Submission window closes Nov. 13 and Dec. 4, respectively.
The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is now accepting applications for some of its most anticipated programming. KBIS will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center February 2-4, 2027.
Hard Hat Media Tour
A signature KBIS experience, the Hard Hat Media Tour gives a curated group of exhibitors an exclusive platform to present their newest innovations to an invite-only group of top editors and reporters shaping today’s kitchen and bath conversation. Last year’s program welcomed more than 20 members of the media, with outlets such as aspire home + design, CNET, Forbes, Family Style, Galerie, House Beautiful, and Saveur among others in attendance.
The 2027 Hard Hat Media Tour is made possible by title sponsor Daltile, alongside Empava as coffee sponsor.
How brands are selected
Any KBIS 2027 exhibitor is eligible to apply. Submissions are evaluated through a brand-blind review by a judging panel of media, who select five brands to join the tour. Chosen brands will be notified of their selection in late December and will join this year’s three sponsor brands to complete the tour lineup.
Each participating brand will receive 10 minutes to present its product story and showcase its booth and latest offerings to the visiting press, and all brands on the tour will receive additional promotion through KBIS public relations and social media.
Interested exhibitors can submit their application here. The deadline to apply is November 13, 2026.
The tour will take place on the first day of KBIS, February 2, 2027.
Innovation Hour
Now in its second year, Innovation Hour is a fast-paced showcase that puts creativity first and encourages exhibitors to present products in unexpected formats beyond a standard slide deck.
Selected brands will each deliver a five-minute moderated presentation to a live audience on the KBIS NEXTStage, the show’s destination for education and design programming. Following all the presentations, the designers, media, influencers, and industry professionals in the audience will vote on the winners for three categories: Most Innovative, Most Unexpected, and I’d Spec That Tomorrow. The live vote gives brands real-time feedback from the people they most want to reach.
The program debuted at KBIS 2026 with nine presenting brands and more than 200 audience votes. Caesarstone was named Most Innovative for Caesarstone ICON™, a sustainable advanced fusion surface. Most Unexpected went to MAGPPIE Silverstone™, a silver-infused technical stone designed to replace wood in kitchen cabinetry. And LG earned “I’d Spec That Tomorrow” for its LG SIGNATURE Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator with Thin Door Design, which features Zero Clearance™ hinges that allow both doors to open fully, even in tight spaces.
“We at Caesarstone found Innovation Hour to be a powerful platform to showcase Caesarstone ICON,” said Nicole Miller, Director of Program and Product Strategy at Caesarstone. “Being recognized as Most Innovative was a meaningful validation of how strongly our ICON surfaces and sustainability messaging resonated with the audience.”
All KBIS 2027 exhibitors are eligible, and applications can be submitted here through December 4, 2026. Selected brands will be notified by January 2027 and will present live on NEXTStage at KBIS, February 2, 2027, at noon. Winners will be announced at the close of the session.
About the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS). With 55,000 members in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, NKBA has informed, educated, and supported the industry since the association was founded in 1963. Its mission is to inspire, lead, and empower the kitchen and bath industry through community, professional certification and learning, and events.
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