The International Housewares Association (IHA) selected 60 new products for the home as finalists for the 2026 IHA Global Innovation Awards for Excellence in Product Design, the Rosemont, Illinois-based organization announced Feb. 19. Five finalists were selected in each of 12 categories.
The annual awards program recognizes distinction in the home and housewares industry. Finalists will be featured at The Inspired Home Show 2026, which takes place March 10-12 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
“Each year, our gia award program spotlights retailers, supplier companies and student designers who are raising the bar in the home and housewares industry,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO at IHA. “We’re pleased to recognize these innovative brands and offer another platform to elevate outstanding new products for the home.”
Categories span bath to tabletop
The 12 categories include bath and personal care, cleaning, cook and bakeware, home décor and gifts, home organization and storage, household and home electronics, kitchen electrics, kitchen hand tools and cutlery, kitchenware, luggage, travel goods and accessories, pet products, and tabletop.
Finalists include AeroPress Steel from AeroPress Inc., Scrub Daddy Toilet Scrubbing System with Dissolving Tablets from Scrub Daddy Inc., JURA C9 Piano Inox from JURA Inc., and Reencle Gravity from Reencle Inc.
A special gia display in the Grand Concourse Lobby of the North Building will showcase the finalist products. They will also be included in New Product Showcases located in the Buyers Clubs in the North and South Halls.
Second round of judging during show
Finalists will move on to a second round of judging during The Inspired Home Show. One winner in each category will be named Global Honoree at the invitation-only gia dinner and awards ceremony on March 10.
Entries are judged by an independent panel of industry experts, including designers, retailers and buyers from Arizona State University, Artichoke, Cook’s Warehouse, Cunningham Designs, Friedman Design, HTI Buying Group, In the Kitchen, Lekka Retail, Leon & Lulu, National Building Museum, Pampered Chef, Quality Products, RLD Intl, Sign of the Bear and Volume Studios LLC.
Product finalists can be viewed at theinspiredhomeshow.com/awards/gia-product.
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