2026 Product of the Year Winners Named
Product of the Year USA has announced the winners of its 2026 awards, which are determined by a large-scale consumer survey on product innovation. Honorees were named across 41 distinct categories, recognizing new products in the consumer packaged goods space.
- The research firm Kantar conducts the survey of 40,000 U.S. consumers that determines the winners. This survey evaluates products based on several criteria, including appeal, satisfaction, purchase intent, uniqueness, and relevance. - Winning the award includes a two-year license for the "Product of the Year" logo, which can be used in marketing materials and on packaging. The fee for winners is $76,000, which also covers inclusion in a national public relations campaign. - According to Kantar, the Product of the Year logo is 25% more effective on a package than the word “New,” and 36% of consumers are more likely to trust an ad that features the logo. - To be eligible, a product must demonstrate innovation in function, design, packaging, or ingredients and must have been launched in the United States after January 1st of the previous year. - The program was established in France over 30 years ago and now operates in more than 40 countries, making it the largest consumer-voted award for product innovation globally. - A study found that shoppers are 50% more likely to purchase a product when they are aware that 40,000 people voted for it in the survey. - Finalists that are entered into the consumer research phase but do not win pay a $7,000 fee and receive the full research analysis from Kantar, valued at $28,000. - Past winners have included major brands such as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and Nestlé.
