IAPLC 2026 TOP 300 by Country: Japan Leads

02 October 2026

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Japan has the largest representation in the IAPLC 2026 TOP 300 nominee list, with 68 names. AquaLibs' analysis of ADA's official list counts 300 nominees across 49 countries and areas, with Vietnam third by nominee count.

IAPLC 2026 TOP 300 by Country: Japan Leads

Looking beyond individual names, the breakdown offers a different perspective on the announcement: where this year's nominated creators come from, and how widely the list reaches across the international aquascaping community.

Which countries have the most IAPLC 2026 nominees?

The table below shows the ten countries with the highest nominee counts. Official country names are retained, and percentages are calculated against the full list of 300.

Country	Nominees	Share of TOP 300
Japan	68	22.7%
People’s Republic of China	41	13.7%
Vietnam	29	9.7%
Republic of Korea	22	7.3%
Austria	12	4.0%
India	10	3.3%
Brazil	9	3.0%
Germany	9	3.0%
Malaysia	8	2.7%
United States of America	8	2.7%

Countries with equal counts are listed alphabetically. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

Japan, China and Vietnam together account for 138 nominees—46.0% of the list. Their combined presence is a clear feature of this year's nominations, while the remaining names invite readers to explore a much wider range of creators.

Vietnam places third by nominee count

With 29 nominees, Vietnam accounts for approximately 9.7% of the TOP 300. This gives the Vietnamese community a substantial group of creators to support as the final reveal approaches.

Read our full list of the 29 Vietnamese IAPLC 2026 nominees to find familiar names, congratulate fellow aquascapers and introduce their work to friends in the hobby.

The country comparison also opens the door to discovering people outside your usual circle. Following creators from different communities can bring fresh perspectives to your own aquascaping practice.

What these numbers tell us

This analysis measures representation in the nominee list. It does not establish a country's artistic standing or predict which works will receive the highest awards.

Nomination rates would require entry totals for each country, which are not provided in this list. Likewise, changes from previous seasons would need a separate comparison with those years' data.

For readers, the useful starting point is discovery: look beyond the largest delegations, explore unfamiliar names and follow the individual stories behind the numbers.

The final reveal is scheduled for October 10

The IAPLC 2026 TOP 100 photographs and rankings will be revealed on Saturday, October 10, at 1:00 PM JST—11:00 AM in Vietnam through ADA VIEW. The complete ranking list will follow on the official IAPLC website after the livestream.

For viewing details and source links, see our IAPLC 2026 nominee list and results schedule.

Explore the careers behind the country statistics

A national total brings attention to a community. Individual profiles show the competition records behind it.

Visit AquaRank, AquaLibs' global aquascaper rankings, and explore the aquascaper directory to discover published results across contests and years.

AquaRank is an independent career-ranking project with standings separate from official IAPLC results. Use it to learn more about the creators you recognize—and those you are discovering for the first time.

Methodology: AquaLibs counted each name once under its country or area label in ADA's official TOP 300 nominee PDF, retaining the organizer's separate labels. Total checked: 300. Schedule source: ADA's official announcement. Analysis prepared October 1, 2026.

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