The CES Innovation Awards® program is open to any individual, organization or authorized agent who manufactures, designs, engineers or promotes consumer technology products. Product must be new and available in the market for the first time between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.

• Logo Usage. CES Innovation Awards® logo usage for the specific award(s) granted

• Trophy. CES Innovation Awards® trophy featuring the year of Honoree designation.

• Recognition. Industry-wide recognition through Program’s promotions

• Promotion. Exposure including, but not limited to, CES.tech, the official CES website, and CES social media channels

• CES Innovation Awards® Showcase. Honorees who are also CES 2026 exhibitors have the opportunity to display the honored Product within the CES Innovation Awards® Showcase at CES 2026.

All Product submissions must comply with the 2026 Program Rules, coming in June. In the meantime, here are the general program requirements:

• Applicant representative must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission and authorized to submit the product on behalf of the applicant.
• Participation in the Program does not require exhibiting at CES 2026.
• Product must meet the following CES eligibility criteria: category of consumer and workplace technology products, services, content and related accessories.
• Product Categories. Program accepts any valid Product that fits within the CES Innovation Awards® categories.
  • A single Product may be entered into up to four (4) categories, with eligibility for winning in each category provided it meets the respective requirements and aligns with category definitions.
  • A separate application fee is required for each category submitted.
• Product must be new and available in the market for the first time between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026. This includes products listed on crowdfunding websites at the time of entry. Pre-sale periods do not count as market availability. If the Product launch date changes to outside this window, the Product submission will be ineligible.
• If a Product is submitted as a new iteration or model of a Product previously in the market, it must demonstrate significant and innovative advancements over the previous version. The new iteration or model must have valid in-market dates between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
• Supporting Materials. All materials related to the Product submission, including audio, video, links to websites, or other content must be appropriate for a professional business audience. Content that includes explicit or simulated sex, virtual pornography, nudity, violence, and discriminatory elements are strictly prohibited. CTA reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, if a Product is not eligible for consideration.
  • Each Product submission must include at least three (3) unique Product images that demonstrate its functionality and innovation. Images must be submitted in a high-resolution .jpg or .png format and uploaded via the online application.
  • Each Product submission may include one (1) video that demonstrates its functionality and innovation. Video submissions are highly encouraged but not required. Video must be less than three minutes and uploaded via the online application.
  • If entering an intangible Product, Applicant may submit images/video of product renderings or diagrams via the online application.
  • Entries and supporting documents, including videos and other media, must be provided in English language, captions, and/or subtitles for verification purposes.
• All application fees associated with the CES Innovation Awards® Program are non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of award status, withdrawal/cancellation of submission, determination of ineligibility, disqualification or any other reasons. 

A panel of industry expert judges review applications in each product category based on the below Evaluation Criteria. 

The Program recognizes all CES Innovation Award® recipients as ‘Honorees’. There are two (2) levels of honorees:

• Honoree: The top-scoring Products in each category.
• Best of Innovation: The highest-scoring Products in the Program.

Evaluation Criteria

All Product submissions are reviewed and scored based on the following criteria:

• Engineering and functionality
• Aesthetic and design
• What makes the product unique and innovative

All award designations by the judges are final.

CTA does not test or endorse the Innovation award-winning products.