2026 Technology Designer Performance Home Awards
A Showcase of Vision, Craft and the Future of High-Performance Living
Award entries open on April 15, 2026.
The Performance Home Awards celebrate the best in product design and spatial design across residential and commercial environments. From breakthrough manufactured products to thoughtfully designed spaces, these awards spotlight the ideas and execution moving the industry forward.
Each year, we honor architects, designers, builders, property developers, systems integrators and manufacturers whose work elevates residential environments through thoughtful design and intelligent innovative product development. These awards recognize the rare combination of artistry, technical mastery, and strategic collaboration that brings a truly high performance home to life. We have two categories: Best Product and Best Design. In our Design category, you may submit single room designs (kitchen, bath, home cinema, zen room, outdoor entertainment space, etc.) or whole house projects. The category is open to architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and system integrators.
Dates & Pricing
Competition Entry Dates & Fees
Best Product Entries
- Early Bird: $499
April 15 – June 15, 2026 - Standard: $599
June 16 – July 31, 2026
Best Design Entries
- Early Bird: $299
April 15 – June 15, 2026 - Standard: $399
June 16 – July 31, 2026
Award Category Descriptions
Best Product Design
For manufactured products that demonstrate innovation, performance, and real-world application.
Eligible Submissions May Include:
- Hardware devices and components
- Software platforms or applications tied to physical products
- Integrated systems or product ecosystems
- User interface or control innovations within a product
- Performance-driven or sustainability-focused product design
Eligibility Requirements:
-
Must be a manufactured product
- Must be available for order by the first day of the CEDIA Expo 2026
- Must be new within the current award year (not previously released, manufactured, or submitted in prior years)
Photo: L’Acoutics – 2025 Performance Home Award Best Design HYRISS (Hyperreal Immersive Sound Space, London)
Photo: Kaleidescape – 2025 Performance Awards Best Product Award Strato M with Terra
Best Spatial Design
For designed environments or spaces that integrate architecture, technology, and performance.
Eligible Submissions May Include:
- Architectural or building design
- Technology design (residential or commercial)
- Interior design (individual rooms or whole home, residential or commercial)
- Home theaters, wellness/zen rooms, or specialty spaces
- Whole-home design concepts
- Technology integrator-led projects
- CAD or fully realized design plans
Eligible Submissions Must:
- Be a designed space (not a product)
- Be completed by August 31, 2026
- Be completed between September 2025 – August 2026
Photo: Daisy – 2025 Performance Home Awards Best Design Award Coastal Estate
Photo: Lutron – 2024 Performance Home Awards Best Product Award Ketra D2 Recessed Downlight
A Celebration of Exceptional Work
The Best Design program highlights exemplary projects across a range of categories that reflect the evolution of design and technology in the built environment.
Categories such as kitchen/bath, home cinema, outdoor spaces and whole home projects showcase the creativity and precision required to design spaces that are both technically advanced and architecturally refined.
A Celebration of Innovative Products
The Best Product category showcases technological innovation and stealthy design. Of critical importance is how the homeowner lives with the product and how the product supports performance homes.
Each product category plays a role in the modern smart home environment: from intelligent lighting to energy management to climate control and entertainment. Elevated products that support elevated living spaces.
What we’re looking for
Across both categories, entries are judged on:
Innovation
and Originality
Performance and
Functionality
Quality of Execution
and User Interface
Measurable User or Environment Impact
Alignment with Performance Home methodologies
What These Awards Represent
The Performance Home Awards honor work that sets new standards for the industry. Winning prdoucts and design projects demonstrate:
Design Excellence
A dedication to beauty, proportion, spatial clarity, and seamless technology integration.
Technical Innovation
Solutions that enhance comfort, energy performance, security and overall quality of life.
Collaborative Mastery
Design and technology disciplines working in harmony to achieve outcomes that neither could accomplish alone.
Impact on the Future of Living
Projects that shape how people will experience the home for years to come.
How the process works
1. Call for Entries
Invitations to submit visionary design projects or products that demonstrate excellence in design and performance.
2. Expert Evaluation
A distinguished panel reviews each project and product entry for design quality, integration sophistication, innovation, craftsmanship and overall impact.
3. Selection & Recognition
Winners are announced in late August and featured across our platforms. Honorees receive expanded editorial coverage in print and digital channels.
4. Annual Showcase
Awarded products and design projects become part of a curated library that inspires the global design and technology community.
Whether you contribute a product or design project, follow the honorees, or seek inspiration for future work, the Technology Designer Performance Home Awards offer a meaningful point of connection for leaders in architecture, design-build and technology. Each year presents new opportunities to share breakthroughs, elevate the standard of excellence, and showcase the possibilities of truly high performance living.
