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Gift of the Year Awards 2027: Entries Close on 30 November

·3 min read

Gift of the Year Awards 2027 currently close on 30 November 2026. Check member and non-member fees, product eligibility and sample requirements before entering.

Last checked against official sources: 22 October 2026

* Dates and timings are subject to change, please check directly with the awards organisers.

The Gift of the Year Awards 2027 currently list 30 November 2026 as the competition closing date. Home and gift businesses can use the remaining time to choose their strongest products, prepare persuasive images and descriptions, and plan for physical samples if shortlisted.

The organiser marks the date as subject to change and does not specify a closing time or timezone. Set an earlier internal deadline rather than relying on a possible extension.

Entry Fees and Eligibility

The current entry page lists:

  • Home & Gift Association members: £99 plus VAT per entry.
  • Non-members: £152 plus VAT per entry.

Multiple-entry bundles are available. One credit covers one category choice, and credits cannot transfer to a later competition year. Check your membership rate before paying: entry fees are non-refundable.

Association membership and exhibition at a trade show are not required. Direct-to-consumer products can enter too. The terms allow a range of 6–8 products to count as one entry, with separate charges applying to additional entries and categories.

Check both product originality and availability. The terms seek new products and allow products not previously entered or qualifying variations; they require products to be available to market throughout 2027.

Prepare for Judging, Not Just Submission

Supply company and product details, marketing information, clear images or videos and supporting documents. You can edit an entry until the competition closes. Incomplete or inaccurate submissions can be disqualified.

The current key-dates block places online judging and shortlisting in January 2027, the second live round and finalist announcement in February 2027, and the awards announcement in May 2027.

Shortlisted entrants must provide product samples for live judging. Budget for delivery, insurance and other entry-related costs, and obtain the organiser's sample labels and arrival deadline before dispatching anything.

Details to Confirm Before You Pay

  • Closing date: the FAQ still gives 30 November 2025, while the current 2027 entry page gives 30 November 2026. Confirm the current closing date with the organiser when planning submission.
  • Product availability: the entry-page guidance refers to availability through the end of 2026, but the terms require availability throughout 2027. Confirm eligibility if your launch or product lifecycle makes that distinction important.
  • Live judging: the entry narrative mentions January, while its current timetable places the second round in February 2027. Confirm the judging and sample-arrival dates before booking a courier.

Make Your Product Easy to Understand

Show what is distinctive about the design, who will buy it and why it offers value. Use clear product and packaging images, explain quality and commercial appeal, and substantiate sustainability claims. These themes align with the organiser's published judging criteria.

Build a concise story around the customer need, your design response and the evidence that it works. Use Crafting Winning Awards Entries to turn that evidence into a focused submission rather than a list of product features.

Sources