Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 starts – New Gaming and Streaming category

With the 2026 competition, Red Dot is launching a dedicated category for gaming and streaming products. Manufacturers and designers can submit products that shape digital entertainment – from powerful desktops, laptops and consoles to accessories such as gamepads, headsets, cameras, microphones and streaming lighting, as well as gaming furniture and VR/AR accessories.

The new category recognises design excellence in a field that inspires millions of people worldwide and drives technological innovation.

Participation in the competition

Registration for the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 opens on 15 September 2025 and closes on 16 January 2026. The competition is divided into three phases:

• Early Bird: until 10 October 2025
• Regular: until 12 December 2025
• Latecomer: until 16 January 2026

In spring 2026, around 40 international design experts will gather in the Ruhr region to evaluate all submissions live and in person. The winners will be celebrated on 7 July 2026 at the Red Dot award ceremony in Essen.

Young Professionals Application Day

On 19 November 2025, Red Dot will once again offer young talents whose degree is no more than five years old the chance to win one of 50 free registration places. On the Young Profesionals Application Day, young designers can register via the online portal to take part in the draw.

Winning in the Red Dot Award can help emerging designers make their creative skills visible, support product launches and expand their professional network.

Jury and evaluation

True to the motto “In search of good design and innovation”, the Red Dot Jury will confer the distinctions. Evaluation is based on the four qualities of good design formulated by Professor Dr. Peter Zec:

• Function: What purpose does the product serve?
• Seduction: Is the product aesthetically appealing?
• Usage: Is it easy and intuitive to use?
• Responsibility: Is it sustainable or durable?

Award ceremony and presentation of the winners

The award-winning products will be presented to an international audience across a wide range of platforms – including the Red Dot Design Museum Essen, worldwide exhibitions, the Red Dot Design Yearbook, as well as online and via social media. In addition, the winners can communicate their award with the well-known Red Dot Label. For participants from the gaming and streaming sector, it is particularly exciting to present their products in a renowned design and creative environment – showcasing their innovative strength in a new context.

The competition’s successes will be celebrated on 7 July 2026 at the festive award ceremony. Those unable to attend the Red Dot Gala in Essen in 2026 will be able to follow the event via livestream. This year, Jova Zec, Vice President of Red Dot, and presenter and journalist Freddie Schürheck guided the international audience through the programme in an informative and entertaining way.

All dates at a glance