The International Housewares Association (IHA) has announced the global winners of its 2026 Global Innovation Awards (gia) Top Window competition, recognising outstanding creativity and visual merchandising in home and housewares retail.
The winners were revealed during a presentation exploring retail opportunities linked to artificial intelligence and visual merchandising trends, hosted by gia expert jurors Wolfgang Gruschwitz and Denise Foley.
French brand Opinel was named the Global Honoree in the Small Company category, with judges praising its use of motion and dimension to create depth and visual interest in its window display.
Japan’s Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store took the title in the Large Company category.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Hankyu Department Store Umeda Main Store took the title in the Large Company category.
The judges highlighted the department store’s consistent theme and colour scheme, alongside its effective use of lighting, symmetry and balance. Its craftsmanship, movement and overall presentation were also praised.
This year’s competition attracted entries from 13 countries, with retailers recognised for their ability to create engaging window displays that showcase home and housewares products.
Derek Miller, President and CEO of IHA, said: “The most recent gia Top Window Awards competition had entries from 13 countries, and it is incredibly encouraging to see the creativity and passion that retailers are placing into their window displays.
“We look forward to hosting the gia Top Window Award Global Honorees at The Inspired Home Show in Chicago next March, along with more than 30 additional retailers from around the world that were selected as winners in the national gia competitions this year.”
French brand Opinel was named the Global Honoree in the Small Company category.
The gia Top Window Awards form part of the wider Global Innovation Awards programme and operate across two stages, with national winners nominated for consideration in the global competition.
Entries were assessed by an international jury comprising Denise Foley, Scott Kohno, Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen and Wolfgang Gruschwitz.
Displays were judged on originality and creativity, merchandise presentation and technical execution, including lighting, signage and attention to detail.
Both Global Honorees will be invited to The Inspired Home Show 2027 in Chicago, where they will be recognised at an awards dinner on 9 March alongside other gia winners.
Established in 2000, the gia programme aims to encourage innovation and excellence in home and housewares retailing. Since its launch, more than 600 retailers from 60 countries across six continents have received gia awards.
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