London Packaging Week has opened entries for the Innovation Awards 2026, inviting brands, designers, manufacturers and packaging teams to submit projects that demonstrate new thinking in design, materials and performance. The programme is positioned as a platform to recognise packaging that strengthens brand value while responding to fast-changing expectations around sustainability and premium consumer experience.

Entries are free and open until 24 April 2026. Winners will be announced during London Packaging Week, taking place on 16-17 September 2026 at ExCeL London. The awards are designed to celebrate impactful work across the packaging value chain, from concept and engineering through to execution and market rollout.

The Innovation Awards span 23 categories across premium and luxury packaging, beauty and personal care, drinks, food, consumer products and homeware, alongside a dedicated sustainability track. This structure reflects how innovation is now being measured not only through aesthetics, but also through usability, material choices, circularity, and supply chain practicality.

Organisers highlighted that strong submissions typically show a clear problem-solution logic: packaging that improves protection, reduces waste, increases recyclability, supports refill and reuse, or elevates shelf impact while remaining commercially viable. In practice, this means entries are expected to show both creativity and credibility, with clear evidence of how a concept performs in real-world conditions.

Judging will be carried out by a panel of senior experts drawn from brand owners and packaging leaders. Assessment generally considers the originality of the idea, quality of design execution, technical feasibility, and the relevance of the innovation to current market needs - including regulatory pressure and rising consumer expectations around sustainability.

For finalists and winners, the awards offer more than a trophy: they provide high-visibility exposure at one of the most important packaging gatherings in Europe. For brands, it is a chance to spotlight packaging that differentiates in crowded categories. For suppliers, it is an opportunity to demonstrate innovation capability and build credibility with decision-makers actively looking for next-generation solutions.

With entries now open, London Packaging Week is positioning the Innovation Awards 2026 as a benchmark for packaging that performs commercially while raising standards in design, responsibility and consumer value.