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OFFICIAL RULES
 

1.    ELIGIBILITY; METHOD TO ENTER; SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.

The KBB Awards - Products contest (the “Contest”) is only open to legal residents of the continental U.S. and Canada, who are in the age of majority for their region at the time of participation, and is over the age of 21. Employees of, Emerald, and advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Sponsor”), and immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Contest is void where prohibited.

2.    START AND END DATES

Entries will be accepted starting on April 2, 2026 8am, EST and ending July 10, 2026 5pm EST.

3.    HOW TO ENTER
To enter the Contest, the participant (“Participant” or “You/ Your”) must

Submit the following:

  • A completed entry form — all required fields must be fully answered, describing your product and explaining how it is innovative. Incomplete or incorrect forms may result in disqualification.
  • Photography — the following specs are required:
    • Minimum of 2 color images, up to 5 images total
    • File formats accepted: .JPG, .PNG, or .GIF only
    • Resolution: 300 DPI
    • File size: under 5 MB per image
    • Multiple angles and technical/specification sheets are strongly encouraged

Entry Fee

  • Early-bird rate: $425 per product (April 30, 2026)
  • Standard rate: $575 per product (May 1 2026 – July 10, 2026)

Each product requires its own separate entry form and fee. No refunds are issued.

Additional Rules to Keep in Mind

  • Only one product per entry form — product lines do not qualify
  • A single manufacturer may submit multiple entries for different products
  • Each product may only be entered in one category
  • You must be a manufacturer who has unveiled a new kitchen or bath product between April 2, 2025 and July 2, 2026
  • The product must be in regular production (no prototypes), and it must not have been previously entered in this competition (unless significantly updated)

Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor. Exhibitors in each category (listed below) who submit a valid entry form will be eligible to win a feature in the September/October KBB magazine. One entry per Participant.  No refunds of entry fees will be issued.

4.   CONDITIONS TO ENTRY

By participating in this Contest, You:

·      agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Rules;

·      represent and warrant that You meet the eligibility requirements;

·      represent and warrant that your entry is an original work of authorship, and does not violate any third-party proprietary or intellectual property rights; and

·      agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sponsor, its subsidiary and affiliated companies, and all of their respective officers, directors, agents and employees from and against all third party claims, demands, liabilities, judgments, causes of action, suits, and all expenses and costs incidental thereto including reasonable attorneys' fees based upon or arising out of Your negligence or willful misconduct.

If Your entry infringes upon any third-party rights, You will be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor.

5.   CONTEST CATEGORIES, DESCRIPTION  OF THE PRIZE; ODDS OF WINNING.

The categories of the Contest are:

Air Quality (examples include, but are not limited to, ventilation, purifiers, fans)

 Bath & Kitchen Accessories (examples include, but are not limited to, towel bars, mirrors, soap dispensers)

Bath & Kitchen Faucets

Bath & Kitchen Sinks

Bath Storage & Furniture (examples include, but are not limited to, vanities, shelving, seating, medicine cabinets)

Cooking Appliances

Countertops

Decorative Hardware

Dishwashers (can also include dishwasher drawers)

Flooring & Flooring Components

Functional & Storage Hardware

Kitchen Cabinetry

Laundry Products (examples include, but are not limited to, appliances, storage, plumbing fixtures)

Lighting (examples include, but are not limited to, task, smart, recessed, decorative)

Luxury Products (examples include, but are not limited to, cold-plunge tubs, workstation sinks, custom cabinets)

Outdoor Offerings (examples include but are not limited to furniture, appliances and storage, showers, lighting)

Refrigeration

Shower Components (examples include, but are not limited to, showerheads, benches, drains)

Smart Innovations (examples include, but are not limited to, connected fixtures, lighting and appliances)

Sustainable Offerings (examples include, but are not limited to, low-flow fixtures, products made with recyclable materials, energy-saving appliances)

Toilets

Tubs

Wallcoverings

Water Quality (examples include, but are not limited to, water filtration, all-in-one tap, water-filling station)

Wellness Products (examples include, but are not limited to, bathing therapies, low-VOC cabinets, refrigeration with preservation).

The winner(s) of the Contest (the “Winner(s)”) for each category will receive a prize as follows:

A feature in the September/October 2026 issue of KBB magazine and on kbbonline.com once the September/October issue has mailed. Winner will also be included in an online gallery that will include ALL product submissions, as long as the photography guidelines are followed. All product submissions will be considered by KBB editors for future placement and/or promotion in the magazine, online or on social channels. Approximate Retail Value (ARV): $5,000.

No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at Sponsor’s discretion. The prize is non-transferable. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for  Sponsor to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

6.   JUDGING INFORMATION AND CRITERIA

Sponsor will judge Contest base such criteria as:
Innovation, aesthetics, function and technical advancements, which will be ranked on a scale from 1 to 5.

7.    NOTIFICATION OF WINNER(S).

Winner(s) will be announced on or before September 30, 2026 on Print issue of KBB, kbbonline.com, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X Winner(s) will also be notified by email within five (5) days following selection of Winner(s). Sponsor shall have no liability for any Winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail or other security settings or for any Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If a Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize within ten (10) days from the time award notification was sent, or fails to timely return a completed and executed declaration and release as required, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate Winner may be selected. Receipt by Winner(s) of the prize offered in this Contest is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

8.   WINNER’S OBLIGATIONS

Each Winner grants (and agrees to confirm said grant in writing upon the request of Sponsor) to Sponsor, and those acting pursuant to Sponsor’s direction or control, the right to print, publish, broadcast and use, worldwide in any media now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to the Internet, at any time or times, Winner's name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness and biographical information for advertising, trade and promotional purposes without additional consideration and without notice, review or approval.

Further, Winner will be required to complete, sign, and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, a Publicity Release (where lawful), and provide evidence of identity and age with a valid state or federally issued identification (i.e. driver’s license or passport), all within fourteen (14) days of prize notification. If said documents are not returned timely, or if prize or prize notification is returned as non-deliverable, or if such Winner is found not to have complied with these Official Rules, declines the prize for any reason, or is ineligible for any reason, the prize will be forfeited and may be awarded, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, to an alternate Winner.

9.   RELEASE

By participating, You release and agree to hold harmless Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any claims, injury, loss or damage of any kind to persons (including, without limitation, death) or property, arising directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from or in connection with the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, participation in this Contest, or any Contest-related activity.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, IN THE EVENT THAT THE PRECEDING RELEASE IS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID OR VOID FOR ANY REASON, THE PARTICIPANT AGREES THAT, BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, (I) ANY CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, BUT IN NO EVENT ATTORNEYS’ FEES; AND (II) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY PARTICIPANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND PARTICIPANT HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO CLAIM, ANY OTHER DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

10. PRIVACY POLICY

All entry information collected in connection with the Contest shall be accessible by Sponsor. Such information may be used by Sponsor and its partners to contact each entrant directly with marketing or other information. By participating in the Contest, You hereby consent to such use. Subject to the foregoing, all other uses of entrant information will be in accordance with the Emerald X’s Privacy Policy in effect as of the date of entry. The privacy policy may be revised from time to time at Emerald’s sole discretion. 

11. GOVERNING LAW

By entering, You agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Contest Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participants and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of California without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. All participants hereby consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts located in Orange County, California.

12. WINNER LIST

For the names of the Contest winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request to: KBB, Emerald X LLC, 31910 Del Obispo, Suite 200, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.  Winner list requests must be received by Sponsor by September 30, 2026.

13. RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST

If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned due to causes beyond the control of Sponsor that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If Sponsor elects to cancel or terminate the Contest, Sponsor will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs and will return the entry fees.

14. SPONSOR.

Emerald X, LLC, 31910 Del Obispo, Suite 200, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675