The eighth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now accepting entries for 2026. This annual event celebrates global technological innovation within the rapidly evolving omnichannel retail landscape. The winners will be announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, scheduled to be held at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Key Dates for 2026
• Awards Open for Entries: Friday, 20th February
• Awards Entry Deadline: Friday, 2nd October
• Finalists Revealed: Tuesday, 6th October
• Judging Days: Wednesday, 7th October - Tuesday, 20th October
• Winners Announced: Wednesday, 4th November
Entry Details and Guidelines
• Entry Fee: It is free to enter the awards.
• Multiple Categories: Applicants are permitted to enter across multiple categories.
• Entry Form: While not all sections are mandatory, providing more information increases the chances of a successful submission.
• Project Timeframe: Nominated projects and initiatives should have been completed or substantially completed within the last 12 months.
• Submission Visibility: Submissions are viewed only by the Editor and the judging panel. The summary section of the entry form will be made public for shortlisted or winning entries.
• Geographic Eligibility: Entries are accepted from companies based anywhere in the world.
• Shortlisting Process: Shortlists will be announced in October. The shortlisted entries are then sent to an independent judging panel to decide the winners and highly commended submissions. Shortlisted companies will be invited to the awards ceremony in London.
Post-Event Recognition
• Media Coverage: Winners and highly commended companies receive post-event coverage, including articles on the RTIH website and a detailed awards review in its printed magazine. There is also an opportunity for a company profile piece to be published on the site.
Award Categories
• Bricks and Mortar Innovation: For retailers using technology to enhance physical store spaces and customer journeys.
• Supply Chain Innovation: Highlighting companies reinventing retail supply chains through technological advancements.
• Payments Innovation: Recognizing innovative, customer-friendly, and retailer-friendly payment initiatives.
• Most Innovative UK Retailer: Awarded to a UK retailer demonstrating consistent forward-thinking and customer-centric tech deployments over the last year.
• Most Innovative Retailer (Rest of World): Awarded to a non-UK retailer demonstrating consistent forward-thinking and customer-centric tech deployments.
• Emerging Retail Technology Innovation of the Year: For projects involving emerging technologies like AI, computer vision, and machine learning that have scaled beyond the proof-of-concept stage.
• Retail Media Innovation: Rewarding projects using innovative technology to unlock new revenue streams for retailers through monetizing data and store assets.
• RFID Project of the Year: Showcasing successful RFID implementations that improve supply chain visibility, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Digital Transformation Project of the Year: Celebrating significant digital transformation projects achieved through innovative technology deployment.
• Customer Experience Excellence: For retailers who have positively reacted to changing customer behaviors by providing exceptional omnichannel experiences powered by technology.
• Omnichannel Retail Initiative of the Year: Recognizing a tech-centric approach that provides a fully integrated shopping experience across all channels.
• AI Innovation: Highlighting AI projects that have scaled beyond proof-of-concept to deliver value and efficiency in retail.
• Sustainable Retail Innovation: For retailers or brands that have integrated sustainability into their core values through technology, demonstrating tangible business benefits.
• Best Data Analytics Driven Retail Initiative: Spotlighting innovative approaches to using data analytics to create actionable strategies and measurable improvements.
• Best Use of Automation in the Retail Sector: Highlighting automation projects that have led to improved productivity, enhanced customer experiences, and competitive advantages.
• Inclusive Technology Innovation: Showcasing technology that promotes inclusion, boosting credentials and demonstrating business benefits.
• Technology Vendor of the Year (UK): Celebrating UK-based companies that have developed innovative technologies to transform the retail experience or operations.
• Technology Vendor of the Year (Rest of World): Celebrating non-UK companies that have developed innovative technologies to transform the retail experience or operations.
• Startup of the Year: Recognizing a startup with an innovative technology offering and strong potential for long-term success.
• Technology Implementation of the Year (UK): For UK retail technology projects completed between August 2025 and August 2026, demonstrating clear objectives and tangible results.
• Technology Implementation of the Year (Rest of World): For non-UK retail technology projects completed between August 2025 and August 2026, demonstrating clear objectives and tangible results.
• Best Retailer/Technology Supplier Relationship: Recognizing a successful partnership between a retailer and a technology supplier over the last 12 months.
• Overall Winner: Selected by the judging panel as the standout entry from across all categories.
• RTIH Editor’s Choice Award: Selected by the RTIH Editor as a standout entry from across all categories.
Judging Panel
• Dan McGrath, JD Group Customer Operations, JD Sports
• Glen Richardson, Non-Executive Director, PoundFun
• Graham Broomfield, Managing Director, Austen & Blake
• 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
• Becky Lombardo, Founder, Londra Consulting
• Christine Russo, Industry Analyst and Retail Influencer
• Jack Dowling, Former Post Office and Frasers Group executive, Transformation Leader
• Oliver Banks, Retail Transformation Director & Consultant, OB&Co
• 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
Sponsorship Opportunities
• Brand Positioning: Align your brand with leading retailers and technology firms.
• Networking: Connect with retail executives before and during the awards ceremony.
• Data Access: Gain access to post-event data capture and analytics.
• Solution Showcase: Promote your solutions via articles, emails to subscribers, and social media posts.
Contact Information
• For general entry queries, please email: awards@retailtechinnovationhub.com or scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com
• For sponsorship inquiries, please fill out the form on the awards page.
The RTIH Innovation Awards provide a significant platform for recognizing excellence and advancement in the retail technology sector. Interested parties are encouraged to review the extensive list of categories and submission guidelines to participate in this global celebration of industry innovation.