Save the Date: Submissions for 2026 Window + Door Magazine Awards Open March 10

Each year, the Window + Door Awards aim to recognize innovations in the residential fenestration products industry.

See last year's winners.

Get ready for the nomination process by reviewing the information below. Companies will need to complete nominations by March 31 to be considered. The competition opens on March 10. Please contact Rachel Vitello, rvitello@glass.org, for any questions about the process. 

What's new this year

New this year, the Window + Door Award winners for 2026 will appear in-print, rather than just online. This year's winners will also be honored during the awards ceremony at GlassBuild America, being held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sept. 23-25. This year will also feature new categories including: Residential Case Study, Legacy Leadership Award, Best Digital Tool and Best Training Program.

The process

Review the categories and complete the nomination form, providing information related to the category prompt. The nomination form will be available here starting March 10.

1. To be eligible, products must have been released after March 2024.
2. Do not submit the same product nomination for inclusion in multiple categories.
3. Incomplete entries may be removed from consideration.
4. By submitting images to the Window + Door Awards, you agree that you/your company are the originator or copyright owner of the work, and that you grant Window + Door and its parent, the National Glass Association, permission to use your submitted work in publications and related materials.

Award categories

*New* Best Residential Case Study

With so many beautiful, residential case studies out there in the industry, we want to offer an opportunity for companies to showcase their products in real-world applications with this new category. High-quality imagery is highly encouraged for this category. 

*New* Legacy Leadership Award

This year, we also have a new opportunity for companies to nominate the legacy leaders in their company. A winner of this award should be a residential industry veteran whose work, leadership or expertise has helped to shape the window, door and/or fenestration industry. We know that people are what make the industry great, and we want to recognize the best. 

*New* Best Digital Tool

We know your companies create a range of visualization and specification tools for customers. Share new tools that help your customers understand window and door systems, energy performance, sustainability, or other performance factors. 

*New* Best Training Program

We know that training is a key part of retention. Describe your internal workforce training programs. How do you pace employees' learning? What goals do you set, and how do measure learning? 

Most Innovative Window or Door Component

Recognizes a new and unique approach to the function, design, installation and/or aesthetics of residential window and/or door components

Unique Innovation

Recognizes an innovative approach to window and/or door function or design not covered in other award categories (including components, accessories, software programs, machinery, etc.)

Most Innovative Window

Recognizes a new and unique approach to the function, design and/or aesthetics of residential windows (manufactured using any type of material)

Most Innovative Patio, Multi-Slide or Multi-Panel Door

Recognizes a new and/or unique approach to the function, design and/or aesthetics of a patio door or multi-slide/panel product (manufactured using any type of material)

Most Innovative Entry Door

Recognizes a new and/or unique approach to the function, design and/or aesthetics of a residential entry door (manufactured using any type of material)

*Editors reserve the right to reallocate submissions to different categories as appropriate.

Nominations

To nominate a company or product, fill out the nomination form online, which will be available here starting March 10. Nominations are due March 31.

It is important to provide specific details on why you think the company or product is deserving of a Window + Door Award. Once the deadline has passed, descriptions are then compiled and sent to our panel of judges to be evaluated.

You are welcome to nominate more than one product or company, but please do not submit the same product more than once.

Judging

The Window + Door Awards are determined by a panel of judges. Judges include previous winners and a broad mix of executives, consultants and personnel involved in product development, marketing, production, sales and distribution. Judges are not allowed to vote for their own companies.

Specific criteria for each award category are supplied to the judges and all nominees per category are evaluated against the same standards. Judges also have access to all nomination forms, so it is important to be thorough when you fill out the form.

Examples of criteria (category-dependent) are:

• Aesthetically pleasing
• Fills a unique need to the industry
• Solves a common problem in the industry
• Incorporates innovative components or technology
• Innovative design

6 Tips to a Winning Nomination

1. Include high-quality photography (over 1 MB, 300 dpi). Be creative with images. Go beyond straight product shots and show products being used or installed. Avoid submitting imagery with marketing copy overlaid on it.
2. Be specific, thorough and concise. Fill out all fields, even if they aren't required. Clearly state why the product stands out.
3. Describe your entry with specific focus on unique and innovative elements. Don’t just copy product specs into the nomination form.
4. Avoid using marketing language such as “the best,” “truly unique” or “most advanced/innovations.” Rather, explain what is unique, what makes it the best and what makes it so advanced.
5. Video is powerful. Provide links to videos online or create videos and post them to YouTube.
6. Share your entry materials and descriptions with your colleagues and get feedback from them before filling out your nomination form. 

Guidelines

Company employees are allowed/encouraged to submit nominations on behalf of their companies. Suppliers, dealers and customers can also nominate their partners. Please do not submit the same nomination for inclusion in multiple categories, nor multiple times in the same category.

Products must have been introduced in the past 24 months (after March 2024). All entries must be applicable specifically to the residential market. Commercial products will not be considered. Crossover products will be considered only if the nomination focuses clearly on the residential applications of the product.

It is extremely important to be specific and thorough in your nomination. Provide as many pictures, videos, testimonials and other supporting materials as you can. While judges review entries against specific criteria, an entry is only as good as its nomination. 

You may read about the 2024 Window + Door Award recipients here.

For more information, questions or comments about the Window + Door Awards, please contact Assistant Editor Rachel Vitello.