UK Outdoor Industry Awards 2026 – submit your entry now

The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) has announced the launch of the UK Outdoor Industry Awards 2026, which are now open to entries from brands across the industry until the 15th May 2025 (Please note this is a final deadline, they would appreciate entries earlier to be able to plan the display and make it as appealing as possible to visitors, and this is only possible when they have an idea of the number of entries, products per category and a visual of the product).

All the entries will be displayed at OTS in a dedicated awards area AT THE SHOW ENTRANCE FOR MAXIMUM VISIBILITY. At OTS, a judging panel, comprising of experts from the outdoor industry which will include key journalists and retailers, will vote for the three finalists in each category. The finalists will be announced on the second day of the show, 11th June 2025 at the OTS Social (further details will be announced shortly).

There are 10 categories and all information about the conditions of entry can be found in the link below.

After the show, the online public voting will commence to choose the winners in each category, from the finalist products, and the overall Product of the Year will also be announced. As in previous years we will work in conjunction with a variety of partners who will reach a wide variety of consumers in the outdoor spectrum to ensure a cross section of the outdoors. Partners will be announced shortly but will comprise a database of around 1 million opted-in consumers, providing finalists a unique opportunity to showcase their brand and product to very targeted audience of outdoor enthusiasts.

The judging panel will ratify the winners of all categories and from these, choose the overall Product of the Year 2026. The winners will be announced at the OIA AGM & Conference 2026 in front of 150 industry colleagues (March 2026 – date and location tbc).

Last year over 100 entries across the ten categories were received, with the panel of expert judges (including specialist outdoor retailers and journalists), eventually proclaiming the Rab Veil XP 30 as the overall ‘Product of the Year’ from all the winners chosen by consumers, at the OIA Conference.

Prices start at £99 + VAT (each entry) for 3+ entries for OIA members and/or OTS exhibitors and a single entry start at £120 + VAT.

“We’re delighted to have received three prestigious OIA Awards in 2025, including the ‘Product of the Year Award’ for our Veil XP Pack. Selected by a highly respected panel of industry experts, these accolades provide meaningful validation of our technical innovation and craftsmanship. The recognition offers valuable endorsement among our retail partners and consumers alike, while helping to raise awareness of our key products both within the outdoor industry and beyond,” said Will Stanton, Head of UK Sales, Rab.

“For Cascade Designs, the OIA Awards are hugely important – not only do the awards help us showcase new and innovative products, they’re also an invaluable way for us to gauge feedback from both Outdoor Industry experts and end-consumers. To win in the Sleep category with Therm-a-Rest’s new NeoLoft pad in 2025 is an immense honour. The entire Therm-a-Rest team, from production, engineering to our wider sales & marketing teams do not underestimate the scale of the win, and the platform of recognition it can give to a single product and the brand as a whole. It is truly unmatched in the UK market,” said Lindsay Morrison, Marketing & PR Manager, Cascade Designs.

Once you have submitted your entry and made the payment successfully, you will see this message:

‘Thanks for entering the UK Outdoor Industry Awards – we have received your entry and we will get in touch if we have any queries.’ We will then process your entry and be in contact shortly with further details regarding product delivery.

The Awards are a cost-effective promotional opportunity that showcases products to retail buyers and journalists and then potentially to a large, targeted consumer audience of outdoor enthusiasts throughout a whole year.

For further information and to enter the awards click HERE