HIGH POINT — Preparations are underway for the 30th annual Pinnacle Awards, with the start of taking entries for the International Society of Furniture Designers‘ 2026 Pinnacle Awards.
Submissions are open to all professional furniture and textile designers, manufacturers, and artisan designer and makers. In addition, furniture or industrial design students can enter the John Conrad Student Competition.
Winners will be announced at the annual Pinnacle Awards Gala held on Oct. 19 during the fall High Point Market, and the deadline to enter for consideration is July 31.
“In 1996, the American Society of Furniture Designers held its first Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards to promote superior design qualities and encourage the recognition of designers within the retail home furnishings industry,” said David Blair, ISFD executive director. “Fast forward 30 years, and ASFD is now the International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD).
“It’s amazing when I look back at the young designers and companies who have won Pinnacle Awards over the years and see where they are today. In many cases, winning a Pinnacle Award helped launch their design careers and elevated manufacturers to new levels of recognition. I am also excited to see new designers entering the competition each year with their creative designs.”
Known as the “Academy Awards” for professional and student designers in the furnishings and textile industries, the Pinnacle Awards are open to all professional furniture and textile designers, manufacturers and artisan designer/makers who are directly involved in designing home furnishings, décor or textile products available for retail sale in the past year. Students enrolled in or graduating from an accredited furniture or industrial design program in May may enter the John Conrad Student Pinnacle Awards.
The 30 Pinnacle Awards categories for 2026 are:
- Accessories
- Bedroom ̶ Broad Appeal
- Bedroom ̶ Luxury
- Dining ̶ Broad Appeal
- Dining ̶ Luxury
- Entertainment Furniture
- Finishings
- Floor Coverings
- Home Office ̶ Broad Appeal
- Home Office ̶ Luxury
- Home Textiles ̶ Print
- Home Textiles ̶ Woven
- Leather Upholstery ̶ Broad Appeal
- Leather Upholstery ̶ Luxury
- Lighting
- Major Collections
- Motion Upholstery
- Occasional Storage ̶ Broad Appeal
- Occasional Storage ̶ Luxury
- Occasional Tables ̶ Broad Appeal
- Occasional Tables ̶ Luxury
- Outdoor
- Stationary Upholstery ̶ Broad Appeal
- Stationary Upholstery ̶ Luxury
- Wall Décor
- Youth
- Designer/Maker
- The Green Leaf Award
- The Biophilic Design in Wood Award
- John Conrad Student Pinnacle Award
Submission details can be found at the 2026 Pinnacle Awards and the 2026 John Conrad Student Pinnacle Awards websites. Reminder: The entry deadline is July 31.
2026 Pinnacle Awards sponsors: Presenting sponsor: Andmore; Bronze level: High Point Market Authority, and Designer-Maker category sponsor: Appalachian Hardwood; Biophilic Design in Wood sponsor: Real American Hardwood; Student Competition sponsors: Furniture Design Studios, Lockdowel and Richard Frinier Design Studio; Corporate Partner: Canadian Wood; and industry partners: Designers Today, Elements Studios, FurnitureLink Today, International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) and The Media Matters. Thank you to the International Textile Alliance (ITA) and the Sustainable Furnishings Council for their continued support.
