The commercial design industry’s premier awards program, Best of NeoCon, opened for product submissions on March 1. Since 1990, the competition has served as a cornerstone of design excellence, honoring holistic, leading-edge solutions that advance performance, sustainability, innovation, and user experience within the built environment.
Adding to its robust roster of 46 categories across the workplace, healthcare, hospitality, and education sectors, this year’s competition will feature expanded lighting categories aligned with the debut of Illuminate at NeoCon, a show-within-a-show that’s dedicated to lighting innovation.
“Rooted in design advancement, Best of NeoCon convenes a jury of industry leaders and visionary entrants who are actively defining the future of commercial landscapes,” said Eileen McMorrow, Director of the Best of NeoCon program. “Each year, the breadth and depth of submissions continue to reflect an industry that’s evolving quickly, underscoring design’s essential role in spatial experience, wellness, efficiency, and artistic expression.”
Juror evaluation
Before NeoCon, all entries will be reviewed in person at The Mart by a multidisciplinary jury composed of approximately 50 architects, designers, facility managers, and industry decision-makers. Jurors are selected for their expertise in specification, design leadership, and operational performance across commercial design sectors. The hands-on evaluation process directly encourages meaningful dialogue between jurors and manufacturers. Jurors for the 2026 program will be announced in April.
Awards ceremony and recognition
The Best of NeoCon Awards Ceremony is Monday, June 8, at The Mart in Chicago, officially kicking off NeoCon 2026, which runs June 8–10 with a new Preview Day on June 7. In addition to Gold, Silver, and Best of Competition honors, there are distinctions for Innovation, Sustainability, and Business Impact.
Business Impact Awards
Entrants may also opt into the prestigious Business Impact Awards, which recognize products with the potential to drive measurable business outcomes—enhancing workflows, reducing costs, and/or optimizing space. Submissions will be vetted by facility managers, end users, real estate planners, and specifiers, and the finalists will be evaluated onsite by a panel of leading business journalists. Previous jurors have represented notable publications including Fast Company, Bloomberg CityLab, Crain’s Chicago Business, Forbes, Newsweek, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others.
The return of People’s Choice Awards
For the second year, the People’s Choice Awards will once again give the design community a voice. Following the June 8 awards ceremony, attendees will vote online or onsite via QR codes for their favorite Best of NeoCon honorees. Five People’s Choice winners will be announced at the BIFMA breakfast and across NeoCon’s social media channels on Wednesday, June 10.
Submission rules and deadlines
Best of NeoCon submissions are open exclusively to NeoCon 2026 exhibitors via the online awards portal. Eligible products must have entered the U.S. market since June 2025, be on display at NeoCon 2026, and must not have been submitted to Best of NeoCon 2025. More information on categories, criteria, submission process and deadlines is available at neocon.com/awards/best-of-neocon.
NeoCon is open to trade, C-Suite executives, and other industry-related professionals, and registration is free for all attendees. Register here.
About NeoCon
Since launching in 1969, NeoCon has served as the annual gathering place for the commercial design world’s manufacturers, dealers, architects, designers, end users, design organizations, and media. The three-day event showcases game-changing products and services from more than 400 leading and emerging companies, providing unparalleled access to the latest and most innovative solutions. A robust educational program of keynote presentations and CEU sessions offers world-class expertise and insight into today’s most relevant topics as well as the future of commercial design.
