2026 RTIH Innovation Awards go live in April, winners to be announced in October

The eighth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards will open for entries in April. The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our latest winners were revealed at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”

He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”

Key dates for 2026

Tuesday, 7th April: Awards open for entries

Friday, 11th September: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 15th September: 2026 finalists revealed

Wednesday, 16th September - Wednesday, 30th September: Judging days

Thursday, 15th October: Winners announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 15th October.

Please email our Editor, Scott Thompson, if you have any questions or need further information: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com

Alternatvely, complete the form at the end of this article and we will get back to you asap.

FAQs

Is there a fee to enter the awards?: No, it is free of charge.

Can I enter across multiple categories: Yes.

Do I need to complete all the sections in the entry form? No, but the more information you provide, the better chance you have of producing a successful submission.

Is there a certain timeframe for nominated projects, initiatives etc? Yes, nominated projects, initiatives etc should have been completed (or substantially completed) during the last 12 months.

Who has visibility of our completed entry form and what information will be public should we win or be shortlisted? Only our Editor, Scott Thompson, and judging panel will view submissions. The information provided in the summary section of the entry form will be made public.

Do you only accept entries from UK-based companies? No, we accept entries from all parts of the world.

What is the shortlists process? Shortlists will be announced in September, then shortlisted entries will be sent to our independent judging panel who will decide upon the winners and highly commended submissions.

Shortlisted companies will be invited to attend an event at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 15th October (consisting of a drinks reception, three course meal and awards ceremony).

Do winners and highly commended companies receive post-event coverage? Yes, post-event coverage includes articles on our website and also an in-depth awards review in our printed magazine. There is also the opportunity for a company profile type piece to be published on our site.

Who won what in 2025? Check out our 2025 winners here.

When is the deadline for 2026 submissions? 11th September 2026.

When will the 2026 winners be revealed? Our 2026 winners will be announced at an event at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 15th October (consisting of a drinks reception, three course meal and awards ceremony).

Who will be judging the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards?

Dan McGrath, JD Group Customer Operations, JD Sports

Graham Broomfield, Chief Operating Officer, Neve Jewels Group

Rob Smith, Technology Officer, East of England Co-op

Vineta Bajaj, Group CFO, Holland & Barrett

Nadine Neatrour, Chief Marketing Officer, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants

Mike Cadden, Chief Technology Officer, Marie Curie

Carole Kingsbury, Chief Technology Officer, C&C Group

Nina Mimica, Board Advisor and Former Studenac Executive

Christine Russo, Industry Analyst and Retail Influencer

Matt Taylor, CTO of Global Managed Services and VP of SecDevOps, NCC Group

Paula Bobbett, Chief Data and Digital Officer, Boots

Scott Thompson, Editor and Founder, Retail Technology Innovation Hub

Toby Pickard, Retail Futures Senior Partner, IGD