IAPLC 2026 TOP 300: 8 Fresh Faces to Follow

04 October 2026

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The IAPLC 2026 TOP 300 nominee list offers an opportunity to discover creators whose next work could become a new source of inspiration. Alongside familiar champions are names with a different recent story: a finish outside the Top 300 in 2025, followed by a nomination in 2026.

IAPLC 2026 TOP 300: 8 Fresh Faces to Follow

For this article, AquaLibs has selected eight aquascapers from eight countries who meet that clear, verifiable comparison. Their nominations give the community more people to follow as the October 10 results reveal approaches.

What “fresh faces” means in this shortlist

Here, “fresh faces” means new to the TOP 300 compared with the 2025 results. It does not establish that these aquascapers are first-time entrants or have never previously reached the Top 300.

We matched names and countries in the official IAPLC 2025 world ranking with ADA's IAPLC 2026 TOP 300 nominee list. Every person below placed outside the Top 300 in 2025 and appears among the 2026 nominees.

The selection is presented alphabetically by name. The numbers shown are 2025 results; individual 2026 rankings have not yet been disclosed.

Eight names to add to your IAPLC 2026 watchlist

Aquascaper	Country	IAPLC 2025 rank	IAPLC 2026 status
Abubakar Siddiq	India	307	TOP 300 nominee
Dany Arevalo	Mexico	496	TOP 300 nominee
Emanuel Amler	Austria	1,200	TOP 300 nominee
Ludo Markotan	Australia	339	TOP 300 nominee
Marcus Van	Canada	457	TOP 300 nominee
Rob Guinanao	Philippines	524	TOP 300 nominee
Ryan Noel	United States of America	415	TOP 300 nominee
Thai Son Nguyen	Vietnam	697	TOP 300 nominee

These are eight invitations to look beyond the names you already know. When the new works become public, each will offer a chance to discover a different approach to composition, planting and the expression of nature.

Three stories that make the comparison worth following

Abubakar Siddiq of India finished just outside the Top 300 last year. His 2026 nomination makes him an interesting name for readers who enjoy following the next chapter after a near miss.

Emanuel Amler of Austria has one of the most striking comparisons in this selection. His nomination follows a much lower placement in the previous edition, giving hobbyists a reason to pay attention when his new work is revealed. The two announcements establish the change in recognition; they do not tell us which creative decisions led to it.

Thai Son Nguyen of Vietnam gives Vietnamese enthusiasts another creator to celebrate and follow. His inclusion is an opportunity to extend encouragement across the local community and introduce international readers to a name they may not yet recognize.

Dany Arevalo, Ludo Markotan, Marcus Van, Rob Guinanao and Ryan Noel complete the shortlist. Their presence adds to the anticipation: which of these creators will introduce you to a layout you remember long after the announcement?

A nomination is a reason to get curious

The period before a reveal is a good time to broaden your watchlist. Choose a few names, revisit any previously published work you can find and return to their new layouts when publication is permitted.

Look closely at the decisions that make each aquarium work: where the eye enters the composition, how planting supports depth, and how the fish belong within the scene. Those observations can turn a results announcement into a useful learning experience for your own aquascaping.

A fresh discovery can come from any position in the final ranking. The value of following new names is the opportunity to encounter ideas you have not seen before.

October 10: when the next chapter becomes visible

ADA will unveil the IAPLC 2026 World Ranking TOP 100 photographs and rankings on Saturday, October 10, at 1:00 PM JST, through its official ADA VIEW YouTube channel. That is 11:00 AM in Vietnam and Thailand.

The livestream covers the TOP 100. The complete ranking list will follow on the official IAPLC website after the broadcast.

Until the final results are announced, ADA requires submitted entries to remain unpublished. For now, the names and the nominations provide plenty of reason to celebrate.

Keep discovering with AquaLibs and AquaRank

Explore AquaRank for available aquascaper profiles, published competition histories and archived works. Its independent career ranking provides context across contests and years; it is separate from the official IAPLC 2026 results.

You can also revisit the IAPLC 2025 results on AquaLibs and meet Vietnam's 2026 TOP 300 nominees.

Which new name will you be following this year? Share this shortlist with your aquascaping community and help more creators find an audience for their work.

Sources: the official IAPLC 2025 world ranking, ADA's IAPLC 2026 TOP 300 nominee list and ADA's results announcement schedule. Information checked October 4, 2026. This editorial selection compares the 2026 nominees with the 2025 Top 300.

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