GPHG last year, maintains its presence. The jury, chaired this year by Wei Koh, founder of Revolution magazine, will perform a physical evaluation of all 84 pieces behind closed doors in Geneva shortly before the ceremony. The Academy's vote will account for one-third of the final result, with the jury holding the remaining two-thirds.

The geography of the tour illustrates the rise of new watch markets. The Mumbai stop is particularly symbolic: Ethos Limited had previously only hosted the GPHG in New Delhi, back in 2022. Placing Mumbai on the Grand Prix map reflects India's growing recognition as a premier market for luxury watches. Meanwhile, Bangkok will host 78 wristwatches from October 15 to 18 at The Forum cultural center in Gaysorn Amarin, a first for the city since 2019. The Geneva leg, running from October 29 to November 15 at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, will bring together all 84 competing creations, including clocks, for the first time.

The previous year, the Aiguille d'Or was awarded to the Breguet Classique Souscription during the 25th ceremony. This accolade was also interpreted as a nod to classical watchmaking and traditional complications. The 2026 vintage stands out for the notable presence of collaborations between major brands and independent watchmakers, a trend that has gained momentum this year, as evidenced by the nomination of the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Dual Time created with Vianney Halter, as well as the joint project between Ulysse Nardin and Urwerk. The ceremony on November 7, broadcast live on the GPHG website, will reveal whether this underlying trend is rewarded.