Gift of the Year 2026 awards: finalists announced
The Giftware Association has unveiled the finalists for the Gift of the Year 2026 awards. The Gift of the Year 2026 awards celebrate innovation and excellence across 20 categories, including games and puzzles, licensed gifts, children’s products, and educational items. The competition continues to grow in influence, attracting new brands and more than 700 entries this year — making it one of the most competitive editions to date.
Winners announced in May
Judges from leading retailers, trade publications, and industry bodies selected the finalists, with the second round of judging taking place at Spring Fair 2026. The event showcased the shortlisted products to thousands of visitors eager to discover key launches for the year ahead.
Chris Workman, head of operations at The Giftware Association, praised the industry’s creativity and said 2026 had “raised the bar even higher.” He congratulated all finalists and noted the difficulty judges faced in selecting winners.
List of finalists
The final judging round will determine the overall Judges’ Choice – Gift of the Year, with winners announced in May at the Gift Awards at Royal Lancaster London, held in partnership with The Greats Gift Retailer Awards.
The full list of finalists is available online, and voting is now open for the People’s Choice Award, allowing customers and industry supporters to vote until May 16.
Find all finalists in the source description.