Best of KBIS Awards Now Open for 2026 Entries
Leading Awards Program Calls for Innovation, Beauty, and Holistic Design
Orlando, Florida – February 17-19, 2026
(ORLANDO, FLA, USA) — October 2, 2025 — The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) has
opened applications for the premier awards program, Best of KBIS, that will spotlight industry excellence
in 2026. Sponsored by LUXE Interiors + Design, this long-standing program has recently expanded in
step with the design landscape to recognize the achievements of those pushing the kitchen and bath
space forward.
Best of KBIS 2025 winners were harbingers of industry trends: Effe Perfect Wellness, Kohler, and
Empava were praised for their residential spa-like amenities that highlight an increasing desire for
wellness-centered homes; Cosentino, James Martin Vanities, and FreePower impressed judges with a
collaboration merging beauty and tech in the bath; TopZero wowed with a pivotal product in work-zoned
kitchen design; and LifeValet entered the scene with innovative ADA fixtures that elevate universal
design (see here for a full press kit of last year’s winners). Each year, the competition raises the bar and
inspires new trends that define the industry.
The submission portal is open with purchase and the deadline to submit is November 21, 2025. Finalists
will be announced in early 2026, while winners will be announced live at the show during an awards
ceremony on NEXTStage on February 18, 2026, from 4-5 pm.
Best of KBIS 2026 Categories
Seven award categories reflect the innovation, diversity, and design advancements of the kitchen and
bath industry.
1. Style Statement: Kitchen
○ Products submitted to this category should focus on aesthetic value, favoring new
finishes/colors, artistic collaborations, and other key style features in the kitchen – both
indoor and outdoor.
2. Style Statement: Bathroom
○ Products submitted to this category should focus on aesthetic value, favoring new
finishes/colors, artistic collaborations, and other key style features in the bath – both
indoor and out.
3. Sustainable Standout
○ This category will be judged for eco-friendly properties, i.e. energy or water conservation,
carbon neutral manufacturing processes, or recycled components.
4. Wellness Trailblazer
○ Standouts for wellness should deliver benefits to mental or physical well-being, including
stress relief or connection to nature.
5. Game-Changing Innovation
○ Game-changing innovators should show new-to-market technology, new ways to
manufacture materials, new-to-category advancements, or any take on “new.”
6. Most Functional Find
○ This category will look for functional benefits (particularly multi-functional use-cases),
longevity, and value relative to price point.
7. Best in Show
○ Put simply, this award will honor the best all-around product.
Entry Information
To be eligible for consideration, all products must have been introduced after January 31, 2025. To enter,
exhibiting manufacturers must complete a Best of KBIS submission form and submit at least two high-res
(300 dpi) images. Products may be entered in multiple categories; however, they require an individual
entry form and submission fee for each category.
Judging
A judging committee of design professionals, thought leaders, and industry experts will narrow the entries
to approximately 50 finalists, who will be announced in January 2026.
The finalists will then be judged on site by the same group of experts to determine the winning products.
Each finalist will have five minutes to present their submitted item during an in-booth visit. Six categories
award a Gold and Silver winner, while the Best in Show is awarded to one standout. Best of KBIS winners
will be announced on site on February 18, 2026.
LUXE Interiors + Design is the proud media sponsor of Best of KBIS, and is neither involved in, nor
influences, the judging process.
About NKBA | KBIS
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the
Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS). With nearly 50,000 members in all segments of the kitchen and
bath industry, NKBA | KBIS has informed, educated, and supported the industry since the association was
founded in 1963. The association’s mission is to inspire, lead, and empower the kitchen and bath industry
through community, professional certification and learning, and events. For more information, go to
NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522).
KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
About Emerald
KBIS is produced by Emerald. Emerald’s talented and experienced team grows our customers’
businesses 365 days a year through connections, content, and commerce. We expand connections that
drive new business opportunities, product discovery, and relationships with over 140 annual events,
matchmaking, and lead-gen services. We create content to ensure that our customers are on the cutting
edge of their industries and are continually developing their skills. And we power commerce through
efficient year-round buying and selling. We do all this by seamlessly integrating in-person and digital
platforms and channels. Emerald is immersed in the industries we serve and committed to supporting the
communities in which we operate. As true partners, we create experiences that inspire, amaze, and
deliver breakthrough results. For more information, please visit: www.emeraldx.com
About LUXE Interiors + Design
Luxe Interiors + Design is the nation’s leading architecture and design brand, producing 93 publications
annually, including 14 regional editions, a national edition, and seasonal editions for high-demand areas
such as The Hamptons and Naples + Sarasota. Luxe reaches an audience of discerning consumers,
top-tier design professionals, and industry tastemakers, boasting a print and digital reach of 4.5 million
and a rate base of 480,000. Luxe is part of SANDOW DESIGN GROUP, design media and services.